[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 32 (Thursday, February 15, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5989-5990]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-3383]



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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army
Corps of Engineers
[3710-AJ]


Jacksonville District, Jacksonville, FL; Intent To Prepare a 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the C-7, C-8, and C-9 
(North Dade) Canals General Reevaluation Report (GRR)

AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Defense.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The Jacksonville District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 
(Corps), along with the South Florida Water Management District 
(SFWMD), intends to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
(DEIS) for the feasibility phase of the C-7, C-8, and C-9 (North Dade) 
Canals General Reevaluation Report (GRR).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed action 
and DEIS can be answered by: Mark Ziminske, Planning Division, U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers, P.O. Box 4970, Jacksonville, Florida 32232-
0019; Telephone 904-232-1786/Fax 904-232-3442.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

a. Authorization

    Construction of the C-7 (Little River), C-8 (Biscayne), and C-9 
(Snake Creek) canals, and associated water control structures, S-27, S-
28, and S-29 was authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1948, which 
provided for construction of the first phase of a comprehensive plan 
for flood control, fish and wildlife preservation, regional groundwater 
control, salinity control, and navigation. The Energy and Water 
Development Act of 1955 authorized preparation of a GRR to review 
conveyance capacity of existing canals, document the quality of local 
maintenance, and to make recommendations for implementable solutions to 
flooding problems in the C-7, C-8, and C-9 drainage basins.

b. Study Area

    The C-7, C-8, and C-9 basins are located in northeastern Dade 
County, Florida; all three canals as well as control structures S-27, 
S-28, and S-29 are previously constructed Corps' projects. The C-7 
basin comprises 35 square miles, and is approximately 11 miles long. 
The western portion of the basin lies in Area B, an area of relatively 
poor drainage, west of the coastal ridge, eastern Dade County. S-27 is 
a double grated concrete spillway located in C-7, 

[[Page 5990]]
which permits release of flood runoff and prevents over-drainage and 
saltwater intrusion through C-7.
    The C-8 basin comprises about 31 square miles, is approximately 12 
miles long, and its western portion is also located in Area B. S-28, 
located in C-8, is a double-gated spillway, which permits release of 
flood runoff from the C-8 basin and prevents saltwater intrusion 
through C-8.
    The C-9 basin comprises an area of 98 square miles, 39 square miles 
in Dade County and 59 square miles in Broward County. The total canal 
length is approximately 11 miles. S-29 and S-30 are control structures 
located in the C-9 drainage basin. S-29 is a four-gated spillway which 
conveys flood runoff and prevents over-drainage and saltwater intrusion 
through C-9. S-30 is a gated concrete culvert which prevents excessive 
seepage losses from Water Conservation Area (WCA)-3A by permitting 
higher stages in the L-33 borrow canal and supplies water from L-33 
borrow canal during dry periods to maintain stages and satisfy 
irrigation demands in the C-7, C-8, and C-9 drainage basins. All three 
canals discharge into northern Biscayne Bay, at Miami.

c. Project Scope and Preliminary Alternatives

    The primary objective of this project is to develop a total 
watershed plan which identifies structural and/or operational 
modifications to the C-7, C-8, and C-9 canals and the associated water 
management facilities. While the project emphasis is to enhance flood 
control benefits in the project area, the GRR will also document the 
status and quality of maintenance on the existing project and identify 
environmental restoration opportunities in conjunction with proposed 
project modifications.
    Alternatives will be developed and evaluated based on the project 
objectives, environmental studies, flood control feasibility, and 
economics. Standard Corps' programs HEC-2 and UNET will be used to 
develop hydraulic models of the existing and any proposed flood control 
features.
    In addition to the without project and future conditions, four 
preliminary alternatives have been drafted which may be revised pending 
model results and public feedback. They include: (1) Modifications to 
existing canals to increase conveyance where appropriate and possible; 
(2) construction of levees adjacent to existing canals in areas 
identified as being susceptible to flooding, possibly in conjunction 
with canal cross-section modifications; (3) use of retention storage 
basins for peak discharge attenuation, possibly in conjunction with 
channel modifications and construction of levees; and (4) operational 
changes of existing control structures for the respective canals.

d. Scoping

    The scoping process as outlined by the Council on Environmental 
Quality will be utilized to involve Federal, State, and local agencies, 
affected Indian Tribes, and other interested private organizations and 
parties.
    A Scoping letter will be sent to interested Federal, State and 
local agencies, interested organizations and the public, requesting 
their comments and concerns regarding issues they feel should be 
addressed in the DEIS. Interested persons and organizations wishing to 
participate in the scoping process should contact the U.S. Army Corps 
of Engineers at the address above. Significant issues anticipated 
include concern for: maintenance of flood protection for the project 
area; water quality, particularly in the receiving waters of Biscayne 
Bay; wetlands; fish and wildlife; saltwater intrusion into project 
canals and the groundwater and; threatened and endangered plant and 
animal species. Public meetings will be held over the course of the 
study, the exact location, dates, and times will be announced in public 
notices and local newspapers.
    e. It is estimated that the DEIS will be available to the public 
about July 1998.
A.J. Salem,
Chief, Planning Division.
[FR Doc. 96-3383 Filed 2-14-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-AJ-M