1 ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS AND DECISION ON THE NEED FOR AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT (EIS) Form 1600-1 Rev. 3-87 CONTACT PERSON: Tere Duperrault TITLE: Water Management Specialist ADDRESS: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources 110 South Neenah Avenue Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235 PHONE NUMBER: (920) 746-2873 Department of Natural Resources District or Bureau :NER List Designation: Type III 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................ 6 INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................... 7 Definition of a Solid Permanent Structure .......................................................... 8 The Public Trust Doctrine and Riparian Rights .................................................. 8 Public Trust Doctrine.................................................................................... 8 Riparian Rights: Relevant Court Cases...................................................... 10 Statutory History......................................................................................... 11 Authorities and Approval .................................................................................. 13 Applicant Information and Site Descriptions................................................ 13 Estimated Costs and Funding ..................................................................... 18 Past Public Involvement and Public Comments .......................................... 18 PURPOSE OF STUDY.......................................................................................... 20 Study Area and Description of the Bay of Green Bay ...................................... 20 Existing Physical Conditions........................................................................ 20 The Littoral Zone and Biological Characteristics ......................................... 25 Social and Economic Characteristics ............................................................... 26 CUMULATIVE IMPACTS OF SOLID PIER STRUCTURES. .. .................... 27 Physical Impacts ........................................................................................ 27 Hydro geological Impacts of Blasting to the Littoral Zone............................ 27 Physical Impacts of Solid Piers to the Aquatic Environment and Littoral Zone28 Limitations of a Literature Review .......................................................... 29 Effect of Solid Piers on the Longshore Current and Littoral Transport ... 30 Significance of Blocking Longshore Currents and Littoral Drift............... 33 Wave Reflection from Solid Piers........................................................... 37 Changes to Lakebed Depths.................................................................. 38 Summary of Physical Impacts of Solid Piers to the Aquatic and Littoral Environments 39 SCUBA Dive Observations on Existing Structures and Proposed Sites 39 Physical........................................................................................... 39 Chemical .......................................................................................... 40 Biological.......................................................................................... 41 Terrestrial Manipulation/Impacts ....................................................................... 41 Biological Impacts ............................................................................................. 46 General Fisheries........................................................................................ 46 CUMULATIVE IMPACTS OF SOLID PIER STRUCTURES CONT ........................ 3 Smallmouth Bass ................................................................................... 49 Summary of Aquatic Biological Impacts ...................................................... 50 Water Quality .................................................................................................. 50 Wildlife............................................................................................................. 50 Waterfowl .................................................................................................... 51 Colonial Waterbirds..................................................................................... 51 Shorebirds................................................................................................... 51 Mammals..................................................................................................... 51 Herptiles ...................................................................................................... 51 Mollusks ...................................................................................................... 51 Summary of Wildlife Impacts....................................................................... 52 Cultural............................................................................................................ 52 Economic .................................................................................................... 52 Social .......................................................................................................... 53 Safety.......................................................................................................... 53 Archeological/Historical ............................................................................... 54 Natural Scenic Beauty General ................................................................... 55 Computer Imaging................................................................................. 56 Literature Review Regarding Perception of Natural Scenic Beauty....... 56 Potential Impacts on Natural Scenic Beauty ......................................... 57 Site Simulations of Potential Impacts on Natural Scenic Beauty........... 58 Methods ........................................................................................... 58 General ........................................................................................ 58 Image Specific Methods for Sites................................................. 59 Results and Discussion .................................................................... 60 Simulation Images....................................................................... 60 General Visual Effects........................................................................... 61 ALTERNATIVES................................................................................................... 62 Department Alternatives.................................................................................. 63 SUMMARY OF COMMENTS FROM DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT.. Comments....................................................................................................... 63 CONCLUSIONS.................................................................................................... 68 REFERENCES...................................................................................................... 69 4 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Map of study area. ............................................................................... 21 Figure 2. Map of watersheds draining to the Bay of Green Bay (From Bertrand, Lang and Ross 1976).......................................................................................... 22 Figure 3. Generalized map of currents in Green Bay (From Bertrand, Lang and Ross 1976).................................................................................. 24 Figure 4. Some possible physical environmental effects of solid piers (Keillor 1997) .............................................................................................................................. 31 Figure 5. Photos of Michigan Island - Buildup of sand on the East side of the dock , 9-5-90 ................................................................................. 32 Figure 6. Drawing depicting change in erosion pattern both on and offshore from a structure .............................................................................................. 33 Figure 7. Photo depicting changes in shoreline (deposition/starvation of beach) Caused by dock near Dyckesville, WI. North of Bay Shore County Park taken 6-5-96 ......................................................................................... 36 Figure 8. Drawing from Braun (1995) showing changes in lakebed depths ........ 38 Figure 9. The development of downdrift erosion downdrift of a groin.................. 34 Figure 10. Underwater Photos of O’Brien Solid Pier ............................................. 42 Figure 11, 12 and 13. Underwater Photos of Standish Solid Pier ....................... 43 Figure 14. Underwater Photos of Lama Wama Solid Pier Sturcture .................... 44 Figure 15. Water Chemistry Data at Dive Sites. .................................................. 45 5 APPENDICES APPENDIX A Copies of 12 applications................................................................... APPENDIX B Minutes of May 5, 1997 public meeting.............................................. APPENDIX C Computer imaging for aesthetics report............................................. APPENDIX D Coast Guard letter, June 27, 1997.................................................... APPENDIX E State Historical Society letter, August 21, 1997 ................................ APPENDIX F List of Solid Structure Environmental Assessment committee