FINAL
ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT
MILL CREEK LAKE
MILL CREEK, SCIOTO RIVER BASIN
DELAWARE AND UNION COUNTIES, OHIO
Prepared by U. S. ARMY ENGINEER DISTRICT ' HUNTINGTON, WEST VIRGINIA 16 August 1971 16 August 1971
MILL CREEK LAKE MILL CREEK, SCIOTO RIVER BASIN OHIO
( ) Draft (X) Final Environmental Statement
Responsible Office: U. S. Army Engineer District Huntington, West Virginia
1. Name of Action: (X) Administrative ( ) Legislative
2. Description of Action: Construction and operation of a dam and other"reservoir facilities for flood control, outdoor recreation, fish and wildlife enhancement, and water quality control purposes.
3. a. Environmental Impacts: Conversion of a reach of non-regulated stream to a lake-type habitat; regulation of downstream flood and low flows, provisions for outdoor recreational opportunities and for fish and wildlife management; and change of land use in the project area.
b. Adverse Environmental Effects: Disruption of private and com munal environments of individuals and groups now occupying and using lands to be acquired, loss of cropland, and loss of some fish and wild life habitat.
4. Alternatives: Single-purpose developments or combinations of other developments to provide similar services in the interest of flood control, water quality control, recreation, and fish and wildlife enhancement; non-structural flood damage techniques such as zoning and floodproofing; imposition of more stringent requirements for discharge of wastes; no action.
5. Comments Received:
Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, FSWS, USDI Geological Survey, USDI Division of Water Hygiene, EPA National Park Service, USDI Bureau of Outdoor Recreation, USDI Office of Water Programs, EPA Ohio Historical Society
6. Draft Statement to CEQ 9 1091 6 JUL 1971 Final Statement to CEQ l ? OCT ^971______ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT MILL CREEK LAKE MILL CREEK, SCIOTO RIVER BASIN DELAWARE AND UNION COUNTIES, OHIO
1. Project description. The Mill Creek Lake project will consist of the construction ana operation of a dam and other facilities for flood control, recreation, fish and wildlife conservation, and water quality control. Mill Creek Lake project is one unit in the comprehensive plan for water resources development of the Scioto River Basin (See Exhibit No. 1). The plan consists of seven major reservoir projects (two are operational, two under construction, and the other three in planning and design), one local protection project, and one channel improvement project. Project formulation and system analysis are discussed in House Document No. 587 of the 87th Congress, 2nd Session. The dam is to be located in Delaware County, Ohio, on Mill Creek, 1.5 miles upstream from its confluence with Scioto River and 157 miles upstream from the con fluence of Scioto River with Ohio River. It will regulate the runoff from a 178 square mile watershed. The reservoir will extend into Union County. (See Exhibit No. 2). The project authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1362 (Public Law 87-87*0, currently is in the advanced engineer ing and design stage. Its benefit-to-cost ratio is 1.3 to 1.
The pool level will be maintained at elevation 930 feet above n.s.l, during the period April through September except when impounded flood waters raise the level or when releases for water quality control lower the level. This pool will have a surface area of 3,100 acres and a capacity of 37,263 acre-feet. From December through February the pool level will be maintained at elevation 917 except when storing flood water or drawdown for water quality control releases. This pool will have a surface area of 1,064 acres and a capacity of 11,845 acre-feet. A sediment reserve pool will be maintained at elevation 907. The maximum flood control pool will be at elevation 941.
Utilization of the flood control storage will result in oc casional rises of the pool. On an average of one time every five years the pool is expected to exceed elevation 937; every 10 years, 938; every 31 years, 940; and every 60 years, 941.
The project will regulate the base flow of Mill Creek so that, on a nine out of ten year basis, it does not drop below 50 cubic feet per second in June and July, 60 c.f.s. in August, 92 c.f.s. in September, 82 c.f.s. in October, and 70 c.f.s. in November. Throughout the remainder of the year it will not be allowed to drop below 5 c.f.s. The increase in the base flow of Mill Creek will considerably improve water quality downstream. Occasional drawdown of the reservoir, especially in the late sunmer months, will be an incidental result of water quality control re leases. The drawdown at the end of September is expected to exceed 11.2 feet on an average of one time every 20 years. At the end of August, drawdown is expected to exceed 4.6 feet every 5 years; 6.2 feet every 10 years; and 7.8 feet every 20 years. Maximum drawdown to the level of the minimum pool (elevation 907) will occur only on rare occasions of extreme drought.
Evaporation of water from the impoundment is expected to total about 8,566 acre-feet per year, reducing the annual average flow by about 12 cubic feet per second to 135 c.f.s.
According to the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation, Mill Creek Lake will constitute a water area that will, if properly controlled as to types of use, provide a usable reservoir for water-oriented activities. The Bureau has indicated the quality of the recreation experience will be limited because of the shallowness of the reservoir, the seasonal pool fluctuations, the high siltation rate, and the lack of natural vegetation which will be adjacent to the reservoir, and the water quality of the reservoir could be a deterrent to swimming. The Bureau recognizes that the project would satisfy in part the local short-term needs for water-oriented recreation, but notes that consideration must be given to the long-term aspects. In this respect, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources considers the project to have substantial promise for outdoor recreation and has cooperated in developing a plan to satisfy the piblic use anticipated from the nearby Columbus metropolitan area.
. ufl v AivulTacn Lax t;L L x i ] ^, Without the uiTO CCt . The !!i 11 Crcdc I.S'CC project is located on a level"to gently sloping plain cut by wide and shallow valleys. The total relief is about 60 to 90 feet. Prosperous farms utilize practically all of the land except the frequently inundated flood plains, which are covered with brush and trees. Hie region is an agricultural area increasingly prone to suburbanization since downtown Columbus is only about 20 miles away. In the area proposed for acquisi tion, about 65 percent of the land is classified as cropland, 16 percent as pasture, and 10 percent as woodland.
Mill Creek rises in northeastern Logan County, Ohio, about seven miles northeast of Bellfontaine. From this point, near elevation 1,300 feet, m.s.l., it flows eastward through Union County into Delaware County, to its junction with the Scioto River at Bellpoint.. The elevation at its mouth is about 800 feet, making a total fall of approximately 500 feet. The average slope is 9.8 feet per mile for the 47 mile length of the creek. Blues Creek in the major tributary of Mill Creek upstream from the dam site. Both Mill Creek and Blues Creek are wide in places and have extensive pools and riffles. Mill Creek presently is seriously polluted by wastes from industries in the Marysville area and from the municipal sewage plant, and also from fertilizer and silt carried from the agricultural lands. The normal average flow of Mill Creek at the dam site is 147 cubic feet per second, varying from average flows of 351 c.f.s. in March to 14 c.f.s. in October. The minimum average monthly flow has dropped to 0.9 c.f.s. ; flood flow has been recorded at 20,300 c.f.s. The highly variable flows of Hill Creek contribute to a series of problems. Flooding causes considerable damage along the Scioto River at Columbus and Chillicothe, and also at the srnaller towns of Lucasville, Piketon, and Circleville. Seme 70,000 acres of agricultural lands are subject to varying degrees of flooding. Along the Ohio River downstream from the mouth of the Scioto River, numerous citiesf towns and industries are subject to flooding. Because of the relatively intensive urbanization along the river, periods of extreme low flow are detrimental from a public health standpoint. Water quality in the Scioto River is a problem through out its length and is particularly serious in the readies immediately down stream from Columbus, Circleville, and Chillicothe. Within these reaches, dissolved oxygen concentrations often drop to zero and remain there for extended periods during critical summer months. The city of Columbus is a rapidly growing and expanding metropolitan area with a present and future need for additional water supply. This growth and expansion which is occurring also in Circleville, Chillicothe, and other areas, is making the quality of the water in the Scioto River increasingly important.
The existing conditions with regard to fish and wildlife, as sum marized from reports of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are as follows. The fish hpecies found in Mill Creek and Blues Creek include redhorse suckers, hogsuckers, white suckers, chubsuckers, shiners, chubs, dace, minnows, darters, channel catfish, bullheads, rock bass, smallmouth bass, . . . . r i _ V 1 y ...... , ...... r - .• „» i m i ...... v , , r \ y r s y y » | oilU oiuu jicau ui iJxucd wnscK ucvweeu Ostrander and Mill Creek supports smaller populations than do other reaches because of sewage pollution from the town. Fishing use at present is at the rate of about 30 fisherman-days per mile per year. The stream provides habitat for muskrats, minks, ducks, and wading birds. Annual waterfowl hunting use without the project is estimated to be at the rate of 25 hunter- days per mile. Without the project, expected muskrat rate is 50 per mile annually and mink harvest is 2 per mile per year. Much of the bottomland on Blues Creek and Mill Creek is densely vegetated with brush and timber. Sycamore, walnut, honey locust, elm, willow, oak, basswood, poplar, and hawthorne are found along the stream borders. The upland areas provide farm-type habitat. Mill Creek lands provide good habitat for pheasants, rabbits, quail, and fox squirrels, raccoons, foxes, deer, and songbirds. The game resources support significant amounts ot hunting use. Annual hunting use per section without the project is estimated at the following average rates: farm game, 150 days; raccoons, 110 days; foxes, 27 days; and deer, 3 days.
The project area is generally rural in character, with large numbers of persons commuting to Columbus and smaller cities to work. Population growth and low rates of unemployment in recent years have resulted largely from the rapid economic expansion at and spillovers from the Columbus SKSA.
Delaware and Union Counties had population increases of 19.3 per cent and 10.5 percent, respectively, between 1950 and 1960. Preliminary census data for 1970 indicate that both counties have continued to ex perience population growth. The population of Delaware County increased 18 percent during the 1960’s from its 1960 count of 36,100. Union County's populace increased 4 percent from 22,900 in 1960. Approxi mately 37 percent of Delaware County's population and 22 percent of Union County's population was urban in 1960. Compared with popula tion densities of 237 persons per square mile for Ohio and 51 for the nation in 1960, Delaware and Union Counties' densities were 80 and 53, respectively.
The median years of school completed by residents 25 years of age and over in 1960 was 11.8 in Delaware County and 11.1 in Union County, compared with 10.9 for Ohio and 10.6 for the nation. Almost 49 percent of the residents in Delaware County 25 years of age and over and 44 percent of the Union County residents 25 years of age and over had completed high school or more. Median family income in 1959 was $5,400 and $4,900 in Delaware and Union Counties, respectively, compared with the state's $6,200 and the nation's $5,700.
