[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 40 (Monday, March 1, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9569-9572]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-4447]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Colville National Forest, WA; Growden Dam and Sherman Creek 
Restoration

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: The Forest Service, USDA, will prepare an environmental impact 
statement (EIS) on a proposal to remove Growden Dam and improve trout 
habitat on approximately 3 miles of Sherman Creek. Growden Dam was 
built in 1937 by the Civilian Conservation Corp as a recreational pond. 
It serves no irrigation, hydropower, or flood control purpose. The pond 
has filled in with sediment and poses a safety risk if it washes out. 
The Proposed Action will be in compliance with the 1988 Colville 
National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) as 
amended, which provides the overall guidance for management of this 
area. The Proposed Action is within the Sherman Creek drainage on the 
Three Rivers Ranger District. The project area would be located from 12 
to 16 miles west of Kettle Falls, Ferry County, Washington along State 
Highway 20. Project implementation is scheduled for fiscal year 2005. 
The Colville National Forest invites written comments and suggestions 
on the scope of the analysis. The agency will give notice of the full 
environmental analysis and decision-making process so interested and 
affected people may be able to participate and contribute in the final 
decision.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by March 26, 2004. The draft environmental impact statement is expected 
August, 2004 and the final environmental impact statement is expected 
November 2004.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments and suggestions concerning this 
proposal to Sherri Schwenke, District Ranger, Three Rivers District, 
255 West 11th, Kettle Falls, WA 99141. Comments may be submitted 
electronically by sending them to [email protected]. Comments may also be sent by FAX (509-738-7701). 
Include your name and mailing address with your comments so

[[Page 9570]]

documents pertaining to this project may be mailed to you.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information, mail 
correspondence to Sherri Schwenke, District Ranger, Three Rivers 
District, 255 West 11th, Kettle Falls, WA 99141 (phone 509-738-7700), 
or to Karen Honeycutt, Project Leader, 765 South Main Street, Colville, 
WA 99114, (phone 509-684-7000 or e-mail [email protected]). 
Information about the project will be kept up to date on the Colville 
National Forest Web site at http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/colville/.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Purpose and Need for Action

    Growden Dam was built in 1937 as a recreational pond. By 1953, the 
pond had filled with sediment. The dam is not used for irrigation, 
flood control, or hydropower. The Growden Dam and Sherman Creek 
Restoration project is proposed to meet specific purposes and needs.
    There is a need to reduce the safety risk from a dam failure. At 
the time of construction, the pond was 20 feet deep at the dam and 
approximately 6 acres. In the early 1950's, the Sherman Creek Highway 
was constructed. During construction of the highway, the dam filled 
with sediment in three years. This turned the pond into a wetland. The 
sediment buried the cleanout structure. The outlet structure is a drop 
structure. The dam has a high risk of failure and would cause severe 
downstream damage if it washed out.
    The Washington Department of Ecology's Dam Safety Section surveyed 
the dam in 1991. Their analysis revealed that under extreme flood 
conditions, the dam does not meet current Dam Safety Section Standards. 
Should a dam failure occur, two permanent residences and several 
vacation cabins would be inundated. The dam almost washed out in the 
flood of 1998. This would have caused extensive damage to the channel 
and highway. Approximately 8 miles of stream would be affected. There 
are also 3 bridges that would probably wash out. There is a Washington 
State Department of Fish and Wildlife hatchery at the mouth of Sherman 
Creek. A dam breach would cause significant damage to the hatchery.
    There is also a need to reduce downstream stream temperatures to 
meet Washington State Water Quality temperature standards. Currently as 
the stream flows through the wetland the maximum water temperatures 
exceed state standards. In 1999, the Washington Department of Ecology 
funded a temperature study on Sherman Creek. Two areas showed up as the 
main contributors to high temperatures. These are Growden Dam and the 
lower reach of the South Fork of Sherman Creek. Above the influence of 
the dam, the maximum water temperature was 15.5 degrees C in 1999. At 
the outlet of the dam the maximum water temperature was 18 degrees C 
during the same time. South Fork of Sherman Creek adds another 2 
degrees C to this, which brought the maximum water temperature to 20 
degrees C.
    Removing the dam would restore sediment and bed load transport from 
above Growden to below Growden. The dam also blocks the bed load 
transport. This has caused portions of the downstream channel to 
degrade and detach from the floodplain. The stream is no longer able to 
store wood in these areas. The flows are faster through these areas, 
causing the debris to be washed out. Bank erosion is increasing in 
these areas because of the lack of woody debris and floodplain 
connectivity. Eroding banks are between 5 to 60 feet high. Even though 
there is sediment coming in from the banks, gravels for spawning are 
limited. The gravels are being either trapped by the dam or flushed 
through because of lack of structure to store the gravels.
    There is a need to increase sediment storage downstream of Growden 
to accept new sediment and bedload. In 1998, Sherman Creek was surveyed 
for habitat parameters. Large woody debris and the number of pools were 
low. This was caused both by a stream cleanout in 1969 and 1970 and by 
the dam blocking bed load transport. The downstream channel has downcut 
and detached from the floodplain. The stream is no longer able to store 
wood and sediment in these areas. The flows are faster through these 
areas, causing the debris to be washed out. Without the debris the 
stream is not able to store sediment. The stream is also not able to 
reach the larger floodplain that existed before the channel downcut. 
The floodplain is the most desirable place for sediment deposition. 
Even with substantial efforts to remove the sediment and restore the 
historic channel, there will be a short term pulse of sediment 
delivered to the downstream reaches. The increase in flood plain and 
stream bank roughness created by LWD (large woody debris) placement 
will collect and facilitate routing of excess sediment generated by dam 
decommissioning.
    Removal of the dam will restore fish passage through the Growden 
Reach. The drop structure is a barrier to fish movement. Redband trout 
and westslope cutthroat trout populations are present in the watershed. 
The Forest Service has listed these species as sensitive. One of the 
main populations occurs just below the dam in Lane Creek. This 
population does not have access to the prime habitat found above the 
dam.
    This project is designed to maintain or restore fully functional 
and stable riparian and aquatic systems. The Forest Plan has goals of 
high quality aquatic habitat, water, and riparian resources (Forest 
Plan Record of Decision Page 4, and Forest Plan page 4-2). The INFISH 
Forest Plan Amendment has goals of maintaining or restoring stream 
channel integrity, channel processes, and sediment regime, and 
diversity and productivity of native and desired non-native plant 
communities (Inland Native Fish Strategy Attachment A, pages A-1, A-2).

