FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT 31 AUGUST 1972 LOWER COLUMBIA RIVER BANK PROTECTION PROJECT, OREGON AND WASHINGTON U. S. ARMY ENGINEER DISTRICT PORTLANL,OREGON STATEMENT OF FINDINGS LOWER COLUMBIA RIVER BANK PROTECTION PROJECT 1. I have reviewed and evaluated the data and information pertaining to the Lower Columbia River Bank Protection Project. The principle elements considered in this review include: engineering feasibility; socio-economic factors; and environmental impacts, all of which have been evaluated in light of the project purpose. 2. The purpose of the Lower Columbia River Bank Protection Project is I primarily to prevent breaching of the many levees which protect valuable \ agriculture, industrial, and residential areas in the flood plain of Lowerl Columbia River. Filled or other valuable unleveed lands also may require I bank protection. Authority for the project is provided by Public Law 516. 3. I find that the proposed action is based on thorough analysis and -- evaluation of various practicable alternative courses of action for \ achieving the above objectives. It is anticipated that most bank \ protection works will consist of stone revetment. Alternatives include \ pile dikes, deposition of dredged sand, and set-back levees. The several, available alternatives will be fully considered at each site where bank protection appears to be needed. Continuing efforts will be made to minimize adverse effects of the proposed actions. I find that the proposed action is consonant with national policy, statutes, and administrative directives; and that on balance the total public interest should best be served by the implementation of the proposed action. X have reviewed the Statement or Facts and concur with the recommendations of the District Engineer. DIVISION ENGINEER. / DATE DIRECTOR OF CIVIL WORKS DATE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT LOWER COLUMBIA RIVER BANK PROTECTION PROJECT Prepared by U.S. ARMY ENGINEER DISTRICT, PORTLAND, OREGON Lower Columbia River Bank Protection Project, Oregon and Washington ( ) Draft ( X ) Final Environmental Statement Responsible Office; U.S. Army Engineer District, Portland, Oregon 1. Name of Action; (X) Administrative ( ) Legislative 2. Description of Action; Construct bank protection works along channels in the flood plain of the Columbia River. Most of the works to be construct­ ed under project authorization will be revetments of dumped stone protecting leveed areas. Revetment locations to be constructed in FY 1972 and FY 1973 include Lower Fisher, Burke Slough, Santosh, Hudson-Rowell, Honeyman, Reasoner, Riggs, and Lawton Creek locations. The areas protected by these proposed works include lands used for livestock husbandry and row crops, as well as industrial sites, rural residences, and a portion of one city. ,3. a. Environmental Impacts; Destruction of small sections of natural shoreline providing fish and wildlife habitat and scenic values in an area which has already been extensively altered by man; potential effects on land use in protected areas; excavation of fill materials; protection of valuable agricultural lands, industrial sites, and residences from flood damages resulting from breaching of levees; prevention of land loss through bank erosion. b. Adverse environmental effects; Loss of shoreline habitat for fish and wildlife; loss of scenic values of vegetated shoreline. 4. Alternatives: Vegetative bank protection; pile dikes; dumping of dredged spoils along the eroding banks; construction of new levees inland from eroding banks; no action. 5. Comments received: Federal Environmental Protection Agency Department of Transportation Department of the Interior Department of Agriculture Department of Commerce State Washington Department of Ecology Washington Parks and Recreation Washington Department of Fisheries Commission Washington Department of Game State of Oregon Office of the Governor Washington Department of Highways Oregon Highway Division Local Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Regional Planning City of Washougal, Washington Commission Port of Portland, Oregon Cowlitz County, Washington Board of Commissioners Clark County, Washington, Department of Public Works Other Oregon Environmental Council hr. Howard M. Rondthaler 1. Project description (Description of the proposed action). The Lower Columbia River Bank Protection Project provides protective works to stabilize eroding banks along lower Columbia River. The primary objective of the project is to prevent breaching of the many levees which protect valuable agricultural, industrial, and residential areas in the flood plain of lower Columbia River. Filled or other valuable unleveed lands also may require bank protection. Bank erosion along this reach results principally from waves