Of the total housing units in Delaware County in 1960 (with a median value of $11,000) 71 percent were classified as sound with all plunbing facilities. Approximately 71 percent of the total units in Union County (with a median value of $9,200) were sound with all plumbing facilities, Per-capita property tax was $83 in Delaware County and $74 in Union County, both of which were below the stage average of $101.
Approximately 26 percent of the 13,200 employed persons in Delaware County in 1960 were engaged in manufacturing activities. Twenty- three percent were in the personal and business services industry, 17 percent in the wholesale and retail trade industry, and 13 percent in agriculture. In Union County, where 8,300 persons were employed in 1960, 26 percent were engaged in manufacturing, 16 percent in wholesale and retail trade, 15 percent in personal and business services, and 19 percent in Agriculture.
In June-July 1970, unemployment amounted to 3.8 percent of the labor force in Delaware County and 3.4 percent in Union County.
3. The environmental impact of the proposed action. The proposed project will provide for water storage which will be used for flood con trol, recreation, fish and wildlife conservation, and water quality control. Along with the effects resulting directly from these major intended purposes, there will be numerous effects on the environment resulting from the processes initiated by the project.
The amount of water released from the dam during periods of flooding will be regulated to decrease peak flow. This will alleviate the recurring, destructive floods along the Scioto River and contribute to the reduction of floods on the Ohio River. Monetary savings attribu table to flood reduction are expected to average $947,400 annually. Intangible effects of flood control storage will include reduced possi bility of death, injury, or illness resulting from floods; reduction of the social and economic insecurity caused by frequent flooding; lessen ing of the necessity to commit labor and material to emergency and relief operations; and reduced aesthetic degradation of communities subject to floods. Incidental effects of flood reduction include a decrease in the competence of the stream to transport larger particles, possibly resulting in a change in the hydraulic and biologic characteristics of the riverbed, and in an increase in riparian vegetation.
The flood protection resulting from the project will increase the attractiveness of the land downstream and will change existing land- use patterns. The land will probably be converted to a higher economic use, with more residences and more businesses.
The seasonal pool will inundate about seven miles of Mill Creek plus several miles of Blues Creek, replacing a stream-type ecosystem with a lacustrine-type. Most of the approximately 3,100 acres of land to be inundated is used now for grazing and cropping, and also includes a large percentage of the woodlands of the project area. Consequently, inn: tion of timber, brush, stream edge, and openings adjacent to the stream in project reach will remove the cover, travel lands, nest trees, den trees, and food plants now used for wildlife habitat. Change in land use on some of the project lands from agriculture to intensively managed wild- . life land will help compensate for the loss of habitat. Changes in use on non-project land in the area will further reduce existing habitat.
The project area is known to contain a small mound group. Co ordination is being maintained with the National Park Service to assure that appropriate survey and salvage operations are accomplished prior to project completion. The project will have no effects on other historical or archeological features. No sites or areas within the project area have been identified as having unusual or unique scenic or aesthetic value.
Physical characteristics of the area are unfavorable to the creation of a malaria hazard. In general, the flood plains are well drained and it is unlikely that breeding of mosquitoes would be supported by ponding of water resulting from reservoir fluctuations. Any ponding revealed during normal reservoir operations will be corrected to prevent mosquito breeding.
As a result of having been impounded, the water released will differ in characteristics from the unimpounded stream water. Effects possibly resulting from the project include reduced turbidity because of lowered velocities and long detention times; a possible shift, dependent on pH, in the conductivity and hardness; variations in bio chemical oxygen demand, possibly allowing some biodegradation; changes in coliform density caused by several factors; and smoothing high con centrations of incoming pollutants. Other incidental effects that may occur when the water is impounded include accumulations of floating debris on the lake shoreline; changes in pH, oxygen content, temperature, and various other parameters, precipitation of compounds of heavy metals (i.e., Cu, Fe, Mn, etc.) due to reduced velocity of the water; changes in primary productivity (dependent upon temperature and concentration of nitrates and phosphates); reduced bottom erosional action; thermal stratification; and possible production of hydrogen sulfide. The outlet structure will be designed with multiple-level intakes of adequate hydraulic capacity to permit control of the strata from which water is discharged, thereby providing means for regulating the downstream flows to minimize the effects of stratification.
The impoundment will cause deposition of much of the sediment load of the stream in the reservoir, which will result in a progressive change in the characteristics of the aquatic habitat and aggradation of the impounded area. No samples have been taken to determine the load of sediment carried by the stream, but, based upon similar reser voirs, it is estimated that the annual sedimentation rate will average about 0.22 acre-foot per square mile of controlled drainage. The mini mum pool proposed for the project has adequate storage capacity to contain the anticipated sedimentation without affecting storage re quired for other project purposes within the economic life of the reservoir. Deposition of the sediment in the reservoir will occasion the discharge of relatively sediment-free water. This may result in degradation of the channel for a distance downstream from the dam. Channel degradation downstream from the project and aggradation along the upstream reaches are expected to be inconsequential. The reduction of silt in the tailwater is expected to improve the fish habitat.
It is estimated that the impoundment and the associated lands ultimately will serve 900,000 visitors per year, plus about 32,000 fisher men and hunters. To accommodate and control these users, facilities such as roads, boat launching ramps, rest rooms, campsites, and picnic areas will be constructed. The concentration of people in the project will result in production of a substantial amount of sanitary waste which will be collected and adequately treated to prevent potential water pollution problems in the lake and downstream areas. These wastes will be given tertiary treatment including proper disinfection.
The building of the project will result in accelerated erosion of parts of the project lands and in an increased sediment load in the stream. These temporary effects will be minimized by controlled con struction practices. The construction activity will result in tem porarily increased traffic, noise, and dust. Contract controls will include all practicable methods of reducing erosion and minimizing streambed disturbance and a sufficient surveillance system to monitor stream quality conditions during all phases of construction.
Acquisition of land for the project and consequent removal of the residents will alter some communal and familial patterns of the individuals involved. Acquisition of land for the project will involve purchase of about 11,220 acres. On the land now are about 203 sets of residential and agricultural buildings, two sets of commercial buildings, and five cemeteries. The cemeteries, which contain approximately 2,300 graves, will be relocated. The land to be acquired in fee is presently classified as follows: Classification Acres
Improved Honesites 450 Potential Homesitcs 110 Commercial 15 Cropland ' 7,325 Pasture 1,790 Woodlands l ’,1 6 0 Wasteland 370
Total 11,220
In addition, cone 1,030 acres of flowage easement will be acquired. Within the acquisition limits of the project is a small portion of the village of Ostrander, which had a 1960 population of about 440 persons. The prpject includes a protective levee along the west bank of Blues Creek, a tributary of Hill Creek, to preserve the remainder of Ostrander. There are no known mineral resources of significant value in the project area. Geology of the area precludes all coal bearing resources. Glacial action deposited sand and gravel at random locations throughout the area. There are no known sand, gravel, or stone operations within the project area. There are several large quarries in outlying areas. It is antic.inated that +h P of thp lm 1 1 A f * fK/* * • " ^ k « < .. i. r — - * —■ — production needed in this area for the foreseeable future and that sand, gravel, and limestone in the reservoir area will not be in demand for com mercial production. Ho oil or gas has been discovered within or near the • proposed reservoir. Project construction and operation, recreational activities, in creased productivity, and induced economic expansion will directly and indirectly affect the regional economic environment. Construction of the project will require approximately 350 workers annually for a period of about four years. Many of these persons will reside locally, perhaps temporarily, whereas others will commute from outside the local area. With the attendant influx of construction workers and mobilization of construction equipment, disruption of established living patterns may occur. Such disruption is not likely to be severe at this project, since many of the workers are expected to commute from the Columbus area.
Local officials generally feel that the removal of lands from the tax rolls, through land acquisition by the Federal Government for reser voir construction, diminishes the local property tax base and fiscally weakens county governments and school districts. Research by the Water Resources Institute at the University of Kentucky, however, indicates^ that the property tax base increases more rapidly in counties containing reservoirs than in other counties. The statistical results suggest that the initial loss in t'ax base caused by the removal of land from the tax rolls is recovered in time through more rapid expansion of the tax base. Because of the extreme urban character of Franklin County and the large demand for water based recreation, commercial development in the project area is expected to result in an increase in the property tax far in excess of the loss in tax base.
One notable feature of the Mill Creek Project is that its con struction will require the abandonment and acquisition of a segment of the railroad that serves Ostrander. The Penn-Central dead end spur line has primarily been used for the shipment of grain, coal, feed and ferti lizer. With completion of the project, the spur line will be separated from Ostrander by the Ostrander levee and the portion of the Mill Creek lake extending up Blues Creek. Economic losses due to this arrangement should not be substantial since the rail line is used only sparingly and will continue to be accessible after the project is constructed about l.H highway miles from the community. Should it be found essential to retain rail service for the grain elevator at Ostrander, the facility must be relocated along the remaining line. In the past, however, the grain elevator has relied largely on highway transportation.
Recreational visitation, including use by sportsmen, is expected to generate approximately 135 nevi jobs annually in the services and trade industries in the local area, thereby increasing regional income. Con siderable private investments must be made, however, before the full potential can be realized.
*♦. Any adverse environmental effects which cannot be avoided should the proposal be implemented. Loss of cropland and wildlife habitat will be an unavoidable result of the project. The loss of the stream., with its scenic quality, its natural recreational potential, and its fish resources, will be another adverse effect of the project. The lake-type fishing provided by the project is expected to support and attract much greater use than the unchanged stream.
Utilization of Mill Creek Lake, to augment downstream water quality needs, will result in a fluctuating pool. The following table shows the findings of studies made to determine the maximum drawdown of the pool at the end of each month during the recreation season. The amount of land (in acres) exposed at each pool level is shown in paren thesis. DRAWDOWN DATA frequency Probability of Occur of Occur Elevation of Seasonal Pool rence rence and area exposed (acres) Years Annually(%) June Julv August September
1 100 930.0(0) 930.0(0) 929.8(40.5) 929.6(81.0) 2 50 929.1(82.3) 928.6(281.9) 927.2(556.2) 925.0(958.2) 5 20 927.8(439.7) 926.8(632.2) 925.4(887.2) 922.6(1346.8) 10 10 926.6(669.3) 925.6(851.8) 923.8(1158.3) 920.7(1618.3) 20 5 925.4(887.2) 924.3(1075.9) 922.2(1407.4) 918.8(1849.7)
Construction activities will result in accelerated erosion and silta- tion during a temporary period. Long-tenn changes in the configuration of the bed of the stream above and below the project as a result of the project may be adverse in some ways, but they are expected to be of minor consequence. A change in water quality as a result of impoundment may have adverse effects, but these are expected to be slight and will eventually be more than offset by the improved quality resulting from regulation of downstream flows. Some potential water uses in the downstream area may be impaired for several years due to taste and odor problems of released water which will result from the decomposition of organic matter in the reservoir bottom.
