[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 230 (Thursday, November 30, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61523-61525]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-29242]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Natural Resources Conservation Service


Lake Carlinville Watershed, Macoupin County, Illinois; Notice of 
a Finding of No Significant Impact

AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of a Finding of No Significant Impact.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969; the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations 
(40 CFR part 1500); and the Natural Resources Conservation Service 
Regulations (7 CFR part 650); the Natural Resources Conservation 
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, gives notice that an 
environmental impact statement is not being prepared for the Lake 
Carlinville Watershed, Macoupin County, Illinois.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Thomas Christensen, State Conservationist, Natural Resources 
Conservation Service, 1902 Fox Drive, Champaign, IL 61820, 217/398-
5267.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The environmental assessment of this 
federally assisted action indicates that the project will not cause 
significant local, regional, or national impacts on the environment. As 
a result of these findings, Thomas Christensen, State Conservationist, 
has determined that the preparation and review of an environmental 
impact statement are not needed for this project.

[[Page 61524]]

    The project purpose is to improve water quality by trapping 
sediment and nonorganic materials. The element included in this plan is 
one sediment retention structure.
    The notice of a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) has been 
forwarded to the Environmental Protection Agency and to various 
federal, state and local agencies and interested parties. A limited 
number of copies of the FONSI are available to fill single copy 
requests at the above address. Basic data developed during the 
environmental assessment are on file and may be reviewed by contacting 
Thomas W. Christensen.
    No administrative action on implementation of the proposal will be 
taken until 30 days after the date of this publication in the Federal 
Register.

(This activity is listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic 
Assistance under No. 10.904--Watershed Protection and Flood 
Prevention and is subject to the provisions of Executive Order 12372 
which requires intergovernmental consultation with state and local 
officials.)
Thomas W. Christensen,
State Conservationist.

Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for Lake Carlinville 
Watershed, Macoupin County, Illinois

Introduction

    The Lake Carlinville Watershed is a federally assisted action 
authorized for planning under Public Law 83-566, the Watershed 
Protection and Flood Prevention Act. An environmental assessment was 
undertaken in conjunction with the development of a watershed plan. 
This assessment was conducted in consultation with local, state, and 
federal agencies as well as interested organizations and individuals. 
Data developed during the assessment are available for public review at 
the following location: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural 
Resources Conservation Service, 1902 Fox Drive, Champaign, Illinois 
61820, 217-398-5267.

Recommended Action

    Proposed is the installation of one sediment retention structure 
that controls 95 percent of the land draining into Lake Carlinville. 
This structure will have a significant impact on reducing sediment 
entering the lake. It will also reduce non-organic pollutants that 
enter the lake, such as nutrients being carried by the sediment. A 
straight gabion weir will be installed across the upper end of the 
lake. The structure will be built approximately seven feet higher than 
the existing Lake Carlinville water surface.
    High storm flows will flow over the weir three or more times per 
year. Lower storm flows and base flows will be directed through a low 
flow pipe on the north end of the structure. A stop log depth control 
device will be installed on the front of the pipe to allow the city to 
control the water elevation above the weir.
    Costs: Total project costs are $554,600. Average annual costs are 
$56,300, which includes $12,200 for operation and maintenance.

                              Project Cost                              
                            [Dollars in 1995]                           
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      PL 566                            
        Project investment            funds     Other funds  Total funds
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Construction.....................     $203,000     $203,000     $406,000
Engineering Service..............       64,000            0       64,000
Project Administration...........       29,000        9,600       38,600
Land Rights......................            0       46,000       46,000
                                  --------------------------------------
      Total......................      296,000      258,600      554,600
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Benefits: The estimated benefits for this alternative are $75,300 
annually. These benefits are derived from maintaining the value of 
recreation activities associated with Lake Carlinville, extending the 
life of dredging activities,and reducing water treatment costs. The 
lake's fishery will improve, while the loss of habitat and fishing 
access due to sedimentation will be reduced. The decrease in turbidity 
will cause an increase in growth and numbers of fish. Fish populations 
will be easier to manage (less problems with reproduction). The 
improvement in the lake's fishery will increase the recreational use 
and value of the lake.
    Effects: The retention structure will control a drainage area of 
23.7 square miles or 95 percent of the watershed drainage area. 
Sedimentation deposited in the lake will be reduced from 15,300 tons to 
3,000 tons annually, or 80 percent. This alternative significantly 
reduces the sediment and nutrients that would be delivered to the lake. 
The Trophic State index will be reduced from 70 to 59. This gives the 
lake a good chance to improve its transparency.
    This alternative addresses resource concerns by improving 
recreational values, improving water quality, improving sports fishery 
populations, significantly reducing loss of fish habitat, and improving 
visual quality. This alternative would preserve fish habitat which 
would otherwise be lost throughout the 50 year life of the project.
    Where tributaries empty into the lake, wetlands have formed on 
sediment. The mud flats are vegetated with reed canary grass, cattails, 
and willows. Slightly higher areas are vegetated with trees, which are 
mostly green ash and silver maple. Less than one acre of shallow lake 
will be displaced by the sediment basin structure.
    An estimated 32 acres of shallow lake and marsh will fill with 
sediment over the life of the basin (50 years), and become vegetated 
with emergent wetland plants and willows or silver maple and green ash 
trees. Wetland hydrology will remain after the basin is full of 
sediment.
    Approximately 51 acres of wet meadow and woody vegetation (willow, 
silver maple, and box elder) growing on mud flats will continue to grow 
upon sediment as the basin fills. The extent of this vegetation type 
will expand into areas that are now open water and marsh as the basin 
fills with sediment.
    Approximately 53 acres of cropland, hayland, and mixed hardwoods 
(early successional), will make a transition into wooded wetland. The 
temporary inundation of these areas, due to the basin structure, is 
expected to average 6 to 10 days in duration 2 to 3 times during the 
growing season. This type of inundation will cause the slow transition 
of this area to species that can tolerate wetter conditions.
    As the sediment retention structure fills, the base water level 
(water table) 