induced by wind and water craft, from rapid currents, or from tidal action. The area covered by the Lcwer Columbia River Bank Protection Project consists of the flood plain of the Columbia River along the last 125 miles before it enters the ocean at Astoria, Oregon. The flood plain is divided into two narrow strips, one in Oregon and one in Washington, and extends upstream along the tribu­ taries to the upper limit of backwater effect from the Columbia River. The proposed action is the construction of revetments and other bank protection works along channels in the flood plain of the Columbia River. Construction of new levees and raising of existing levees are not authorized objectives of the project. Construction of approximately 123,800 linear feet of bank protection works at 66 locations along both banks of the Columbia River downstream from Washougal, Washington, about river mile 125, was recommended in 1950 in House Document 531, 81st Congress, Second Session. Protection of those 66 areas was later authorized by the Flood Control Act approved 17 May 1950 (Public Law 516, 81st Congress, Second Session). Funding for the Project began in FY 1958. Subsequent investiga­ tions made in 1958 revealed a change to 96 active erosion areas; of that total 61, a total length of 133,680 linear feet, were deemed critical and protective works were believed to be economically justifiable in view of the damages which would result from a levee failure caused by erosion of the levee foundation. To provide for the changing needs as erosion areas become critical during the life of the Project, detailed investigations are made, plans developed, and justifications determined for bank protection works for each leveed area or for each location where bank stabilization is needed. Appropriations for the Project have averaged $402,090 per year since initial construction funds were allotted in FY 1961, These appropriations have permitted the Corps to proceed with the authorized protective works in a manner consistent with the capability of the Portland District, the relatively short construction season, the availability of local sponsorship, and the availability of local contractors experienced in bank protection work. Through FY 1971, appropriations totaling $4,423,463 have been made for the project, and 81,705 linear feet of dumped-stone revetments and 651 linear feet of pile dikes have been constructed at 42 locations at an average cost of about $54 per linear foot. The land areas occupied by revetments already constructed under the lower Columbia bank protection project amount to approximately 75 acres. Approximately 100 more acres will be used during the remaining project. Thus, the total land covered by revetments already constructed or proposed for construction under pro­ ject authorization would be about 175 acres, or 0.1 percent of the total project area. These protective works prevent the breaching of levees of 14 drainage districts, diking districts, and diking improvement districts, and the erosion of two land areas on which are located highly developed industrial facilities. The total leveed area protected by revetments is 46,348 acres. Existing levees will provide flood protection to this area only if some form of bank protection is provided, since breaching of a levee at a single point may eliminate all the flood protection whf.ch that levee had provided. The existing levees, which were constructed many years ago by private interests, have been raised and improved by the Federal Government under the authority of the Flood Control Act approved 22 June 1936. Under that levee improvement authorization, a total of 37.3 miles of hand-placed and dumped-stone revetments have been placed, mostly during the period from 1938-1944. These revetments were placed along the river banks and levees to protect the levees from erosion and eventual breaching. Most of these revetments are still providing the protection for which they were designed. Areas revetted under the Flood Control Acts on lower Columbia River thus total approximately 60 miles, or very roughly ten percent of the total shoreline. Bank protection works completed in FY 72 were: Gnat Creek location (2,080 linear feet) in Clatsop County Diking District No. 7, Oregon; and Gilson location (1,565 linear feet) in Cowlitz County Consolidated Diking Improvement District No. 2, VJashington. In FY 1973 it is planned to con­ struct Burke Slough location (5,550 linear feet) in Cowlitz County Consolidated Diking Improvement District No. 2, Washington; Lower Fisher location (3,500 linear feet) in Cowlitz County Consolidated Diking Improve­ ment District No. 15, Washington; Lawton Creek location (300 linear feet) in Washougal area, Washington; and Santosh location (1,597 linear feet) and Hudson-Rowell location (4,001 linear feet)