Tax revenue from project lands will be lost, and this may cause an inconvenience to local governments until revenues begin to increase in res ponse to economic activity induced by the project.
Disruption of the private and communal environments of individuals, families, and kin groups now residing on the lands to be acquired will be unavoidable. Project-induced developments in the vicinity of the project and along the downstream flood plain may create a series of environ mental problems unless guidance and regulations are provided by state and local governments to achieve a balance between urban- industrial developments and open space.
Alternatives to the proposed action. Alternatives to flow augmentation for water quality control would include restraint of industrial development in Scioto River Basin, construction of a reservoir elsewhere, and imposition of more stringent requirements for treatment of wastes from existing and prospective developments. Economic growth of the Scioto River Basin is the basic means by which the human environment in the region can be improved. This growth is largely contingent upon provision of an adequate supply of good quality water. Restriction of industrialization of the valley, as would occur if no action is taken, would restrict economic development and retard improvement of communities, residential prop erties, highways, etc. Another reservoir to provide similar storage capacity would have essentially the same environmental effects as the proposed reservoir, though in a different location. Since the augmentative flows to assure the quality of water are premised on the assumption that adequate treatment will be provided by munic ipalities and industries in the basin, and since other lakes - Delaware and Alum Creek - will increase minimum flows, more thorough treatment of discharges to the river could eliminate or decrease the need for the flows to be provided by Hill Creek Lake. The cost of substantially reducing pollutants, however,would be great and, if applied to a particular area rather than being a part of an overall national policy, might deter industries from locating or continuing in the area.
Alternatives to the project that would result in increased recreational use or in improved quality of use include the provision of public access areas and recreational facilities along parts of the stream, implementation of a program of fish management in the stream and wildlife management in the area, and an increase in recreational development at other existing or proposed reservoirs or State parks in the region. Low-water dams in Mill Creek or in its tributaries could increase the fishing potential of the stream. Encouragement of practices by landowners to improve wildlife habitat and to promote hunter use could increase the hunting potential of the area. Public recreation areas could be developed in the area. The number of visitors which could be attracted to or accommodated in these developments with out adjacent broadwater probably would be much more limited than at the reservoir project, but many of the adverse effects of the larger de velopment might be avoided. Intensified development at other recreation areas in the region would be an alternative if this could be dene with out overcrowding. There is a growing demand and shortage of outdoor recreation areas at the present time. If no action is taken to in crease opportunities for outdoor recreation, the existing shortage will be further aggravated. The Bureau of Outdoor Recreation, in the re cently completed comprehensive survey of the Ohio River Basin has indicated that there will continue to be an unmet need for outdoor recreational opportunity in this region even with all planned develop ment at Federal lakes and State parks, forest, and fish and game areas.
Alternatives to the project which would help alleviate flood problems if applied either separately or in combinations include: construction of walls and levees as barriers against floods; modifica tion of existing channels to increase carrying capacity by clearing, enlarging, or straightening; diversion of floodwaters from existing channels into other existing or new channels; construction of retard ing or detention reservoirs on small and large tributaries to with hold flows in excess of natural channel capacities; evacuation of overflow areas; floodproofing of improvements that are susceptible to flood damages; zoning of areas to control further development on flood plains; and a system of flood insurance tc help protect occu pants of the flood plain from financial losses while discouraging further imprudent development of the flood plain. Flood walls and levees are not feasible alternatives to the single project since the effect of the proposed impoundment in reducing flood stages cn the Scioto and Ohio Rivers is significant only when considered cumulatively with other reservoir projects. Structural measures to provide protection would be ineffective unless they were adequate to protect against major floods; to do this the walls or levees would be very large and long. Such works would be prohibitively expensive and significantly disruptive of the environment. Channel modifications to improve hydraulic character istics so as to convey flood water more rapidly would involve a massive disruption of the river and riverbanks. Diversionary floodways would require large amounts of land, impairing the usefulness of agricultural land and industrial sites. Retarding or detention reservoirs on tribu taries could help reduce flood heights on upstream reaches, but to be as effective as the Mill Creek project in reducing flood heights on the Scioto and Ohio Rivers, a great number of small projects to control the runoff from an equivalent drainage area would be required. Evacua tion of overflew areas would be a possible alternative, but socially disruptive and financially exorbitant since the developed overflow areas extend throughout the length of the Scioto and Ohio Rivers down stream from the confluence of Mill Creek. The combination of flood walls and/or levees around relatively concentrated developments and the evacuation of dispersed developments could avoid some of the problems associated with the alternatives when applied separately. Floodproofing of improvements, while infeasible for all structures in all locations, might be used in combination with local, protection works and evacuation of the flood plain to minimize flood damages and disturbance of the natural and cultural environment. Floodproofing would be expensive and would not avoid the health hazard and environmental degradation attendant with inundation of adjacent grounds. Zoning could help to prevent future damages with little adverse environmental effect but is not within the purview of Federal actions and would require State and local implementa tion. Flood insurance could similarly discourage further imprudent development of the flood plain and alleviate economic hardship to present, occupants of the flood plain. If no action is taken to control flood damages and associated problems, they will continue to occur and to increase.
Any one of the several purposes to be served by Mill Creek Lake could be satisfied by a single-purpose alternative or by a combination of alternative means. A series or combination of alternative measures designed to serve all facets of water resource management as effectively as the authorized project would result in a complex program requiring decisive and coordinated action at the Federal, State, and local levels of government, would be less feasible economically, and would have an environmental impact that may be as severe as that of the multiple-purpose project.
6. The relationship between the local short-term uses of man's environment and the maintenance and enhancement of long-term produc tivity. On the project lands, many of the present uses will be abruptly ended or changed. Residences, cemeteries, fields, pastures, and streams within the project area will be abandoned or relocated as appropriate. While these changes will have a disruptive impact and will affect economic productivity, the longer term and wider range effect of the project will more than offset these problems by preventing flood damages and the recurring disruption of activities downstream, by increasing the usability and productivity of lands downstream, by im proving water quality downstream, and by creating a major recreational resource. The project was formulated on the basis of having an economic life of 100 years. The physical life of the project will likely be con siderably in excess of that period. Major rehabilitation or realloca tion of storages may be required upon expiration of the project life.
7. Any irreversible and irretrievable commitments of resources which would be involved in the proposed action should it be implemented. Ir retrievably lost will be a reach of the natural stream, the land with its associated natural vegetation (wildlife habitat) which will be inundated, and any archeological and historic records which are not recovered prior to filling of the pool. Also committed will be the labor and materials involved in construction and operation of the project.
8. Coordination with other agencies.
a. Public participation. The comprehensive plan of water resource development for the Scioto River Basin, Ohio, is discussed in House Document No. 587 of the 87th Congress, 2nd Session (Scioto Basin Survey Report) as noted in paragraph 1 of this statement. As a part of the study investigations and coordination program, a public hearing was held in Columbus, Ohio, on 6 July 1961. Approximately 300 persons attended, including Federal, State, county and city officials, industrial representatives, railroad officials and citizens of urban and rural areas. Since the comprehensive study of Scioto River Basin was well advanced at the time of the hearing, a tentative plan for the basin was presented for discussion and comment.
A public meeting was held at the village of Ostrander on 20 September 1967 to acquaint interested parties with the status of studies for Mill Creek project and the alternatives of acquiring property in the village or providing a protective levee for the village. By letter of 15 May 1968 the village council of Ostrander resolved ’ that they are in favor of the proposed dike around Ostrander.
The Delaware County Commissioners have indicated opposition to the Mill Creek project, primarily due to loss of land which would be removed from the tax rolls. They also are interested in assuring that roads within the reservoir area be replaced so as not to inhibit the existing traffic flow.
The Union County Commissioners have indicated no opposition to acquisition and development of recreational lands south of the reser voir.
b. Government agencies. The draft environmental statement was sent to the following governmental agencies requesting their views and comments. Their comments are summarized below. Copies of their replies to the draft environmental statement are attached.
(1) BUREAU OF SPORT FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE, FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Comment: The Bureau provided detailed review comments on a preliminary draft statement provided by the Corps in September 1970. Since the Bureau's comments were used as reference in preparation of the Draft Statement distributed for coordination in March 1971, the Bureau did not provide additional comments on the March 1971 draft statement.
(2) GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Comment: The statement was found adequate in dis cussing the temporary and long-term effects on the hydrologic system.
Comment: The drainage area of Mill Creek, according to the latest determination by GS is 178 square miles at the Bellepoint gaging station (approximate location of proposed dam) as compared with the 181 square miles shown in the draft statement.
Response: The statement has been revised to agree with the current determination of the GS. Future publications or discussions of pertinent project information will reflect the revised GS data. The minor revision in drainage area (less than 2 percent) is not of a magni tude that would require revision of any project features.
Comment: The average flow in March for the 27-year period ending in 1969 was 351 cfs instead of 335 cfs as given in the statement. Response: Concur. The statement has been revised to correct the error.
(3) DIVISION Or WATER HYGIENE, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Comment: No additional comments were provided since the draft EIS properly referred to health aspects.
(4) NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Comment: The project does not impinge on any existing or proposed NPS areas, registered historic or natural landmarks, and items on the National Register of Historic Places.
Comment: The statement should include an affirmation by the State Liaison Officer for Historic Preservation that no items on the State Register of Historic Places will be endangered by this project.
Response: Comments have been obtained from the State Liaison Officer (Director of Ohio Historical Society) and are included in this EIS.
Comment: Statement should note whether any visual or aesthetic values will be adversely affected.
Response: The statement has been revised to indicate that no sites with unusual or unique scenic or aesthetic values have been identified within the project area.
(5) BUREAU OF OUTDOOR RECREATION, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Comment: Sections dealing with the Project Description and Environmental Setting Without the Project (Sections 1 and 2) are adequate.
Comment: Tlood protection may lead to a false sense of security and greater economic loss in times of major floods.
Response: This is a valid comment which emphasizes the desirability o£ flood plain zoning and prudent flood plain manage ment. The environmental statement has been revised to expand the dis cussion of flood plain management in the section on alternatives. The Corps provides flood hazard information and advice to other agencies and to private developers to aid in decisions concerning prudent manage ment. Comment: Expected fluctuation for low-flow augmenta tion and possible urban-industrial development downstream will decrease the aesthetic quality of the reservoir and remaining portion of Mill Creek.
