[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 234 (Friday, December 5, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64365-64366]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-31942]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Corps of Engineers, Department of the Army


Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) 
for the Proposed Rio Salado Environmental Restoration, Salt River and 
Indian Bend Wash, Cities of Phoenix and Tempe, Maricopa County, AZ

AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, DOD.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has prepared a Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement and a Feasibility Report for the 
Proposed Rio Salado Environmental Restoration which will restore native 
type habitat along a five mile stretch of the Salt River in downtown 
Phoenix, and along lower Indian Bend Wash, and along the Salt River 
upstream and downstream of Tempe Town Lake in the City of Tempe.
    The proposed project will restore 550 acres in the Phoenix reach 
and 150 acres in Tempe. In the Phoenix Reach, a 200 foot wide incised 
low flow channel will be constructed in the river bottom to carry storm 
flows of less than the ten year event. The low flow channel will 
contain four pools connected by a perennial stream which will stretch 
for 2.5 miles, as well as 51 acres of aquatic strand habitat. In 
addition to the low flow channel the project calls for the 
establishment of 58 acres of wetland marsh, 99 acres of cottonwood/
willow riparian habitat, and 130 of mesquite upland on the benches, 
banks and overbanks of the river channel. Irrigation water for the 
habitat will be supplied from the shallow aquifer through six wells 
located on both banks of the river. The proposed project would

[[Page 64366]]

also include the construction of maintenance roads along the river 
channel, which would also serve as recreational trails. Three park 
areas are planned for construction on the overbanks of the channel to 
serve as public gateways to the river.
    In the Tempe Reach the proposal is to supply water, from an 
existing well, to Indian Bend Wash at McKellips Road, allow the water 
to flow downstream to a point just above the confluence with the Salt 
River, where it will be piped by gravity flow to a location just above 
the upstream dam to Tempe Town Lake. The water will pond across the 
Salt River, and will be pumped out on the south bank, and piped 
downstream past the Town Lake, where it will be reintroduced to the 
Salt River. The habitat to be established in the Tempe reach consists 
of 50 acres of aquatic strand, 16 acres of wetland marsh, 20 acres of 
cottonwood/willow, and 30 acres of mesquite upland.
    The proposed project is expected to have significant beneficial 
environmental impacts. Restoring native riparian and wetland vegetation 
to the Salt River is expected to benefit several native wildlife 
species and threatened and endangered species. No long-term adverse 
ecological or environmental health effects are expected due to the 
proposed environmental restoration. No significant impacts are expected 
to occur.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information on the Draft 
Feasability Report contact Mr. Mike Ternak, U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers, Los Angeles District, Attn: CESPL-PD-WC, 3636 N. Central 
Avenue, Phoenix AZ 85012-1936 at (602) 640-2003, and for information on 
the DEIS contact Mr. Alex Watt, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los 
Angeles District, Attn: CESPL-PD-RQ, P.O. Box 532711, Los Angeles CA 
90053 at (213) 452-3860.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Army Corps of Engineers has prepared a 
DEIS to assess the environmental effects associated with the proposed 
Rio Salado environmental restoration. The public will have the 
opportunity to comment on this analysis before any action is taken to 
implement the proposed action.
    Scoping: The Army Corps of Engineers conducted two scoping meetings 
prior to preparing the Environmental Impact Statement to aid in 
determining the significant environmental issues associated with the 
proposed action. These meetings were held in the City of Tempe on June 
10, 1996, and in the City of Phoenix on June 11, 1996.
    Two public hearings to receive comments on the DEIS will be held in 
conjunction with the public meetings to present the feasibility report. 
The public hearings are to be held in the City of Tempe on January 7, 
1998 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the City of Tempe Police Auditorium, 120 E. 
5th Street, Tempe, AZ 85281, and in the City of Phoenix on January 8, 
1998 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Phoenix City Council Chambers, 200 W. 
Jefferson Street, Phoenix, AZ 85003. The location, date, and time of 
the public hearings will be announced in the local news media, and 
separate notice will also be sent to all parties on the project mailing 
list.
    Individuals and agencies may present oral or written comments 
relevant to the DEIS by attending either of the two public hearings, or 
by mailing the information to Mr. Alex Watt at the address below prior 
to January 20, 1998. Comments, suggestions, and requests to be placed 
on the mailing list for announcements and for the Draft DEIS, should be 
sent to Alex Watt, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, 
Attn: CESPL-PD-RQ, P.O. Box 532711, Los Angeles CA 90053.
    Availability of the Draft EIS: Copies of the DEIS are available for 
review at the following locations:

City of Phoenix, Planning Department, 200 W. Washington Street, 6th 
Floor, Phoenix, AZ.
City of Tempe, Rio Salado Project Office, 31 E. 5th Street, 2nd Floor, 
Tempe, AZ.
Phoenix Central Library, 1221 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, AZ.
Ocotillo Branch Library, 102 W. Southern, Phoenix, AZ.
Harmon Branch Library, 411 W. Yavapai St., Phoenix, AZ.
Arizona State University, Hayden, Library, Reference Department, Tempe, 
AZ.
University of Arizona, Main Library, Main Reference Department, 1510 E. 
University, Tucson, AZ.
Flood Control District of Maricopa County, 2801 West Durango, Phoenix, 
AZ.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Planning Section C, 3636 N. Central 
Avenue, Suite 740, Phoenix, AZ.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, Environmental 
Resources Branch, 911 Wilshire Boulevard, 14th Floor, Los Angeles, CA.

    For a copy of the DEIS or for further information, please contact 
Mr. Mike Ternak, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, 
Attn: CESPL-PD-WC, 3636 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85012-1936 at 
(602) 640-2003. Written comments on the DEIS can be sent to Mr. Alex 
Watt, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, Attn: CESPL-
PD-RQ, P.O. Box 532711, Los Angeles, CA 90053 or Faxed to him at (213) 
452-4204.

    Dated: November 25, 1997.
Robert L. Davis,
Colonel, Corps of Engineers, District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 97-31942 Filed 12-4-97; 8:45 am]
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