Columbia Stock Ranch Section 536 Ecosystem Restoration Project (DOE/EA-2043)

Columbia County, Oregon

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) plans to construct an ecosystem restoration project at Columbia Stock Ranch. The Columbia Stock Ranch project involves modifying a portion of the Columbia River Levee to restore tidal influence to the floodplain to allow semi-regular inundation by the Columbia River, promoting the exchange of nutrients, minerals, organic material and salmonid prey items between the floodplain and the river. Tidal channels connected to Tide Creek and the Columbia River would be excavated to facilitate inundation of the project site during the tidal cycle, providing juvenile salmonids with increased off-channel rearing and foraging opportunities. Areas adjacent to the tidal channels would be excavated to create marsh and emergent wetland habitat, increasing overall diversity and the quantity of wetlands across the floodplain. The project site is located in Columbia County, Oregon between the cities of Rainier and St. Helens.

The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) plans to provide funding for the project. Providing funding will help BPA meet obligations -- under the Pacific Northwest Electric Power Planning and Conservation Act of 1980 and the Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS) Biological Opinion -- to mitigate for the effects of the FCRPS on the listed salmon and steelhead.

CURRENT STATUS

The Corps, in cooperation with BPA, prepared an environmental assessment (EA) to help determine the potential impacts that the Columbia Stock Ranch Ecosystem Restoration Project would have on the human environment. The Corps released the draft EA for public review and comment in April 2016. The Corps prepared a final EA that includes responses to comments received. Based on the EA’s analysis and mitigation measures to help lessen impacts, the Corps found that the project will not cause any significant impacts and issued a finding of no significant impact in July 2016.

In May 2017, BPA and the Corps made the joint decision to no longer pursue the Columbia Stock Ranch Ecosystem Restoration Project. As a result, BPA will not issue a finding of no significant impact and considers its NEPA review process complete.

CONTACT

Kristine Lightner Direct line: 503-808-4748
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers  FAX: 503-808-4756
P.O. Box 2946 Email: Kristine.A.Lightner@usace.army.mil 
Portland, Oregon 97208-2946

Alternatively, you may contact the BPA environmental protection specialist:
Ted Gresh Toll-free: 800-622-4519
Environmental Protection Specialist Direct line: 503-230-5756
Bonneville Power Administration - ECF-4  Email: esgresh@bpa.gov 
P.O. Box 3621 
Portland, Oregon 97208-3621

DOCUMENTS

Corps FONSI
Corps Final EA
Corps Draft EA