[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 32 (Thursday, February 15, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5989-5990]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-3383]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army
Corps of Engineers
[3710-AJ]
Jacksonville District, Jacksonville, FL; Intent To Prepare a
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the C-7, C-8, and C-9
(North Dade) Canals General Reevaluation Report (GRR)
AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Defense.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: The Jacksonville District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
(Corps), along with the South Florida Water Management District
(SFWMD), intends to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement
(DEIS) for the feasibility phase of the C-7, C-8, and C-9 (North Dade)
Canals General Reevaluation Report (GRR).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed action
and DEIS can be answered by: Mark Ziminske, Planning Division, U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, P.O. Box 4970, Jacksonville, Florida 32232-
0019; Telephone 904-232-1786/Fax 904-232-3442.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
a. Authorization
Construction of the C-7 (Little River), C-8 (Biscayne), and C-9
(Snake Creek) canals, and associated water control structures, S-27, S-
28, and S-29 was authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1948, which
provided for construction of the first phase of a comprehensive plan
for flood control, fish and wildlife preservation, regional groundwater
control, salinity control, and navigation. The Energy and Water
Development Act of 1955 authorized preparation of a GRR to review
conveyance capacity of existing canals, document the quality of local
maintenance, and to make recommendations for implementable solutions to
flooding problems in the C-7, C-8, and C-9 drainage basins.
b. Study Area
The C-7, C-8, and C-9 basins are located in northeastern Dade
County, Florida; all three canals as well as control structures S-27,
S-28, and S-29 are previously constructed Corps' projects. The C-7
basin comprises 35 square miles, and is approximately 11 miles long.
The western portion of the basin lies in Area B, an area of relatively
poor drainage, west of the coastal ridge, eastern Dade County. S-27 is
a double grated concrete spillway located in C-7,
[[Page 5990]]
which permits release of flood runoff and prevents over-drainage and
saltwater intrusion through C-7.
The C-8 basin comprises about 31 square miles, is approximately 12
miles long, and its western portion is also located in Area B. S-28,
located in C-8, is a double-gated spillway, which permits release of
flood runoff from the C-8 basin and prevents saltwater intrusion
through C-8.
The C-9 basin comprises an area of 98 square miles, 39 square miles
in Dade County and 59 square miles in Broward County. The total canal
length is approximately 11 miles. S-29 and S-30 are control structures
located in the C-9 drainage basin. S-29 is a four-gated spillway which
conveys flood runoff and prevents over-drainage and saltwater intrusion
through C-9. S-30 is a gated concrete culvert which prevents excessive
seepage losses from Water Conservation Area (WCA)-3A by permitting
higher stages in the L-33 borrow canal and supplies water from L-33
borrow canal during dry periods to maintain stages and satisfy
irrigation demands in the C-7, C-8, and C-9 drainage basins. All three
canals discharge into northern Biscayne Bay, at Miami.
c. Project Scope and Preliminary Alternatives
The primary objective of this project is to develop a total
watershed plan which identifies structural and/or operational
modifications to the C-7, C-8, and C-9 canals and the associated water
management facilities. While the project emphasis is to enhance flood
control benefits in the project area, the GRR will also document the
status and quality of maintenance on the existing project and identify
environmental restoration opportunities in conjunction with proposed
project modifications.
Alternatives will be developed and evaluated based on the project
objectives, environmental studies, flood control feasibility, and
economics. Standard Corps' programs HEC-2 and UNET will be used to
develop hydraulic models of the existing and any proposed flood control
features.
In addition to the without project and future conditions, four
preliminary alternatives have been drafted which may be revised pending
model results and public feedback. They include: (1) Modifications to
existing canals to increase conveyance where appropriate and possible;
(2) construction of levees adjacent to existing canals in areas
identified as being susceptible to flooding, possibly in conjunction
with canal cross-section modifications; (3) use of retention storage
basins for peak discharge attenuation, possibly in conjunction with
channel modifications and construction of levees; and (4) operational
changes of existing control structures for the respective canals.
d. Scoping
The scoping process as outlined by the Council on Environmental
Quality will be utilized to involve Federal, State, and local agencies,
affected Indian Tribes, and other interested private organizations and
parties.
A Scoping letter will be sent to interested Federal, State and
local agencies, interested organizations and the public, requesting
their comments and concerns regarding issues they feel should be
addressed in the DEIS. Interested persons and organizations wishing to
participate in the scoping process should contact the U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers at the address above. Significant issues anticipated
include concern for: maintenance of flood protection for the project
area; water quality, particularly in the receiving waters of Biscayne
Bay; wetlands; fish and wildlife; saltwater intrusion into project
canals and the groundwater and; threatened and endangered plant and
animal species. Public meetings will be held over the course of the
study, the exact location, dates, and times will be announced in public
notices and local newspapers.
e. It is estimated that the DEIS will be available to the public
about July 1998.
A.J. Salem,
Chief, Planning Division.
[FR Doc. 96-3383 Filed 2-14-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-AJ-M