Response; The amount of fluctuation that will be encountered in the Hill Creek project is not expected to seriously degrade the aesthetic quality or detract from the recreational enjoy ment of the project. As noted in paragraph 3 of the statement, draw down at the end of August will be as much as 7.8 feet on an average of only one time in 20 years. Much of the land downstream from the dam along Mill Creek will be placed in public ownership to provide for public use, thereby precluding incompatible development.
Comment: The Bureau feels that impoundment condi tions and recreational use will deteriorate the water quality of Mill Creek resulting in release of polluted reservoir water into part of Columbus's water supply. A comment regarding compliance with State and Federal water quality laws would be elucidating.
Response: Officials of the State Government are cognizant of the existing pollution and are taking steps for positive control. The Ohio Department of Health has adopted quality standards for the waters of the Scioto River Basin and has outlined an implementa tion and enforcement plan. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources recognizes that degradation of the waters may occur because of the Mill Creek impoundment but considers conditions at Mill Creek are more favorable for water quality control storage than many other places in Ohio. The Department is taking positive action to control pollution which would enter the reservoir, such as corrective action planned for sewage treatment facilities at Marysville. Assurances have been pro vided by the City of Columbus and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources that a tri-party agreement is acceptable between those two entities and the Corps of Engineers concerning passage of low-flow augmentation from the Mill Creek project tlirough the City's water supply reservoirs on the main stem of the Scioto River.
Comment: A discussion of levee beautification and utilization of related borrow pits would be appropriate. A discus sion of revegetation plans should also be included.
Response: The dike will be seeded over its entire surface and all disturbed areas, including borrow areas, will be graded, mulched, seeded and/or sodded; this treatment will be in the interest of erosion control as well as for beautification purposes.
Planting and landscaping will be used to provide shade and screening, to direct the flow of traffic in recreation areas, and to enhance the visual attractiveness of the project. Areas for buildings, access roads, overlooks, and public use sites will be selectively cleared and landscaped. Agricultural lands will be planted and reclaimed with the exception of areas designated for management of wildlife habitat and hunting. A plant nursery will be established to provide materials for future use. Native species will be preserved and stimulated where practicable; usable plants will be removed and salvaged for subsequent replanting where construction prevents retention in place.
About 2440 acres on the north side of the lake are expected to be managed for wildlife purposes by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources under license agreement. Management techniques will be directed largely toward development and maintenance of farm game and waterfowl habitat. Food production plots (rotated plantings of corn, small grains, and meadow grasses) will range from 5 to 20 acres in size with suitable plants established as field dividers, grass-legume mixtures utilized along the edges of crop fields and fence rows, and clump plant ings of evergreens on open fields. Steep overgrazed or eroded slopes will be reforested, gentle ones will be tilled, fertilized and seeded.
Comment; On page 2, first paragraph, the discussion of wildlife cover removal seems to be typographically incomplete.
Response: Note previous response relative to the management techniques that will be implemented to develop and maintain wildlife habitat.
Comment: Changing land use and loss of green space in protected flood plains is probable if flood plain management is not implemented. Creating a condition which encourages unwise flood plain utilization and continued inadequate effluent treatment may be con sidered as having an indirect adverse effect on the environment.
Response: Zoning (flood plain management) is dis cussed in the paragraph on alternatives to the authorized action. Zoning regulation must be accomplished by State and local action. Discussion of the program for control of pollution has been included in response to a previous comment.
Comment: Much vegetation and wildlife habitat will be lost. Much of the reservoir shoreline is agricultural and will require reforestation.
Response: Concur. Note response to other comments by the Bureau concerning' techniques to be utilized for wildlife manage ment and erosion control. Comment: Watershed management, flood plain zoning, and stringent water quality controls are valid suggestions with or • without the project. Some downstream flood plain development could be prevented if an environmental corridor were acquired between the dam and the Scioto River. This area could provide fishing, picnicking, and trails.
Response; Concur. Present plans for the project con template acquisition of lands downstream from the dam to provide for fisherman access and public use. Plans are not sufficiently finalized for indication of exact areas or dimensions.
Comment: In terms of the natural environment, urban- industrial use of a flood plain is not necessarily the wisest use. Lands should be zoned and managed for open space and recreation wher ever possible.
Response: The desirability of zoning as a management technique is included in the expanded discussion of alternative actions and has been discussed in response to other comments. Prudent manage ment of the flood plain to include open space and recreation can and must be accomplished through state and local zoning regulations.
Comment: Increased urban-industrial utilization of a protected flood plain restricts the long-term beneficial use of the natural environment, especially when there is a growing need for open space and recreation. If the ecological carrying capacity of the flood plain is exceeded, long-term productivity can be expected to decrease.
Response: It is recognized that a balance is needed between urban-industrial development and preservation of open space for recreational use on the protected flood plain. It is believed this can be accomplished best through long-range plans and zoning regulations by State and local governments. While no authority is available to the Corps for realization of this objective, the statement has been revised to point out the need.
Comment: The loss of most of the remaining natural vegetation and loss of vrildlife habitat are irreversible and irretriev able.
Response: Concur in part. The statement has been expanded in this respect to include loss of habitat within the area inundated and previous response indicates measures to be taken in the interest of wildlife management. Comment: If detailed information regarding economics, socio-economic characteristics of the surrounding population, and tax structure is considered valid for inclusion in an environmental state ment , the Bureau has suggested that this be included in a separate section.
Response: It is believed that information available on these subjects is integrally related to maintenance of the human environment and therefore pertinent to an assessment of environmental impact; format of the statements has been established that prescribes • .• paragraph headings and content.
(6) OFFICE OF WATER PROGRAMS, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Comment: The section on Project Description should be expanded at the expense of section 3. The second, fifth, sixth, ninth, and thirteenth paragraphs in section 3 are primarily descriptive and should be included here.
Response: The statement has been revised as suggested.
Comment: A project map should be provided.
Response: Concur. A map has been added.
Comment: Estimates of the associated land area exposed during the drawdown should be included and any advanced effects resulting • from land exposure should be mentioned in seciton 4.
Response: The statement has been revised in accordance with the above comment.
Comment: The project provides for a low-flow augmenta tion schedule which will presumably be used for water quality control purposes in downstream areas, including the Scioto River at Columbus, Ohio. The report ‘'Waste Treatment and Low Flow Augmentation Study of the Lower Scioto River" prepared by the Ohio Department of Health in Sep tember 1963, recommends that the proposed Mill Creek Reservoir provides augmentation of 150 c.f.s. by the year 2000. The February 1971 edition of the Ohio Interim Plan for Pollution Abatement of the Scioto River Basin describes the current Central Ohio Water Development planning effort. Consideration should be given to these studies in this environ mental statement.
Response: A present-day low-flow augmentation require ment of 220 c.f.s. at Columbus, Ohio, has been stated by FWQA. These requirements exceed those which could be developed at Mill Creek dam site without seriously conflicting with the flood control and recreational purposes of the project. These circumstances are recognized by the State of Ohio and City of Columbus. Under these conditions the storage available for water quality control purposes will be scheduled for use during the months of June through November of each year when low flows are most severe. The 220 c.f.s. flow at Columbus can be provided by the proposed project 43 percent of the time during the months November through March. This proposal offers a feasible and practical approach for water quality control within the capacity of the Mill Creek project. Other alternative developments will be necessary to completely satisfy the indicated need.
Comment: The potential adverse effects resulting from the impoundment of seriously polluted water have not been fully described in the environmental impact statement; it is recommended that construction of the reservoir be initiated only after positive assurance is given from the State of Ohio and the specific pollution sources that abatement will be completed; it is anticipated that advanced waste treatment, including nutrient removal, will be required of all signifi cant waste discharged to the stream above and in the proposed reservoir.
Response: Note response to previous comment by the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation.
Comment: A change is recommended in the last sentence of paragraph 11 of the draft statement as follows:
"The outlet structure will be designed with multiple- level intakes of adequate hydraulic capacity to permit control of the strata from which water is discharged..."
The last sentence in paragraph 14 be altered as follows:
"... will result in production of a substantial amount of sanitary waste which will be collected and adequately treated to prevent potential water pollution problems in the lake and downstream areas. These wastes will be given tertiary treatment including proper disin fection."
Add the following to paragraph 15:
"Contract controls will include all practical methods of reducing erosion and minimizing streambed distur bance and a sufficient surveillance system to monitor stream quality conditions during all phases of construc tion." • Response: The above comments have been included in the statement.
Comment: The following changes in the last sentence of the second paragraph should be included in the section on adverse environmental effects which cannot be avoided:
"... to be slight and will eventually be more than offset by the improved quality resulting from regula tion of downstream flows. Some potential water uses in the downstream area may be impaired for several years due to taste and odor problems of released - water which result from the decomposition of organic matter in the reservoir bottom."
Response: This comment has been included as recommended.
Comment: A discussion of the relationship between Mill Creek Lake and other reservoirs in the Scioto River Basin would give a more complete picture of the maintenance and enhancement of long-term productivity in the South-Central Ohio region.
Response: Concur. However, the discussion on the relationship between reservoirs has been included in the project descrip tion.
(7) OHIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY
(The Director of the Historical Society also is the State Liaison Officer for Historic Preservation)
Comment: Information concerning a small mound group was provided by the Society; survey and salvage operations will be required. The Society Director reports that the project will have no adverse effects on other historical or archeological features.
Response: The information has been added to the EIS.
(8) APPALACHIAN REGIONAL COMMISSION
No comments received.
(9) REGIONAL COORDINATOR, USDI
No comments received.
(10) OHIO PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT CLEARINGHOUSE
No comments received. (11) OHIO DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
No comments received.
(12) DELAWARE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
No comments received.
(13) OSTRANDER VILLAGE CORPORATION
No comments received.
(14) UNION COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
No comments received. United States Department of the Interior
FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE BUREAU OF SPORT FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE Federal Building, Fort Snelling Twin Chics. Minnesota 55111 October , 1 9 7 0
Col. Maurice D. Roush District Engineer U. S. Army Engineer District Huntington P. 0. Box 212? Huntington, West Virginia 2 5 7 2 1
Dear Colonel Roush:
We have reviewed the draft Environmental Statement for the Mill Creek Reservoir project in Delaware County, Ohio, which was transmitted to us by your letter of September k, 1970. O u r attached comments have been prepared in accordance with provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. Where applicable, they supplement our Fish and Wildlife Report of July 11, 1966.
Our comments have been developed in cooperation with the Ohio Division of Wildlife. To facilitate cohesiveness, each of your Environmental Statement headings and subheadings are set forth in quotation marks with our Bureau's comment following each section.