[[Page 61525]]
can be raised to maintain wetland hydrology in the basin. When the 
basin has filled with sediment, larger trees will become established on 
most of the 136 acres that are now in grass, trees, crops or open 
water.
    The long term effect on wetlands is not significant. During 
construction and during the period of time that the basin is filling, 
there will not be a significant adverse impact on wetlands. Some areas 
will gradually shift from one wetland vegetation type to another. Also 
over time some areas that are now upland mixed hardwoods will change to 
wooded wetlands. This will have the positive effect of adding diversity 
to the area. The ability to control the draw down, duration, and 
timing, offered by the water control feature in the structure will 
enable some management of water levels for optimum use by waterfowl and 
other wetland species. It will also facilitate management of problem 
plant species.
    No threatened and endangered species habitat will be affected.
    Mitigation Features: Contractors will be required to comply with 
local, state, and federal environmental protection standards, and to 
take measures to control sediment and erosion related to construction.
    Negative environmental impacts have been avoided or minimized to 
the point that they are not significant. Two acres of upland woods will 
be cleared to build this project. One acre will be needed for the 
construction site and the second acre will be cleared during the 
building of the access road to the site. This loss will be mitigated by 
the replanting of the construction site to trees after construction is 
complete. The second acre will be mitigated by planting one acre of 
pasture or cropland that is within the basin to hardwoods.

Alternatives

    The planned action is the most practical means of reducing the 
sedimentation to Lake Carlinville. Since no significant adverse 
environmental impacts will result from the installation of the 
measures, the no-project alternative was the only other alternative 
considered.

Consultation and Public Participation

    On January 1990, the Macoupin County Soil and Water Conservation 
District received a request from the City of Carlinville for assistance 
in developing a resource plan for Lake Carlinville and its watershed. 
To initiate such a plan, the Soil and Water Conservation District 
appointed a committee of concerned citizens to help provide guidance 
during the planning process. The planning committee met on April 24, 
1990 and developed a list of resource concerns for the watershed. These 
included:

1. Future water supply
2. Soil erosion
3. Water quality of the lake
4. Impact of above on lake use and recreation facilities

    The planning committee appointed a technical advisory committee to 
inventory and evaluate the identified resource concerns in the 
watershed. Agencies represented on the technical advisory committee 
include:

--Illinois Department of Natural Resources
--Macoupin Soil and Water Conservation District
--Natural Resources Conservation Service
--U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
--Illinois Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Soil Conservation

    The technical advisory committee provided their reports to the 
planning committee and a resource plan was developed and presented to 
the planning committee in May of 1990. At this time, the planning 
committee selected the sediment retention structure to be included in 
the plan of work.
    A resource plan was completed in August, 1990 and reviewed with the 
planning committee.
    In July, 1990, a pre-authorization planning meeting was held with 
key individuals from NRCS. At this time, various activities were 
identified with a timetable for completion. In July, 1990, a standard 
form application was completed for federal assistance.
    The plan of work was completed in October, 1993. This plan of work 
was prepared to show time, cost and schedules to complete the watershed 
work plan through to authorization for installation.
    It is the opinion of the planning committee that there is evidence 
of ample need and overall interest in this project.
    On June 22, 1994 an inter-agency meeting was held to discuss 
environmental concerns with IDNR, USFWS, IEPA, USDA/FS, Macoupin County 
SWCD, and the field area, and state office staff of the NRCS.
    The committee sponsored an informational public meeting on June 22, 
1994 to review project plans for a sediment basin in the upper end of 
the lake.
    The planning committee continues to meet monthly.

Conclusion

    The Environmental Assessment summarized above indicates that this 
Federal action will not cause significant local, regional, or national 
impacts on the environment. Therefore, based on the above findings, I 
have determined that an environmental impact statement for the Lake 
Carlinville Watershed Plan is not required.
Thomas W. Christensen,
State Conservationist.

    Dated: November 21, 1995.

[FR Doc. 95-29242 Filed 11-29-95; 8:45 am]
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