boulder / swiftcurrent creek stabilization project · boulder / swiftcurrent creek stabilization...

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Boulder / Swiftcurrent Creek Stabilization Project


Public Meeting Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Havre, MT 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Source: DOWL HKM Source: DOWL HKM Source: DOWL HKM

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Welcome & Introductions

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Purpose of This Meeting • Starting Phase III – environmental

compliance and preliminary design

• Public input is an important part of this process. At this meeting we want to:

– Present information on the project – Gather your feedback on issues and concerns

that you have related to this project.

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Meeting Format Presentation • Project History • Purpose and Need of the

Project • Alternatives • Potentially Impacted

Resources • Next Steps

Discussion Period • Public Comments/Questions

Source: DOWL HKM

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Project History Milk River Irrigation Project • Farmers along the Milk River began building small

irrigation dams in the 1890s. Water for these facilities was unreliable.

• Milk River Irrigation Project constructed by the BOR in the early 1900s

• Supplies water to the North Fork Milk River & adjacent farms

Source: DOWL HKM

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Sherburne Dam

BOR Dike

Saint Mary Diversion Dam

Saint Mary Canal

Source: DOWL HKM

Source: BOR Website 2013

Source: BOR Website 2013

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Project History • Early 1990’s: Blackfeet Tribe begins voicing

concerns over: flooding, channel instability, sediment accumulation in Lower Saint Mary Lake, damaged and/or fragmented fish habitat, and canal seepage.

• January 2008: Technical Amendment to the Federal Highway Administration SAFETEA-LU bill make funding available to the BOR for the Boulder/Swiftcurrent Bed and Bank Stabilization Project.

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Project History • October 2008: BOR and BEO met in Great Falls to

plan the scope of the project and identify major issues and general plans for the project.

• 2009: BEO holds a series of Stakeholder and Working Group meetings in Browning.

• 2009-2010: Phase I – Concept Development

• 2011-2012: Phase II – Appraisal Evaluations

• 2013-2014: Phase III – Environmental Compliance and Preliminary Design

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Project Need The Milk River Irrigation Project facilities have damaged the natural resources of the Blackfeet Tribe. The Tribe recognizes the intrinsic value of the natural ecosystem, and has an interest in restoring the culturally-significant Boulder Creek and Swiftcurrent Creek drainages to a more natural condition. The project is needed to address the following key injuries.

1. Altered hydrology 3. Delta growth

2. Channel & floodplain changes 4. Sediment transport

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Project Need: Altered Hydrology 1. Sherburne Dam has affected the hydrology of Swiftcurrent Creek

by reducing spring flows and increasing summer flows.

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Project Need: Channel & Floodplain 2. The BOR dike has disconnected Swiftcurrent Creek from its historic

floodplain and alluvial fan.

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Project Need: Delta Growth 3. The dike routes sediment directly into Lower Saint Mary Lake

causing the formation of a delta at the northern end of the lake.

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Project Need: Sediment Transport 4. Sediment conveyed directly into Lower Saint Mary Lake deprives

Saint Mary River of sediment and large woody debris.

Upstream of Kennedy Ck. Downstream of Kennedy Ck.

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Project Purpose The purpose of the project is to provide a cost-

effective, feasible solution to address the adverse physical and biological effects within

the Boulder Creek and Swiftcurrent Creek drainages that have resulted from construction

and operation of the Milk River Irrigation Project facilities, while protecting social and cultural interests to the extent practicable.

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Project Parameters • Water rights

• Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909

• Continued water storage and diversion for the Milk River Irrigation Project

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Phase I Concept Development

• Alternative 1: No Action

• Alternative 2: Implement localized stabilization and/or flood control measures at identified problem areas.

• Alternative 3: Maintain existing Swiftcurrent Creek channel alignment and incorporate sediment harvesting to limit sediment input into lower Saint Mary Lake.

• Alternative 4: Maintain existing Swiftcurrent Creek channel alignment; reconstruct lower reaches to allow floodplain sediment deposition.

• Alternative 5: Develop a two-channel system – (1) Diverted clean water supplies to Saint Mary Lake; (2) Natural floodway to accommodate sediment and natural floods.

• Alternative 6: Remove diversion dike and canal; restore pre-1900 Swiftcurrent Creek channel alignment within a defined floodplain corridor; install a pumping station at the Saint Mary River siphon on the Saint Mary Canal.

• Alternative 7: Restore Swiftcurrent Creek and floodplain to pre-irrigation system (baseline) conditions.