Sincerely,
Eh *■ is K . Cariiek Acting Regional Director MILL CREEK RESERVOIR
Mill Creek, Scioto River Busin, Ohio
ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT
"1. Project description. Tne Mill Creek Reservoir project will consist of the construction and operation of a dam and other facilities for flood control on the Scioto and Ohio Rivers, and also to provide for general recreation, fish and wildlife recreation, and water quality control. The dan will be located in Delaware County on Mill Creek, 1.5 miles above the mouth of the Mill Creek, a tributary of the Scioto River, and 157 miles above the mouth of the Scioto River. The reservoir, which will control a l8l square mile watershed, will extend into a portion of Union County. The project was authorized by the Flood Control Act of 19 6 2 ."
Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife Comments; None
"2. Environmental setting without the project. Tne reservoir site is located on a level to gently sloping plain cut by wide and shallow valleys. Tne total relief is about 60-90 feet. Prosperous farms utilize practically all of the land except the frequently flooded bottoms, which are covered with brush and trees. Tne region is an agricultural area increasingly prone to suburbanization since downtown Columbus is only about 20 miles away. M i l l Creek is used lightly for fishing. Tne lands in the project area contain good wildlife habitat and are used moderately for hunting. Downstream along the Scioto River are located several large cities, Columbus and Chillicothe, and a number of towns - Waverly, Circleville, and Piketon. Development of these towns has, especially in recent years, taken place on the flood plain of the river, and is vulnerable to the frequent high water. Tne relatively intensive urbanization along the river also makes periods of extreme low flow detrimental from a public health standpoint. Water quality in the Scioto River is a problem along the most of Scioto River and is extremely serious in several miles of the river, below Columbus, Circleville and Chillicothe. Within these reaches, during critical summer months dissolved oxygen concentrations often drop to and remain at zero. Tne City of Columbus is a rapidly growing and expanding metropolitan area with a present and future need for additional water supply. This growth and expansion in not only the Columbus area but also in Circleville, Chillicothe, and numerous other areas along the river is placing tremendous pressures on the quality of water in the Scioto River and the Ohio River."
# Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife Comment: Although
much of the project area is used for farming, numerous
wooded areas and thickets remain providing aesthetic quality and good wildlife habitat. Much of the stream
bottom on both Blues Creek and Mill Creek is densely
vegetated with brush and large timber. Sycamore, walnut,
honey locust, elm, willow, hickory, oak, basswood, poplar
and hawthcrne are found along the stream borders. Upland
game, furbearers, wading birds, songbirds and waterfowl
utilize the area.
The streams are wide in places with extensive pools and
riffles. Hock outcrops are prominent features of the
lower valley. Tne stream fisheries are typical of
clear, unpolluted headwater streams. The following fish
species are found in Mill Creek and Blues Creek: red-
horse suckers, hogsuckers, white suckers, chubsuckers,
shiners, chubs, dace, minnows, darters, channel catfish,
bullheads, rock bass, smallmouth bass, green sunfish and
iongear sunfish.
"3* Impact statement. The following information is furnished in response to Section 102 (2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 19 6 9 .
a. Environmental impact of the proposed action. Tne proposed project will provide storage space which will be used for flood control, general recreation, fish and wildlife recreation, and water quality control. Along with the effects directly resulting from these major intended purposes, there will be numerous other effects on the environment resulting from the series of processes initiated by the project.
The flow of the stream below the dam will be regulated so as to decrease the peak flow. This regulation of flow will alleviate the re curring floods along the Scioto and Ohio Rivers. Other effects of the regulation of the stream for flood control are minor compared to the decrease in flood damages. Tnese incidental effects include a decrease in the competence of the stream to transport larger particles, possibly resulting in a change in the hydraulic and biologic characteristics of tne river bed, and in an increase in riparian vegetation. The base flow of the creek will be augmented as a result of the project. Some of the flow required to maintain an acceptable level of water quality in the Scioto River during periods of low flow will be pro vided by water from the reservoir. The augmentation will also aid water quality in the Ohio River. This will help substantially to dilute and transport any pollutants which may enter the stream, and to .supply oxygen for the non-putrid bacterial breakdown of organic pollutants. Also the greater base flow will increase the capacity of the stream to support aquatic life and riparian vegetation.
The 3;100 acre impoundment (seasonal pool) will create a major nev/ aquatic environment for recreationists and for fish and wildlife. This will significantly enhance the recreational potential of the area and will help to prevent the over-use of other recreation areas in the vicinity of the Columbus metropolitan area. A tremendous demand for outdoor water-related recreation exists in the region. The impoundment will inundate about 6.9 miles of the main stem of the natural free flowing creek along with a quantity of good wildlife habitat, and may inhibit recovery of archaeological information. Immediately adjacent to the reservoir there will be a change in the environment due to a probable rise of the water table, a change in the microclimate, and the periodic inundation and exposure of a zone as a result of storing flood waters and drawing down the seasonal pool for water quality control or to ob tain additional winter flood storage.
As a result of having been impounded, the water released may differ in characteristics from the unimpounded stream water. The taste and mineral content may be changed. The levels of the reservoir from which water is withdrawn will affect the temperature and dissolved oxygen con tent of the water. The impoundment will cause deposition of much of the sediment load of the creek in the reservoir, which will cause a pro gressive change in the characteristics of the aquatic habitat and aggradation of the channel immediately upstream from the reservoir. Reservoir storage space has been allocated so that the deposition will not affect storage for major project purposes within the economic life of the project. Deposition of the sediment in the reservoir will cause the discharge of relatively sediment-free water below the dam, changing tr.e character of the aquatic habitat and resulting in the degradation of the channel. The impoundment may raise the level of the regional water table.
Some 11,220 acres of land will be acquired for the project. This will remove from use a number of homesites, 7>325 acres of cropland, and 1,790 acres of pastureland. There are no known mineral resources of significant value in the project area. Since the plan provides for public use of the reservoir and reservoir lanes, facilities such as roads, boat launching ramps, restrooms, campsites, and picnic areas will be constructed. The concentration of people at the reservoir will result in a large amount of sewage which will be given tertiary treatment and may lead to increases in nutrient levels of the impounded and dicharged water. Tne project will indirectly affect the regional environment through the cumulative effect of the actions of individuals. The flood protection and the recreation resource resulting from the project will increase the attractiveness of the area for development, resulting in more homes and businesses and in changes in land use. The flood plain do'./nstream will increasingly be developed as a result of reduced flood hasard. Elsewhere in the vicinity of the project as a result of the relocation of residents, the attractiveness of the project, and the proximity of Columbus, there will be a tendency toward suburban develop- ^ 4- II
Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife Comments; The
impoundment of 3,ICO acres of water will have a serious
impact on the wildlife of the area. A large percentage
of the project area's -woodlands lie within the seasonal
pool. Consequently stream bottom timber, brush, stream
edge and openings will be destroyed leaving numerous
animals with no other habitat for cover, travel lanes,
nest trees, den trees, and food plants. Change in
land use on some of the project lands from agriculture
to intensively managed wildlife land will help compen
sate for the loss of habitat but non-project land use
changes in the area will further reduce existing habitat.
"o. Adverse environmental effects which cannot be avoided should the project be implemented. Tne loss of the bottom land along the project reach of the stream will be an unavoidable result of the project. The loss of a reach of free flowing stream with its natural scenic quality and recreation potential will be another adverse effect of the project even though the scenery and recreational potential created or made accessible by the project is expected to be excellent and to support much greater use that could the unchanged stream and the privately owned lands.
Tne process of construction will result in accelerated erosion and siltation of the stream and will have a temporary adverse effect. Long-term changes in the configuration of the bed of the stream above and below the project as a result of the project may be adverse ia some ways but are expected to be so minor as to be inconsequential.
Disruption of the private environments of individuals and families now residing on the lands to be acquired will be unavoidable."
Bureau of Sport Fisheries and V/ildlife Comments;
Construction of a silt basin below the construction
activity for the project would greatly reduce or
avoid the downstream siltation.
"c. Alternatives to the proposed action. Alternatives to the project that would help alleviate flood problems if applied either separately or in combinations include the following: Construction of concrete walls or earth levees as barriers against floods; improvement of existing channels to increase their carrying capacity by clearing, enlarging, or straightening; diversion of flood waters from existing channels into other existing or new channels; construction of retarding or detention reservoirs on small and large tributaries to withhold flows in excess of natural channel capacities; evacuation of overflow area; flood proofing of improvements that are susceptible to flood damages; and zoning of areas to control further development on flood plains.
Alternatives to the project that would result in increased recrea tional use or in increased quality of use include the provision of public access areas and recreational facilities along parts of the stream, im plementation of a program of fishery management in the stream and wild life management in the area, and an increase in recreational development on other reservoirs in the region.
Consideration has been given to alternatives within Corps' authority. Tne proposed plan is the optimum plan which can be developed . under existing criteria and authority. Further actions such as water shed management, zoning, revisions in building codes, etc. should be considered by other agencies and local governments to compliment the proposed project."
Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife Comments: We
have no comments on the stated alternatives. However,
# the following recommendations if implemented, will help
to mitigate the impact of the project on the environment. 1. Every effort should be made to preserve trees
in the project area for the purpose of protecting
the aesthetic qualities as well as the wildlife
habitat. This project offers a good opportunity
to enhance the waterfowl potential by retention .•
of timber in small arms ana bays of the seasonal
pool. The creek is currently utilized by wood ducks
which use standing timber for nesting purposes.
2. Consideration should be given to construction
of sub-impoundments on small arms of the reservoir
to enhance the waterfowl and fishery aspects of the
project.
3. Structural measures for the purpose of general
recreation should be held to a maximum of 10$ of
the project area. Any additional acreage required
for this purpose should be purchased by the agency
or agencies which will be managing these facilities.
Floodwaters should be stored on top of the sea
sonal pool to minimize fluctuation of the water level.
"d. he relationship between the local short-term uses of man's environment and the maintenance and enhancement of long-term productivity. On the project lands many of the present and potential uses of the environ ment will be abruptly changed. Residences, cemeteries, fields, pastures, streams and projected suburban developments will cease to exist as such. While these changes may have a considerable disruptive impact on the present users and may result in lessened productivity in the region, the longer term and wider range effect of the project will more than offset these problems by preventing the recurring tangible flood damages and disruption of people and communities downstream, by making more land usable and productive downstream, by improving the downstream reach of the stream, and by creating a major recreational resource near Columbus." .
Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife Comments; Good
to excellent wildlife habitat totaling 3,100 acres and
6.9 miles of free flowing main stem stream and 12 miles
of tributary streams will be traded for flood control, O general recreation, water quality control, and fish
and wildlife recreation.
