Comment Period: July 26, 2021 – August 21, 2021
SUBJECT: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District, (Corps) is evaluating a permit application for the discharge dredged and fill material in approximately 1.54 acres of waters of the United States to construct the Echo Reservoir-Red Rock Marina Day Use Area Expansion project. This notice is to inform interested parties of the proposed activity and to solicit comments.
AUTHORITY: This application is being evaluated under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act for the discharge of dredged or fill material in waters of the United States.
APPLICANT: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Attn: Mr. Kent Kofford, 302 East 1860 South, Provo, Utah, 84606
LOCATION: The approximately 21.3-acre project site is located on Echo Reservoir, at the Red Rock Marina, Latitude 40.95972°, Longitude -111.41008°, Summit County, Utah, and can be seen on the Coalville USGS Topographic Quadrangle (Figures 1 & 2).
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The applicant is proposing to expand the parking lot and day use area at the Red Rock Marina of Echo Reservoir. The applicant has proposed to expand the area by dredging material from Echo Reservoir and using that dredged material as the base fill material for the expansion area. Dredging work would be completed with heavy machinery on the dry, exposed lakebed during the draw down period when the work site is fully de-watered. The expanded parking and day use area would be constructed on this fill material which would be stabilized using rip rap, as shown on Figures 4-7. The proposed plan would result in the dredging of 5.88 acres of dry lakebed and filling 1.54 acres with 14,280 cubic yards of dredged material below the ordinary high-water mark, as well as the filling of 0.34 acre with 1,942 cubic yards of riprap below the ordinary high-water mark of Echo Reservoir. Based on the available information, the overall project purpose is to develop sustainable, adequate recreation facilities to meet current public demand and improve overall public recreation opportunities at Echo Reservoir. The applicant believes there is a need to accommodate an increase in boating activity, requiring more boat trailer parking. The attached drawings provide additional project details.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Environmental Setting. Echo Dam and Reservoir are features of the Weber River Project and are located on the Weber River and owned by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. The Reservoir provides irrigation water for about 109,000 acres of land east of the Great Salt Lake. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has an agreement with Utah State Parks to allow for the operation of a state park at the reservoir, including Red Rock Marina and the day-use area. The project site is characterized by dry lakebed during portions of the year when lake levels are low, and open water/shoreline during portions of the year when lake levels are high. No vegetation is present within the immediate vicinity of the project site, though some mature tree species line the shoreline above the ordinary high-water mark and are supported by the fluctuating water levels. No wetlands or other aquatic features are present within or near the project area.
Alternatives. The applicant has provided information concerning project alternatives in their document “Final Environmental Assessment Echo Recreation Development” dated July 2018. Additional information concerning project alternatives may be available from the applicant. Other alternatives may develop during the review process for this permit application. All reasonable project alternatives, in particular those which may be less damaging to the aquatic environment, will be considered.
Mitigation. The Corps requires that applicants consider and use all reasonable and practical measures to avoid and minimize impacts to aquatic resources. If the applicant is unable to avoid or minimize all impacts, the Corps may require compensatory mitigation. The applicant has not proposed compensatory mitigation for the proposed impacts associated with the project.
OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORIZATIONS: Water quality certification or a waiver, as required under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act from the Utah Division of Water Quality, is required for this project. The applicant has indicated they have applied for certification.
HISTORIC PROPERTIES: Based on the available information (including applicant's report titled “Class III Cultural Resource Inventory of the Echo Reservoir
Recreation Development Project, Summit County, Utah. Bureau of Reclamation, Upper Colorado Region, Provo Area Office”), no cultural resources were identified within the area of potential effect that falls under the Corps’ scope. The Bureau of Reclamation is the lead federal agency for compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and has already consulted with the Utah State Historic Preservation Office. The Bureau of Reclamation made a determination that the proposed project would have no adverse effects to historic properties and the Utah State Historic Preservation Office concurred with this determination in a letter dated April 3, 2018.
ENDANGERED SPECIES: The project would not affect any Federally listed threatened or endangered species or their critical habitat that are protected by the Endangered Species Act.
The above determinations are based on information provided by the applicant and our preliminary review.
EVALUATION FACTORS: The decision whether to issue a permit will be based on an evaluation of the probable impacts, including cumulative impacts, of the described activity on the public interest. That decision will reflect the national concern for both protection and utilization of important resources. The benefit, which reasonably may be expected to accrue from the described activity, must be balanced against its reasonably foreseeable detriments. All factors which may be relevant to the described activity will be considered, including the cumulative effects thereof; among those are conservation, economics, aesthetics, general environmental concerns, wetlands, historic properties, fish and wildlife values, flood hazards, floodplain values, land use, navigation, shoreline erosion and accretion, recreation, water supply and conservation, water quality, energy needs, safety, food and fiber production, mineral needs, consideration of property ownership and, in general, the needs and welfare of the people. The activity's impact on the public interest will include application of the Section 404(b)(1) guidelines promulgated by the Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency (40 CFR Part 230).
The Corps is soliciting comments from the public, Federal, State, and local agencies and officials, Indian tribes, and other interested parties in order to consider and evaluate the impacts of this proposed activity. Any comments received will be considered by the Corps to determine whether to issue, modify, condition, or deny a permit for this proposal. To make this decision, comments are used to assess impacts on endangered species, historic properties, water quality, general environmental effects, and other public interest factors listed above. Comments are used in the preparation of an Environmental Assessment and/or an Environmental Impact Statement pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act. Comments are also used to determine the need for a public hearing and to determine the overall public interest of the proposed activity.
SUBMITTING COMMENTS: Written comments, referencing Public Notice SPK-2020 00541 must be submitted to the office listed below on or before August 21, 2021.
Michael Pectol, Project Manager
US Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District
533 West 2600 South, Suite 150, Bountiful, Utah 84010
Email: michael.a.pectol@usace.army.mil
The Corps is particularly interested in receiving comments related to the proposal's probable impacts on the affected aquatic environment and the secondary and cumulative effects. Anyone may request, in writing, that a public hearing be held to consider this application. Requests shall specifically state, with particularity, the reason(s) for holding a public hearing. If the Corps determines that the information received in response to this notice is inadequate for thorough evaluation, a public hearing may be warranted. If a public hearing is warranted, interested parties will be notified of the time, date, and location. Please note that all comment letters received are subject to release to the public through the Freedom of Information Act. If you have questions or need additional information please contact the applicant or Corps' project manager Mike Pectol, (801) 295-8380, ext. 8315; michael.a.pectol@usace.army.mil.
Attachments: 7 drawings