Proposed Action

    The Growden Dam and Sherman Creek Restoration project is a proposal 
to remove the Growden Dam and restore approximately 3 miles of fish 
habitat downstream of the dam. These proposed actions include: removal 
of Growden Dam; restoring the channel and valley bottom behind the dam 
to pre-dam elevations; removing sediment deposits from behind the dam 
and creating a terrace with part of the sediment and taking the rest to 
the Lane Creek pit; restoration of Lane Creek pit with sediment from 
behind the dam; improving fish habitat and sediment storage on 
approximately 3 miles of stream below the dam; riparian vegetation 
thinning to get the material needed to the stream restoration.

Possible Alternatives

    Possible alternatives include alteration of the dam to allow for 
flow over the dam. This may include creating an emergency spillway on 
one side of the dam or reducing the height of the dam to the level of 
the current substrate.

Lead and Cooperating Agencies

    The Ferry Conservation District, the Washington Department of 
Ecology, and the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway 
Administration are cooperating agencies for this project.

Responsible Official

    Sherri Schwenke, District Ranger, Three Rivers District, 255 West 
11th, Kettle Falls, WA 99141 (phone 509-738-7700).

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The responsible official will decide which, if any, of the 
alternatives will be implemented. This entails in what way

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the Growden Dam will be decommissioned to meet the purpose and need. 
The responsible official will also decide what type of restoration will 
occur on the lower three miles of habitat. Her decision and rationale 
for the decision will be documented in the record of decision, which 
will be subject to Forest Service Appeal Regulations (36 CFR part 215).

Scoping Process

    The scoping process will include the following: Identify and 
clarify issues; identify key issues to be analyzed in depth; explore 
alternatives based on themes which will be derived from issues 
recognized during scoping activities; and identify potential 
environmental effects of the Proposed Action and alternatives. A range 
of alternatives will be considered, including a No-Action alternative.

Preliminary Issues

    The issues related to the Growden Dam and Sherman Creek Restoration 
project include safety, reducing stream temperatures, restoring bedload 
transport, cultural resource damage, fish passage, noxious weeds, 
tribal concerns, destruction of wetland and beaver habitat, and 
recreation.
    Safety is the largest issue with the dam. The risk of dam failure 
must be reduced. The reduction in dam failure risk would be measured by 
the amount of dam removed.
    Sherman Creek exceeds the state standard for temperature. Growden 
Dam is suspected to be one of two main causes. Removal of Growden Dam 
may bring temperatures back into state standards. This will be measured 
by the amount of stream channel improved and the amount of wetland 
remaining behind the dam.
    Growden Dam has blocked most bedload from the lower reach of 
Sherman Creek. This has caused streambank erosion and stream 
degradation, which has led to poor fish habitat. Improvement will be 
measured by the amount of bedload allowed through the dam site and the 
amount of stream reconnected to the floodplain.
    Growden Dam is located on a Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) era 
site. The dam was built by the CCC. The dam is being evaluated for 
historical significance. The amount of alteration to the site is at 
issue.
    There is no fish passage around the dam. The best fish habitat is 
found in the reaches above the dam. Opening this access up to the rest 
of the fish population will improve the fisheries.
    Noxious weeds are a major concern; there appears to be agreement 
that noxious weeds are a problem and that weed spread should be 
prevented. In response to this concern, the Colville National Forest 
implemented a policy: ``Noxious Weeds Prevention Guidelines'' in 
November 1999. Because these guidelines will be incorporated into all 
action alternatives, there is not expected to be a need to develop 
alternatives that directly respond to this concern. Potential for 
noxious weed spread will be measured by the acres of bare soil and 
miles of roaded access created or closed.
    The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation have reserved 
hunting, fishing, and gathering rights on the ``North Half 
Reservation,'' which includes the Growden Dam and Sherman Creek 
Restoration project area. These rights are regarded by tribal members 
as cultural, ceremonial, and spiritual subsistence. The primary concern 
in the Sherman Creek watershed is the downstream fisheries as 
potentially affected by aquatic health. To date, there have been no 
public comments regarding Tribal concerns, other than those already 
listed above.
    The Growden Dam and Sherman Creek Restoration project area is an 
important recreation area on the Three Rivers Ranger District. The area 
has one developed campground, paved access, two miles of paved hiking 
trails, and two developed trailhead/day use areas. The area is used for 
berry picking, hunting, dispersed camping, fishing, driving for 
pleasure, and a variety of other recreational activities.