"e. Irreversible and irretrievable commitments of resources which would be involved in the proposed action'should it be implemented Ir retrievably lost will be a reach of the natural stream, the agricultural land within the area to inundated, and any archaeological record of the area which is not recovered prior to filling of the pool. There are, however, no known feutures or species in the area to be inundated which arc unique or rare. These commitments and the labor and materials involved in the construction of the project are the only irreversible or irretrievable ones anticipated."
Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife Comments: The
change in land use around the project from agricultural
land to suburban land is also an irreversible commitment
of open space as is the loss of 3,100 acres of wildlife
habitat. United States Department of the Interior
G E O L O G I C A L SI R V L Y Water Resources Division 975 West Third Avenue Columbus, Ohio 43212
April 14, 1971
Major John R. Hill, Jr. Deputy District Engineer Huntington District, Corps of Engineers P.0. Box 2127 Huntington, West Virginia 25721
Dear Major Hill:
Reference is made to your letter of invitation for comments regarding the draft of an environmental statement for the Mill Creek Lake project.
Our review of the statement was concerned only with what effect the proposed project might have on the hydrologic system. The following comments do not represent the formal position of the Department of the Interior, but rather they should be considered as Informal opinions of our staff. The comments are based on information already in our files or Included in the statement.
We found the statement adequate in that it discusses all of the expected effects of the project on the hydrologic system, including both temporary effects during construction and long-term effects.
The statement gives a figure of 181 square miles as the size of the drainage area at the proposed dam. The latest determinations of drainage areas by this office indicated that the drainage areas for Mill Creek were 179 square miles at its mouth and 178 square miles at the Bellepoint gaging station, which is at the approximate location of the proposed dam. The average flow in March for the 27-year period ending in 1969 was 351 cfs, Instead of 335 cfs as given in the statement.
Sincerely yours,
John J. Molloy District Chief UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION V Division of Water Hygiene kj>3 W. Van Buren, Rm. 712 Chicago, Illinois 60607
April 15, 1971
John R. Hill, Jr. Major, Corps of Engineers P.0. Box 2127 Huntington, West Virginia 25721
Dear Major Hill:
As requested by your letter of 30 March 1971 we ,ave completed review of the environmental statement for Mill Creek Lake, Delaware and Union Counties, Ohio. Your notation of the fact that we had mistakenly referred to our comments made on Mill Creek Reservoir, Hamilton County, Ohio, is appreciated.
The draft environmental statement properly refers to the health aspects of flood control, mosquito control, and possible water quality effects on swimming use. We have no additional comments to make on the statement.
The comments offered your agency in this letter are based on the Environmental Protection Agency's responsibility to render technical assistance. If you desire a formal EPA response on any proposed project, it is suggested that a request be directed to the Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency, 1626 K St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20^60.
Sincerely yours,
F. Donald Maddox, P.E. Acting Regional Representative Division of Water Hygiene, EPA United States Department of the Interior NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NORTHEAST REGION 143 SOUTH THIRD STREET PHILADELPHIA. PA. 19106
May 27, 1971
Major John -R. Hill, Jr. Deputy District Engineer Department of the Army P.O. Box 2127 Huntington, West Virginia 25721
Dear Major Hill:
A review of the Mill Creek Lake project indicates that this proposal does not impinge on any existing or proposed National Park Service areas, registered historic or natural landmarks, and items on the National Register of Historic Places.
However, the definitive environmental statement, I feel, should include an affirmation by the State Liaison Officer for Historic Preservation that no items on the State Register of Historic Places will be endangered by this project. In addition, the statement should note positively or negatively whether any visual or aesthetic values will be adversely affected.
Sincerely yours,
Harold I. Lessem Federal Liaison, Division of Federal, State & Private Assistance UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BUREAU OF OUTDOOR RECREATION LAKE CENTRAL REGION 3833 RESEARCH PARK DRIVE ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN 48104
June 4, 1971
District Engineer U. S. Army Engineer District, Huntington P. O. Box 2127 Huntington, West Virginia 25721
Dear Sir:
In response to your letter (ORHED-PR) of March 30, 1971, and in accordance with Section 102(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (Public Law 91-190), we are forwarding our comments on the preliminary environ mental statement concerning Mill Creek Lake, Ohio.
The following review is based on limited information and field reconnaissance.
1. Project Description
This section is adequate.
2. Environmental Setting Without the Project
This section is adequate.
3. Environmental Impact
Flood protection may lead to a false sense of security and greater economic loss in times of major floods. Expected fluctuation for low-flow augmen tation and possible urban-industrial development downstream of the dam will decrease the aesthetic quality of the reservoir and remaining portion of Mill Creek. It appears that water quality of Mill Creek, already polluted by effluents, would deteriorate due to impoundment conditions and recreational use. Consideration should be given to the effects of releasing polluted reservoir water into part of Columbus’s water supply (O'Shaughnessy Reservoir). A comment regarding compliance with state and federal water quality laws would be elucidating.
According to 1968 project maps, the project also includes an extensive levee to the northern boundary of the reservoir. A discussion of levee beautification and utilization of related borrow pits would be appropriate. It should also be noted that the seasonal pool shoreline will be largely devoid of vegetation. A discussion of revegetation plans should also be included.
On page 2, first paragraph, the discussion of wildlife cover removal seems to be typographically incomplete.
4. Unavoidable Adverse Environmental Effects
Changing land use and the loss of green space in protected floodplains, while not unavoidable, is probable if floodplain management is not implemented. Creating a condition which encourages unwise floodplain utilization and continued inadequate effluent treatment may be considered as having an indirect adverse effect on the environment.
Most of the area's remaining natural vegetation and related wildlife habitat which presently occurs along Mill Creek will be lost. Much of the land which will form the reservoir shoreline is agricultural and will have to be reforested to protect the shoreline, reduce erosion, and provide aesthetic locations for recreation.
5. Alternatives
Watershed management, floodplain zoning to inhibit urban-industrial use, and stringent water quality controls are valid suggestions with or without the project. While some of these measures are beyond the Corps present authority, some downstream floodplain development could be prevented if the remaining 1 - 1 / 2 miles of Mill Creek from the dam to the Scioto River were purchased as an environmental corridor in fee or easement. The stream is bordered by trees and rock outcrops, pasture, and idle fields. This area could provide fishing, picnicking, and trails. 6. The Relationship Between the Local Short-Term Uses of Man's Environ ment and the Maintenance and Enhancement of Long-Term Productivity
This section is based on the assumption that increased use of protected floodplain causes long-term productivity. In terms of the natural environment, urban-industrial use of a floodplain are not necessarily the wisest use. These lands should be zoned and managed for open space and recreation wherever possible.
Economics is not considered to be the only connotation of long-term productivity. Increased urban-industrial utilization of a protected floodplain restricts the long-term beneficial use of the natural environ ment, especially when there is a growing need for open space and recreation. If the ecological carrying capacity of the floodplain is exceeded, long-term productivity can be expected to decrease.
7. Any Irreversible and Irretrievable Commitments of Resources
The loss of most of the remaining natural vegetation and loss of wildlife habitat are irreversible and irretrievable.
If detailed information regarding economics, socio-economic characteristics of the surrounding population, and tax structure is considered valid for inclusion in an environmental statement, we would suggest that this be included in a separate section.
We thank you for the opportunity to express our views.
Sincerely yours,
ROMAN H. KOENINGS Regional Director
John D. Cherry Acting UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION V Office of Water Programs 33 East Congress Parkway; Rm. 5l8 Chicago, Illinois 60605
June 2k> 1971
Colonel Maurice D. Roush, District Engineer U.S. Army Engineer district, Huntington P. 0. Box 2127 Huntington, West Virginia 25721
Dear Colonel Roush:
We have reviewed the March 30, 1971 draft environmental impact statement for Mill Creek Lake, Scioto River Basin, Delaware and Union Counties, Ohio.
The following comments are submitted for your use in preparing the final statement:
1. Project description. This section should be expanded at the expense of section 3* The second, fifth, sixth, ninth and thirteenth paragraphs in section 3 are primarily descriptive of the project and should be included here. A project map should be provided. Paragraph 6 of section 3 describes the expected pool fluctuations (hiring periods of drawdown for low flow augmentation • Estimates of the associated land area exposed during drawdown should be included and any ad vance effects resulting from land exposure should be mentioned in section U.
2. Paragraph 6 also provides a low flov augmentation schedule which will presumably be used for water quality control purposes in downstream areas, including the Scioto River at Columbus, Chio. Oir file does not contain recent information on recom mended seasonal water quality control needs in that area. We do have the original assessment report prepared by the Public Health Service in May 1961, and the report "Waste Treatment and Low Flow Augmentation Study of the Lower Scioto River" prepared by the Ohio Department of Health in September 196 3 . The latter report recommends that the proposed Mill Creek Reservoir provides augmentation of 150 cfs by the year 2000. The February, 1971 edition of the Chio Interim Plan for Bollution Abatement of the Scioto River Basin describes the current Central Ohio Water Development planning effort. Consideration should be given to these studies in this environ mental statement. Col. Maurice D. Roush, District Ehgineer June 21*, 1971 U.S. Army Engineer District, Huntington
3. Bivironmental Impact. Paragraph 11 generally assesses the effects on water quality as a result of impoundment. The second paragraph under section 2 portrays Mill Creek as having serious water pollution problems from municipal, industrial, and agricultural sources. The aforementioned Ohio Interim Flan also recognizes the water quality problems in Mill Creek. The potential adverse effects resulting from the impoundment of seriously polluted water have not been fully described in this environmental impact statement. Ex cessive BCD and nutrient loads could impair the intended uses of the proposed reservoir. It is recommended that the con struction of the reservoir be initiated only after positive assurance is given from the State of Ohio and the specific pollution sources that abatement will be completed. It is anticipated that advanced waste treatment, including nutrient removal, will be required of all significant wastes discharged to the stream above and in the proposed reservoir.
We recommend a slight change in the last sentence of paragraph 11 as follows:
"The outlet structure will be designed with multiple-level in takes of adequate hydraulic capacity to permit control of the strata from which water is discharged.... "
We suggest that the last sentence in paragraph ll* be altered as follows:
".... will result in production of a substantial amount of sanitary wastes which will be collected and adequately treated to prevent potential water pollution problems in the lake and downstream areas. These wastes will be given tertiary treatment including proper disinfection."
Add the following to paragraph l£:
"Contract controls will include all practical methods of re ducing erosion and minimizing streambed disturbances and a sufficient surveillance system to monitor stream quality conditions during all phases of construction."
