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Bowie Dam and Lake, Pascagoula River Basin, Mississippi and Alabama Dear General Clarke

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Bowie Dam and Lake, Pascagoula River Basin, Mississippi and Alabama Dear General Clarke FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT BOWIE DAM AND LAKE PASCAGOULA RIVER BASIN MISSISSIPPI AND ALABAMA OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS WASHINGTON, D. C. 20314 August 1972 Howie Dam and Lake, Pascagoula River Basin, Mississippi and Alabama ( ) Drall (X) Pinal F.nvironmental Statement Kespomtible OECieo: U. S. Army Engineer District, Mobile, Alabama 1. Name of Action: ( ) Administrative (X) Legislative 2. Description of Action: Submission to Congress for project authori'atic, of a multipurpose reservoir project on Bowie Creek in-Jefferson Davis, Covington and Lamar Counties, Mississippi. Th$ project wou.d be contracted for the purposes of flood control, water supply, general recreation and fish and wildlife enhancement. 3a. Environmental Impacts: Conversion of 5,500 acres of agricultural and forest lands to a lake environment; loss of free-flowing stream habitat; provide flood protection; provide dependable water supply and provide high quality recreation. Additional conversion of woodland to agricultural land may be induced by project implementation b. Adverse Environmental Effects: Loss of 5,500 acres of agricultural and forest land and its associated wildlife habitat; loss of free-flowing stream fisheries and disruption of inhabitants. 4. Alternatives: Alternative sites and single purpose projects which are less efficacious or economically infeasible; and "no-development." 5. Comments Received; Governor of Mississippi Director, Alabama State Development Office Secretary of the Interior Secretary of Agriculture Secretary of Transportation Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare Regional Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency Director, Water Resources Council 6. Draft statement to CEQ 20 April 1972. Final statement to CEQ 2 0 SEP iq77 . ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT BOWIE DAM AND LAKE PASCAGOULA RIVER BASIN MISSISSIPPI AND ALABAMA Table of Contents 1 Project Descriptio n ----------------- ------............ i General ----------------- — ------- —— -----...... j B o w i e ---------------------- -—--------- ----—...... 4 2 Environmental Setting Without the Project ------------- 5 General ----------------------- --------------------- 5 Overall Basiu ---------------------- ........... 5 Topography and Physiography ------------------- - g Geology and Soil — --------------- *------........ 7 Stream Characteristics---- ------------------- - 7 Groundwater — ----------- --------- -—...... ____ g Water Quality —------------------------------ 9 Mineral R e s o u r c e --------------------- i q Flood Characteristics----- ---- i q Land U s e ------------------------------------- ... n Forest Resources ------------------------------- 12 Recreational Resources -------------------------- 13 Fish and Wildlife ............................... 14 Human R e s o u r c e s ----------- -— --------------- ... 15 Bowie P r o j e c t -------------- 17 3 The Environmental Impact of the Proposed Action ------ 21 4 Any Adverse Environmental Effects which Cannot be Avoided 31 5 Alternatives to the Proposed Actio n -------- 33 i Table of Contents (cont'd) Para. Page No. No. 6 The Relationship Between Local Short-term Uses of Man's Environment and the Maintenance m d Enhancement of Long-term Productivity -------------------------------- 37 7 Any Irreversible and Irretrievable Commitment of Resources Which Would Be Involved in the Proposed . A c t i o n ------------------------------------------------- 38 8 Coordination with Others ------------------------------- 3S Public Participation -------------------------------- 39 Government Agencies -- ------------------------------- 40 Citizen Groups -------------------------------------- 43 Summary of Comments on Preliminary Draft Statement -- 43 Summary of Comments on Draft Statement -------------- 54 Appendix A - Review Comments on Preliminary Draft Statement Appendix B - Review Comments on Draft Statement ii • i ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT BOWIE DAM AND LAKE PASCAGOULA RIVER BASIN MISSISSIPPI AND ALABAMA Project Description, a. General. The Pa3cagoula River Basin was studied as part of the national comprehensive river basin planning program. The basic objective of this program is to plan fcr the best use, or combination of uses, of water and related land resources to meet all foreseeable short- and long-term needs. A Basin Coordinating Commit­ tee was formed with representatives from Federal and non-Federal agencies to conduct a study of the Pascagoula River Basin. The stucy was directed towards developing an understanding of the existing and future needs of the basin; providing a sound basis for, and recommendation of, an early- action