Permits or Licenses Required

    Hydraulic Project Approval from the Washington Department of Fish 
and Wildlife under 75.20 RCW is required since the project includes 
construction of other work, that: will use, divert, obstruct, or change 
the natural flow or bed of fresh water of the state. This includes all 
construction or other work waterward and over the ordinary high water 
line, including dry channels, and may include projects landward of the 
ordinary high water line (e.g., activities outside the ordinary high 
water line that will directly impact fish life and habitat, falling 
trees into streams or lakes, etc.).
    Section 401 Water Quality Certification from the Washington 
Department of Ecology under 33 U.S.C. 1341 is needed since a federal 
approval is required for a project by the Corps of Engineers.
    Approval to Allow Temporary Exceedance of Water Quality Standards 
from the Washington Department of Ecology is required, under 90.48 RCW, 
since the project may result in a temporary exceedance of water quality 
criteria established by WAC 173-201A for in water work (e.g., changes 
in turbidity from sediment disturbances).
    Section 404 Permit from the Corps of Engineers under 33 U.S.C. 1344 
is required since the project includes discharge or excavation of 
dredged or fill material waterward of the ordinary high water mark in 
waters of the United States, including wetlands; and mechanized land 
clearing in waters of the United States, including wetlands.

Comment Requested

    The Forest Service is seeking information, comments, and assistance 
from other agencies, organizations, Indian Tribes, and individuals who 
may be interested in or affected by the Proposed Action. This input 
will be used in preparation of the draft EIS. Your comments are 
appreciated throughout the analysis process.
    Comments received in response to this notice, including names and 
addresses of those who comment, will be considered part of the public 
record on this Proposed Action and will be available for public 
inspection. Comments submitted anonymously will be accepted and 
considered; however, those who submit anonymous comments will not have 
standing to appeal the subsequent decision under 36 CFR part 215. 
Additionally, pursuant to 7 CFR 1.27(d), any person may request the 
agency to withhold a submission from the public record by showing how 
the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) permits such confidentiality. 
Persons requesting such confidentiality should be aware that under the 
FOIA, confidentiality may be granted in only very limited 
circumstances, such as to protect trade secrets. The Forest Service 
will inform the requester of the agency's decision regarding the 
request for confidentiality, and where the request is denied, the 
agency will return the submission and notify the requester that the 
comments may be resubmitted with or without name and address within a 
specified number of days.

Early Notice of Importance of Public Participation in Subsequent 
Environmental Review

    A draft environmental impact statement will be prepared for 
comment. The comment period on the draft environmental impact statement 
will be 45 days from the date the Environmental Protection Agency 
publishes the notice of availability in the Federal Register.
    The Forest Service believes, at this early stage, it is important 
to give reviewers notice of several court rulings

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related to public participation in the environmental review process. 
First, reviewers of draft environmental impact statements must 
structure their participation in the environmental review of the 
proposal so that it is meaningful and alerts an agency to the 
reviewer's position and contentions. Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. 
v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 553 (1978). Also, environmental objections that 
could be raised at the draft environmental impact statement stage but 
that are not raised until after completion of the final environmental 
impact statement may be waived or dismissed by the courts. City of 
Angoon v. Hodel, 803 F.2d 1016, 1022 (9th Cir. 1986) and Wisconsin 
Heritages, Inc. v. Harris, 490 F. Supp. 1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980). 
Because of these court rulings, it is very important that those 
interested in this proposed action participate by the close of the 45 
day comment period so that substantive comments and objections are made 
available to the Forest Service at a time when it can meaningfully 
consider them and respond to them in the final environmental impact 
statement.
    To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues 
and concerns on the proposed action, comments on the draft 
environmental impact statement should be as specific as possible. It is 
also helpful if comments refer to specific pages or chapters of the 
draft statement. Comments may also address the adequacy of the draft 
environmental impact statement or the merits of the alternatives 
formulated and discussed in the statement. Reviewers may wish to refer 
to the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for implementing 
the procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act at 
40 CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points.
    Comments received, including the names and addresses of those who 
comment, will be considered part of the public record on this proposal 
and will be available for public inspection.

(Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; Forest Service Handbook 
1909.15, Section 21)

    Dated: February 6, 2004.
Rick Brazell,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 04-4447 Filed 2-27-04; 8:45 am]
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