!*• Any adverse environmental effects which cannot be avoided:
Because of possible taste and odcr problems experienced after construction of a reservoir of this type, we recommend the following changes in the last sentence of the second paragraph: "....to be slight and will eventually be nore than offset by the improved quality resulting from regulation of down stream flows. Some potential water uses in the downstream area may be impaired for several years due to taste and odor problems of released water which result from the deconposition of organic matter in the reservoir bottom."
5. Relationship between short-term uses and long-term productivity. A discussion of the relationship between Mill Creek take and the other reservoir projects in the Scioto River Basin would give a more complete picture of the maintenance and enhance ment of long-term productivity in the South-Central Chio region.
Comments by this office are offered on an informal basis only. In no way do they reflect official Agency comments which under PL 91-190 must be provided through the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
We appreciate the opportunity of reviewing this draft environmental impact statement and hope our comments will be useful in preparing the final statement.
Sincerely yours,
Merrill B. Garnet Chief, Federal Activities Coordination Branch • June 21, 1971
Mr. Carl B. Ballengee Chief, Planning Branch Engineering Division Corps of Engineers P. 0. Box 2127 Huntington, West Virginia 25721
Dear Mr. Ballengee:
This pertains to the Mill Creek Lake project, Union and Delaware counties, Ohio.
Subject project area has been preliminarily surveyed by the Archaeo logical Division staff of this Society and has been found to contain a small mound group of five (5) features and possibly other sites. Prior to construction of subject facility, federal archaeology salvage funds would be required to conduct an extensive, 6-week ground survey and salvage excavation of the mound group and such other features of importance as may be discovered during the intensive survey. Except for the conduct of this survey and resulting excavation, the under signed can report that subject Mill Creek Lake project will have no adverse effects on the historical and archaeological features of the immediate region.
Sincerely,
— ' w * I Daniel R. Porter Director
MILL CREEK LAKE, OHIO
ECONOMIC DATA
The attached economic data has been extracted from the General Design Memorandum dated July 1969. TABLE IV
SUMMARY OF ESTIMATED PROJECT INITIAL COSTS
Currently Approved GDM Estimate Item Estimate (July 1969) (July 1969)
Lands and damages $ 8,050,000 $ 7,840,000 Relocations 2,185,000 5,558,000 Reservoir 445,000 577,000 Dam and appurtenances 13,020,000 1/ 12*803,000 2/ Recreation 1 ,100,000 • 3,753,000 Permanent operating equipment 105,000 133,000 Buildings, grounds and utilities 110,000 246,000 Engineering and design 1,515,000 1,860,000 Supervision and administration 1,325,000 1,600,000
$28,000,000 $34,370,000
1/ Includes $110,000 for Access/Road 2/ Includes $263,800 for Access Road
b. Comparison of GDM estimate with currently approved estimate* The currently approved estimate is based on the estimate contained in the "Comprehensive Study of Scioto River and Tributaries, Ohio", January 1962, modified to reflect prices prevailing in July 1968,
The dam site in the 1962 report was located at essentially the same site and alignment as the dam now proposed. All cost estimates were developed using preliminary topographic mapping,
. The G.D.M. estimate was developed utilizing new topographic maps drawn to a scale of 1" = 200' with 5-foot contours with the dam site area mapped to a scale of 1" = 100' with 2-foot contours. The area-capacity computations, using the detailed maps, indicated slightly less storage than anticipated resulting in a charge in the minimum and seasonal water quality control pool elevations in order to provide sufficient storages for these project purposes.
(1) Lands and damages. Fee land requirements have increased from 8,230 acres as reported in the survey report to 11,220 acres for the G.D.M. Additional lands for recreation accounts for 1,295 acres of the 2,990 acre increase. The G.D.M. estimate which is slightly lower than the currently approved estimate is in line with the annual adjustment of the survey report estimate that has basically been in proportion to higher land speculation prices in the Columbus, Ohio area. (2) Relocations. Of the $2,185,000 relocations cost in the currently approved estimate, ovar $1,000,000 are for highways, based on replacement in kind. The GDK estimate for highways, in cluding contingencies and adjusted to July 1969 price level, is about $4,000,000, based on replacement to current criteria. This $3,000,000 increase is due to the inclusion of the additional roads not considered in the Survey Report. These roads (DC-153 £ UC-96, DC-163-1 and UC-107-1) are estimated to cost about $3,000,000. The need for these roads, in order to maintain an adequate north-south traffic pattern in the project area, became evident during detailed studies and preliminary discussions with Delaware and Union County representatives. The remaining increase in relocations costs are for additional cemeteries (1,000 graves not considered in the Survey Report) and for slight increases in utilities relocations.
(3) Reservoir. As a result of more detailed mapping used in determining' wooded and streambed areas and a four-foot higher seasonal recreation-water quality control pool elevation, 386 addi tional acres of both heavy and scattered timber are included in this reservoir clearing plan. The cost for clearing this additional area and the price level increase accounts for the.increase of $132,000 for this plan over the currently approved plan.
(4) Dam and apputenance. Studies for the survey report in cluded a plan to have a roiled earth dam with a concrete gravity channel section. A controlled spillway with five 38'x 20' tainter gates was planned with a six level pylon as an integral part. The plan as presented in this report incorporates a less expensive con trolled spillway with three 34'x 34' tainter gates, and a one level operation building. Although the Ostrander levee cost increased by $2,115,200, the total dam and appurtenance cost estimate for this report decreased by $217,000 from the previously approved estimate.
(5) Recreation. Six recreation and/or fisherman access areas are proposed for initial development under the present plan with anticipated further development of the sites for future use. Initial development cost is estimated to be $3,753,000, an increase of $2,653,000 over the currently approved estimate. This increase in facilities cost is due to a 300,000 persons increase in the initial visitation estimate as based on experience at other operating projects with a comparable population within the area of influence. A compari son between recreation facilities costs presented in the survey report and this report is tabulated below: INITIAL RECREATION FACILITIES COSTS
1952 Survey Report 1969 GDM (200,000 Initial visitation) (500,o56 initial visitation) July 69 Price Level July 69 Price Level Item *+70 Acs Recr. Lands 1765 Acs Recr, Lands
GENERAL RECREATION Picnic facilities $ *+7,200 $ 167,500 Beach development *+2,700 20*+,000 Boat launching ramps *+*+,900 7*+joOO Tent carping 91,000 92,000 Public shelters 2*+, 700 28^000 Change houses 3*+,800 68,000 Parking 207,800 392,000 Hater supply 6 sanitary facilities 215,600 359 500 Roads 175,200 • l,*+26,000 Signs and markers 2,200 Walks and trails 5,600 _ Miscellaneous landscaping §,700 321,000
Miscellaneous *♦2,000 Power line ' • 66 OOO Overlook, Cul-de-sac - 23,000
Subtotal $808,*+00 $3,263*000 Contingencies 137,600 **+90*000
TOTAL $1,036,000
FISH AND WILDLIFE RECREATION Parking areas $ 39,300 Water supply 6 sanitary facilities 12,300 Signs and miscellaneous 2,200
Subtotal $ 53,800 Contingencies 10,200
TOTAL $ 6 *+,000
TOTAL General and Fish and Wildlife Const, $1,100,000 $3,753,000 1/ (6) Permanent operating equipment. The primary reason for the $23,000 increase in this" item" is due to the inclusion of cost for a water quality control analyser,
'(7) Building, grounds and utilities. No cost for this item was included in tne original survey report estimate. Criteria con tained in ER 415-2-301, 13 November 1961, require that operator's quarters now be provided. The cost for this item is $246,000 and includes two operators; quarters and one operations building comprising a shop with machinery, storage space, offices, garages, toilet facilities, wash rooms and reception room.
(8) ESP and S6A, Costs for these items have increased by $620,000 which is due entirely to the more detailed consideration given to these items along with the increase in overall project costs. As studies progress for feature DM studies and more reliable estimates can be made, this cost may be adjusted accordingly,
16. VIEWS OF OTHER AGENCIES
The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U. S, Public Health Service and Federal Power Commission were requested to review their reports, made for the Scioto Basin Comprehensive Study, with respect to the Mill Creek Reservoir and to furnish any necessary revisions. The original reports and comments of those agencies were printed in the project document. Review comments of the Federal Water Pollution Control Administration on the Public Health Service Report prepared for the Comprehensive Study are included in exhibit No. 23.
The Village of Ostrander has concurred with the proposed plan of protection for the village. Their comments relative to the plan are contained in exhibit No. 23.
The National Park Service prepared a report for the Scioto Basin Comprehensive Study relative to the recreation aspects of the six projects proposed for the basin. Since that time their responsibili ties have been transferred to the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation and this agency was furnished the current recreation development plan. B.O.R. comments are contained in exhibit No. 23. A discussion of the National Park Service's report is contained in Appendix V.
Close coordination with Ohio Department of Natural Resources has been maintained in developing the proposed recreation plan. A detailed discussion of the State's views ’are presented in Appendix V and a letter outlining their position on the proposed plan is contained in exhibit No. 23. A letter of assurances of the State of Ohio’s cooperation in safe guarding water quality control releases is included in exhibit No. 23.
17. SCHEDULE FOR DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION
A detailed project schedule (P3-2a), included as exhibit No. 24, shows the proposed schedule for detailed design and construction of the project. The detailed construction sequence is given in Paragraph 10.f and shown on exhibit Nos. 17, 18, 19 and 20. A schedule of appropriation requirements is as follows:
TABLE V
APPROPRIATION REQUIREMENTS
Year Appropriation required
Appropriation through FY 69 $ 1,115,500 1/ Construction funds FY 70 . 0 Construction funds FY 71 250,000 Construction funds FY 72 2,500,000 Construction funds FY 73 12,700,000 Construction funds FY74 - 11,300,000 Construction funds FY75 6,505,000
1/ Includes $403,000 for participation w/State in relocation of Rt. 36
18. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE
Operation and maintenance of the project will require an estimated annual cost of $197,400. A summary of the operation and maintenance costs is shown in Table VI of Appendix VII.