program of measures that should be undertaken withir the next 10 to 15 years; and establishing a frameworx for future planning. An ’ early-action structural program consisting of 11 multiple-purpose reser­ voirs, 17 upstream watershed projects, and stabilization oi critical land areas throughout the basin was recommended by the committee. The responsibility for implementation of recommended carly-action program was divided between three agencies. Four of the reservoir proj­ ects were assigned to the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers for implementa­ tion and seven were assigned as State of Mississippi projects to be implemented (with Federal aid) by the Pat Harrison Waterwa> District. The United States Department of Agriculture was assigned the 17 upstream watershed projects and stabilization of critical land areas.. It was 1 t further recommended by the Committee that the States adopt such legislation as may be required and take appropriate action, utilizing Federal assistance and programs, to permit implementation of various nonstructural measures required to augment the structural improvements and to insure that the desired effects of the structural measures would be obtained. The non­ structural measures include: o Continuation and acceleration of current land manager 't and conservation programs. o Implementation of management programs for controlling and regulating the economic use and development of flood plains and for reducing flood losses to existing developments in ereas where flood control is not economically feasible. o Surveillance of water quality bv State and local agencies (both pre- and post-reservoir development) to assure safe and healthful utilization of water resources. o Preservation of streams or stream teaches as free-flowing float-fishing streams.. o Protection of valuable estuarine habitat areas through pollution control and operation of reservoir projects to prevent adverse changes *n stream uischarge. o Establishment of a refuge for the preservation and possible increase of a remnant flock of the Florida sandhill crane. o Acquisition or lease of wildlife habitat areas for addition to the present basin wildlife management program. o Preservation of areas of unique natural beauty and histori­ cal and scientific interest. o Maintenance of open space, green space, and wild areas of rivers, lakes, beaches and related lend areas. o Requirements for maximum practicable treatment of all wastes entering the basin's streams. 2 Pertinent data on th_ fout early-actlon projects assigned to the Corps are presented in the following tabulation: > Taylors- Karles- Item Bowie ville Mize ton Drainage area, sq. mi. 293 422 150 583 Elevations, m.s.l. Conservation (normal) pool 236.0 278.0 316.0 85.5 Flood control pool 253.2 301.3 329.0 101.5 Spillway crest 267.5 319.0 340.0 li4.0 Storage volumes, acre-feet Sedimentation 5,600 9,100 3,030 16,700 Conservation 74,400 28,900 37,030 258,800 Flood control 134,600 193,000 71,030 323,300 Area, acres Conservation (normal) pool 5,500 3,500 3,630 15,900 Flood control storage pool 10,800 13,700 7,250 24,100 Spillway crest 19,000 26,500 11,300 32,700 Total land to be acquired 22,450 31,000 13,600 38,100 Fee (16,450) (20,200) (8,500) (32,500) Easements ( 6,000) (10,800) (5,100) ( 5,600) A map of the basin indicating the proposed locations of these proposed projects is attached as Plate 1. The results of subsequent studies, consideration of environmental factors and local opposition have all been influential in the decision to recommend only the Bowie Dam and Lake to Congress for authorization at this time and the U. S. Water Resources Council concurred with this de­ cision. The other three early-action projects, Taylorsville, Mize and Harleston, will remain a part of the overall plan for water resources de­ velopment for the Pascagoula Basin, but additional justification would be required before a recommendation for their implementation could be made. 3 An intensive water quality study is being planned which would be of suf­ ficient detail to allow development and implementation of a basinwide pollution abatement plan. This water quality management study is being conducted by the Pat Harrison Waterway District in cooperation with the Environmental Protection Agency and is scheduled for completion by July 1, 1973. The findings of this study will determine whether or lot further consideration should be given to the Harleston project as a means for satisfying a portion of the water quality control needs in toe basin. As stated above, only the Bowie Dam and Lake are recommended for authorization at this time; therefore, the balance of this environmental statement is directed to the Bowie project. b. Bowie Dam and Lake. The Bowie damsite is located in the south­ western corner of Covington County at approximate mile 11 on Bowie Creek, about 15 miles northwest of Hattiesburg. A map cf the lake is shown on Plate 2. The plan for the Bowie project
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