LEAST RESTORATION

EFFORT

LEAST BENEFIT TO

TRIBE

GREATEST RESTORATION

EFFORT

GREATEST BENEFIT TO

TRIBE

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Phase II – Appraisal Evaluations Goal: Perform an appraisal-level evaluation to select alternatives to carry forward to feasibility level design.

Alternatives to be carried forward:

• Alternative 1 – No Action

• Alternative 4 – Reconstruct Lower Reach

• Alternative 6a – Pre-1900 Alignment

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Phase III – Environmental Compliance & Preliminary Design • Current phase of the project

– Evaluation of forwarded alternatives

– Preliminary design

– Environmental compliance

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Alternative 1 (No Action)

• Perpetuate existing conditions within the project area.

• Forwarded as a baseline for comparative analysis. • Does not meet purpose and need of the project.

Source: DOWL HKM

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Alternative 4 • Reconstruct the lower

reaches of Swiftcurrent Creek and modify the BOR dike.

• Alter the release schedule of Sherburne Dam.

• Stabilize Swiftcurrent Creek sediment sources.

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• Restore the pre-1900 Swiftcurrent Creek channel.

• New diversion near Boulder/Swiftcurrent confluence.

• Convey canal under new floodway using an inverted siphon.

• Modify Sherburne Dam operations.

• Stabilize Swiftcurrent Creek sediment sources.

Alternative 6a

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Potentially Impacted Resources • Threatened and Endangered Species • Wildlife • Cultural & Traditional Resources • Land Use • Infrastructure • Wetlands

Source: DOWL HKM Source: DOWL HKM

Source: DOWL HKM

Source: Wikipedia – Author: PD-USGov-Interior-NPS

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Threatened & Endangered Species T&E Species Likely to Occur in Project Area

Species Status

Grizzly Bear Ursus arctos horribilis

Threatened

Canada Lynx Lynx canadensis

Threatened, Critical Habitat

Bull Trout Salvelinus confluentus

Threatened, Critical Habitat

Meltwater Lednian Stonefly Lednia tumana

Candidate

Sprague’s Pipit Anthus spragueii

Candidate

Wolverine Gulo gulo luscus

Proposed Threatened

Source: Wikipedia – Author: Michael Zahra

Source: Wikipedia – Author: PD-USGov.

Source: Flickr – Author: USDA.gov.

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• Only bull trout found east of the divide in the U.S.

• Project Area includes critical habitat & essential habitat

• Bull trout in the Saint Mary drainage more common than believed

• Include both migratory & non-migratory populations

• Boulder Creek – Important habitat for spawning & reproduction

Source: Mogen and Kaeding 2003, 2005a and 2005b; Mogen et al. 2011; DeHaan et al. 2011; Mogen 2013

Bull Trout

Source: www.fws.gov

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Wildlife • Elk migration • Wildlife corridors • Migratory birds/nests • Habitat

Source: DOWL HKM

Source: DOWL HKM

Source: Wikipedia – copyright holder released to public domain

Source: Wikipedia – Author: Yathin S. Krishnappa

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Cultural & Traditional Resources • Methods

– Literature review – Interviews with elders – Field reviews/pedestrian survey

• Overview – Culturally significant area

• Study Area – Swiftcurrent Creek area – Alternative 4 – Survey of Alternative 6a is pending – Saint Mary Canal may be considered historic

Source: DOWL HKM

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Land Use

Residential Development

Gravel Pit

Grazing

Source: DOWL HKM

Source: DOWL HKM Source: DOWL HKM

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Infrastructure • Housing

• Milk River Infrastructure – Dike – Diversion Dam – Canal

• Roadways

• Utilities

• Babb Airstrip

Source: DOWL HKM

Source: DOWL HKM

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Wetlands & Riparian Vegetation

A

B

C

A

B

C

Source: DOWL HKM

Source: DOWL HKM

Source: DOWL HKM

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Next Steps In Progress • Preliminary Design and Environmental Compliance

– Preliminary Design of Alternatives 4 and 6a

– Initiate NEPA Process

• Final Design – Environmental Permitting

Future Steps • Implementation/Construction

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Discussion Period Submit Comments:

• Leave a comment sheet with us tonight

• Mail/e-mail comments to: Sarah Nicolai DOWL HKM PO Box 1009 Helena, MT 59624

[email protected]

boulder / swiftcurrent creek stabilization project · boulder / swiftcurrent creek stabilization...

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