19. RESERVOIR REGULATION
a. Plan of reservoir regulation for flood control. Mill Creek Reservoir is a part of an integrate’d flood control system for the Ohio River Basin as well as the Scioto River; its regulation must, therefore, be correlated with the operation of reservoirs on other tributaries of the Scioto and Ohio Rivers. Full consideration must also be given to local requirements. The plan of regulation is based on an adequate flood forecasting and flood warning system. Control stages on Mill Creek and the Scioto River have been set low enough that only nominal damages would occur at downstream points. It is desirable to empty the reservoir of flood storage as early as possible, in view of the possibility of a major flood occurring at a time when the reservoir is partly filled. Operation for Ohio River flood control is based on the maximum retention of flows which would add to crest stages in excess of 50 feet (flood stage) on the Ohio River at Portsmouth, Ohio, which represents the stage at which damage begins on the Ohio River valley below the Scioto River. A reservoir utilization curve for the period of record is shown on exhibit No. 1-13; a schedule for spill way gate regulation is included as exhibit No. 1-12 and the inflow- outflow hydrograph for the spillway design flood is shown on exhibit No. 1-16. A flood control storage allocation of approximately 72,849 acre-feet during the winter and 47,431 acre-feet during the summer would control all known flc-ods on Hill Creek except the flood of March 1913. This amount of storage would limit the outflow for the Harch 1913 flood to 5,300 c.f.s., the Standard Project Flood to 25,250 c.f.s. and the Standard Project Flood Series to 15,750 c.f.s. A re duction in crest flow would be effected for each flood at all downstream control points. Outflow would be released on the recession side of the downstream hydrographs. Allocation of the flood control storage cited above is therefore considered sufficient for flood control purposes.
b. Plan of regulation for water quality control. A water quality control pool will be provided In hill Creek Reservoir at elevation 917 during the winter season, and at elevation 930 during the summer season, containing 7,100 and 32,520 acre-feet for storage, respectively. Releases from storage will be scheduled so as to provide the minimum outflow from the reservoir as given in the following tabulation:
Minimum Minimum Month outflow c.f.s. Month outflow c.f.s.
Jan. 5 Jul. 50 Feb. 5 Aug. 60 Mar. 5 Sept. 92 Apr. 5 Oct. 82 May 5 Nov. 70 June 50 Dec. 5
In order to limit adverse effects to recreation, drawdown of the reser voir level will be limited to 4 feet and. 6 feet during July and August, respectively, except during extreme drought conditions. Rule curves for low-flow regulation are shown on exhibit No. 1-10.
20. BEAUTIFICATION
a. Clearing. Care has been taken in the overall clearing plan to limit the cutting of trees to that absolutely necessary for project purposes. Horizontal limits have been established to limit unnecessary clearing in embayaent areas throughout the reservoir and selective clearing has been taken into consideration at the overlook area and in the area below the dan to the Government taking line so that the completed project will retain the most natural look,
b. Recreation, In formulating the recreation plan of develop ment, care has been taken to site the recreation facilities in the nest desirable locations for scenic attraction as well as for practicability of design. Structures, roads and related facilities contemplated for the areas will be designed to be compatible with the natural surround ings and landscaping will be an integral part of the site planning.
c. Operation structures. Operator’s dwellings and the operations building will be situated so as to be consistent with the design of the dan and appurtenances and will be designed to be compatible with public utilization areas.
d. Contractor's work area. The contractor’s work areas, including borrow areas", will be properly landscaped after project completion to make the area presentable and plfeasing to the eye,
e. Highways. All fills and gradings necessitated by highway re- locations will also be replanted for beautification as well as for erosion control,
f» Costs. Maintenance costs have been included in the project estimate with which to maintain the entire project area after comple tion of the construction work. Costs have been included in the estimates for recreation facilities and highway work for landscaping and replant ing, Costs for reforestation and erosion control at borrow areas are also included.
21. ESTIMATE OF BENEFITS
a. General. The analysis of benefits from the improvement pro posed is in conformance with standard practices and procedures.
b. Estimate of flood damages and damages prevented. The flood control benefits were developed from the estimate of average annual damages and are based entirely on direct and indirect damages expected to be prevented by the projects of the comprehensive plan. Each project was tested in last order of construction to determine its relative eccnanic justification. Measurement of benefits was accomplished by the frequency-damage method and were adjusted to reflect future growth in the Scioto and Ohio River valleys. The following tabulation lists the direct damages for the January 1959 flood in the reaches of the Scioto Easin benefited by the Mill Creek project and the average annual damages expressed in prices prevailing in July 1969. Direct Damages Average Annual Reach Jan. 1959 Flood Damages (July 1959)
Lucasville to Piketon $ 140,000 $ 131,500 Piketon to Salt Creek 68,000 80,700 Salt Creek to Chillicothe 184,700 108,400 Chillicothe 5*, 444,300 874,200 Chillicothe to Deer Creek 56,400 79,500 Deer Creek to Big Darby Creek 320,800 264,800 Big Darby Creek to Big Walnut Creek 402,500 394,000 Big Walnut Creek to Columbus 525,000 197,000 ’Columbus 5,736,000 455,900 Columbus to Julian Griggs Dam 447,000 30,600 Julian Griggs Dam to Bellepoint 278,000 . 16,600
TOTAL £ ■ $13,603,000 $2,633,200
(1) Scioto Basin. The average annual damages prevented by the selected reservoir projects were determined by frequency-damage com putations for each reach concerned as modified by the project or projects applicable for that reach. Because of the large number of projects con sidered, each project was tested initially in last order of construction. No attempt was made to determine the damages prevented by the reservoirs in each order of construction. For each reach, the monetary value creditable to a specific project was computed for all applicable projects acting together and for all applicable projects without the specified project being considered to arrive at the individual project's effect. A summary of the damages prevented by the six additional reservoirs acting individually and as a system is shown in the following table.
SUMMARY OF ANNUAL DAMAGES PREVENTED SCIOTO RESERVOIRS - SCIOTO BASIN (Based on July 1969 prices)
Reservoir Annual Damages Prevented
Mill Creek $ 366,500 Alum Creek 1,473,200 Big Darby 452,400 Deer Creek 233,600 Paint Creek 110,700 Salt Creek 16,500 System Six Reservoirs $ 2,968,600 (2) Ohio River. Frequency computetions were prepared for representative reaches" along the Ohio River which reflected the stage reductions effected by a system of reservoirs in the Ohio River Basin. Using these stage-frequency curves and stage-damage curves for the Ohio River reaches, frequency-damage computations were prepared to reflect assumed conditions. A second set of frequency computations were prepared which included the effects of the six proposed reser voirs in the Scioto River Basin. This set of stage-frequency compu tations and the stage-damage curves for each reach of the Ohio River affected were used to compute the annual damages as modified by the Scioto system. The total damages prevented in each reach were then proportioned to individual reservoirs on the basis of the flow re duction effected by each project.
The damages prevented creditable to each project are shown in the following table:
TABLE VIII
SUMMARY OF ANNUAL DAMAGES PREVENTED ALONG THE OHIO RIVER - PORTSMOUTH, OHIO, TO MOUTH (Based on Julv 1SS9 prices and development level)
Reservoir Annual Damages Prevented
Mill Creek $ 108,700 Alum Creek 129.300 Big Darby 299,100 Deer Creek 263,300 Paint Creek 553,300 Salt Creek 285,200
System
Six Reservoirs $1,639,100
c. Growth factors and summary of project flood control benefits. In discounting future economic estimates, which measures the economic return to the private economy, the present risk free Government interest rate of 3.250 percent was used in computing the average annual equivalent for projecting the growth trends. A future growth rate of Jt percent per annum (straight line) along the Ohio River in the Hunting- ton District and 3 percent per^annusi,(straight lir ^ ~iTpthe~Louisviile district was.-used. . A 3 percent_per-annun_rate was als_o_used fpr_the ^Scioto River Basin. A summary of the Mill Creek total, project flood control~'bensfifs~with the future increment discounted utilizing the average annual equivalent factor of 0.2751 is as follows: Damages Future Total prevented benefits benefits Damages at time cf during life with future prevented project completion increment °f 1/ Location (July 69) (July 75) project — discounted 1/
Scioto River $356,500 $413,300 $1,130,800 $709,400 Ohio River 108,700 126,200 406,100 238,000
TOTAL $475,200 $539,500 $1,536,900 $947,400
I f No incremental increase for crop damages are included.
d. General recreation. District studies estimated the recreations] potential of the proposed project including the effect of the project on existing recreation areas in the basin. Benefits derived by the esti mated annual visitation were based on $1.00 per visitor day and the benefits lost were determined by estimating present recreational use of the stream and adjacent lands, '
The benefits estimated were based on the total ultimate develop ment of the recreation potential of the Hill Creek Reservoir project. An annual attendance of 500,000 people can be expected during the initia] period of three to five years after impoundment, increasing to 900,000 persons ultimately over the economic life of the project. The present worth of the estimated average annual general recreation benefits are given in Appendix V.
e. Fish and wildlife recreation. Pursuant to the provisions of th< Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, as amended, the U. S. Fish and Wild life Service prepared a report in 1961 covering the entire Scioto Basin. The report discusses effects of the proposed projects on fish and wild life resources and contains the U. S, Fish and Wildlife Serviced recom mendations for conservation and development of these resources. The Service's reanalysis of that report is included as exhibit No. 23. The annual fish and wildlife benefits are estimated to be $48,000.
f. Water quality control. The Federal Water Pollution Control Administration" recommended that storage be provided for downstream water quality control. This is consistent with the report of the Public Health Service contained in the authorising document. An annual cost of $789,200 for a single purpose alternative containing storage to offse* the basin needs was determined and used as a basis for the benefit for v this purpose. The annual benefit is $339,400 as proportioned to realistic water quality control releases.
g. Summary of average annual project benefits. A summary of the total project annual benefits for the Mill Creek Reservoir follows: Type Benefits
Flood control $ 947,400 General recreation 691,600 Fish and wildlife 48,000 Water quality control 339,400
Total $2,026,400
22. BENEFIT-TO-COST RATIO
Average annual benefits are $2,025,400 and the average annual economic charges are $1,561,100, giving a benefit-to-c'ost ratio of 1.3 to 1.
23. ALLOCATION OF COSTS
Costs have been allocated to flood control, water quality control and recreation by the "Separable Costs-Remaining Benefits" method. The cost allocation is given in Appendix VII and the results follow:
TABLE X
TOTAL COST ALLOCATION
Water Item Flood control Recreation quality control .
Benefits $947,400 $739,600 $339,400
Allocation, total annual financial costs 794,900 463,600 284,200
Allocation, OEM and major replacements. 75,900 196,200 17,700
24. RECOMMENDATIONS
It is recommended that:
a. The general project plan for the Mill Creek Reservoir as pre sented herein be approved as a basis for preparation of subsequent spe cific design memoranda and plans for the majot features of the project. b. That Appendix I, "Hydraulics and Hydrology" and Appendix VI, "Reservoir", be approved for use as the Feature Design Kemorandun for Hydrology and Reservoir Clearing.
MAURICE D. ROUSH Colonel, Corps