Corps, Tribes Seek Comments on Walla Walla River Basin Study
Source: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District
The Walla Walla River Basin Feasibility Study will concentrate on restoration of fish habitat quality with emphasis on options for increasing flows.
“The main issues that will be addressed are reductions in flow, degraded channel, poor water quality and high water temperatures on the Walla Walla River,” said Chris Hyland, study manager.
Four meetings are scheduled in Washington and Oregon as part of the scoping process of the study. Meetings will include an informal afternoon open house and an evening formal program. The public may stop by anytime during the scheduled open house to speak informally with a member of the study team. The evening formal meetings will provide the public opportunity to focus on identifying and prioritizing issues important to them concerning the aquatic condition of the Walla Walla River Basin. The Walla Walla meeting will be conducted in both English and Spanish, according to Hyland.
The District will prepare an environmental impact statement to evaluate potential environmental effects of alternatives identified by the study. Written comments may be submitted during the public scoping period, Aug. 28 – Sept. 27.
Send comments to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Environmental Compliance Section, 201 North Third Ave., Walla Walla, WA 99362 or through the Corps website at www.nww.usace.army.mil/wwrbasin.
Wednesday, Sept. 11
3 p.m. Open House
7 p.m. Formal Meeting
Washington State Department of Transportation
529 W. Main
Dayton, Wash.
Monday, Sept. 16
3 p.m. Open House
7 p.m. Formal Meeting
Milton-Freewater Community Building
505 Ward
Milton-Freewater, Ore.
Thursday, Sept. 12
3 p.m. Open House
7 p.m. Formal Meeting
Walla Walla District Headquarters
201 North Third Ave.
Walla Walla, Wash. (Session in English and Spanish)
Wednesday, Sept. 18
2 p.m. Open House
6 p.m. Formal Meeting
Tamastslikt Cultural Institute
Wildhorse Resort Complex Hwy 331
Mission, Ore.
For more information, call James “Red” Smith at (509) 527-7244 at the Walla Walla District Headquarters.