Wallooskee-Youngs Confluence Restoration Project
The following comments were submitted in response to the open comment period described below.
Comments are numbered consecutively as they are received. Breaks in the number sequence result when comments are deleted because they
were submitted in error or have inappropriate content (such as SPAM). If you do not see your comment two business days after
you submit it, please contact (800) 622-4519.
The Bonneville Power Administration is proposing to restore a tidal marsh in
the Columbia River Estuary. The project involves modifying an existing levee
that would inundate historic tidal wetlands, create a network of tidal channels
and restore native vegetation on 221-acres near Astoria in Clatsop County, Ore.
The project would enhance estuary rearing habitat for juvenile salmon and
steelhead, as well as provide habitat for wildlife such as deer, elk, and river
otter.
To understand the potential environmental impacts of this proposal, BPA will
prepare an environmental assessment (EA). The EA is being prepared to
fulfill BPA’s responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act. The
Army Corps of Engineers will be a cooperating agency in the development of the
EA due to their role as a permitting agency for the levee modification and
wetland work.
You can learn about and comment on the proposal at a public meeting hosted by
BPA:
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Oregon Department of
Forestry
Downstairs in the Nehalem Room
92219 Highway 202
Astoria, OR
Comments on the proposal will be accepted through January 27, 2014.
For More Information:
https://www.bpa.gov/goto/WallooskeeYoungs
Close of comment: 1/27/2014
- WYCRP13 0006 -
LongsdorfI’m an active duty member of the U.S. Coast Guard and we were previously allowed to hunt geese and ducks by the lesee on this tract before it was sold. It was a great morale booster for our active duty members as well as a few retirees. Is there any discussion about hunting being permitted on this property? I have used all my resources trying to contact Astoria Wetlands llc by phone with negative results. There are properties in Clatsop County that are designated for public hunting and are identified by highly visible signs. All you do if you want to hunt is call the numbers listed on the sign and reserve the field of your choice for a specific day. If any consideration is given for hunting, I think this would be a good idea. If hunting is allowed, I suggest leaving the property gated and access by foot or bicycle only be permitted. That would eliminate careless damage to roads and property and ensure that the land remains open to us for public hunting. Thank You for your consideration.
- WYCRP13 0007 -
RogersPlease see attached document for comment
View Attachment
- WYCRP13 0008 -
HoganAt the request of staff at the open-house scoping meeting held on January 14, I am submitting these comments. I have lived for 35 years along the river on the opposite side from the proposed project near the mouth of the Walluski. There are 4 concerns.... 1. Erosion on the private home sites across the river from the project due to changes in the river's flow.... 2. Changes in river depth due to decreased water flows that would impact the boat floats from our properties into the river 3. Potential silting in the Walluski where it meets the Youngs river. At low tide the depth already lowers to 3 ft or less. 4. After all the studies are complete & the project is completed & the above concerns have been taken into account, who do I call when issues arise anyway? Who has to pay for the dredging, retaining walls or whatever when there is a problem? Doesn't seem like current residents should have to fight, go through lengthy time consuming bureaucratic processes or pay for corrections due to unanticipated negative impacts such as those mentioned above.
- WYCRP13 0009 -
DavisWhat provisions are to be done to ensure road traffic on hwy 202? The area proposed is very close to the water line when the tide is high. We have fishers who like to stop and fish along the roadside in a 55mph area, this creates a dangerous area. Are you going to enlarge the roadsides to accommodate this, or are you going to restrict a favorite fishing hole? What will be done to prevent erosion along hwy 202 that will be beneficial to sportsmen and environmentalists? Hwy 202 is the main though fare for this area and I don't want to see it further damaged by adding more tidal waters or cause further erosion! Thank you for your consideration.
- WYCRP13 0010 -
Weber
I would like to see public access for hunting and recreational use within the project area. The public access should maintain an appropriate balance of activities such as hunting and bird watching that is compatible with resource protection.
I would like to see a cost/benefit analysis of the restoration project for wild stocks of fish that take into consideration the net pen and gill netting operations and abundance of wild fish within Youngs Bay.
- WYCRP13 0011 -
Citizen
If the project is constructed, the cattle access culvert under Hwy 202 would be blocked. As a neighboring land owner I would have to make sure that the stormwater that collects on my property has a place to go, or the property would be flooded.
- WYCRP13 0012 -
CitizenIs this project part of the Oregon Governor's effort to eliminate the number of commercial fishermen in the main stem of the Columbia?
- WYCRP13 0013 -
CitizenJust so you know, as soon as you complete this restoration project the Cormorants will nest there and eat all of the juvenile Salmon.
- WYCRP13 0014 -
CitizenIf or when the levee is breached, would there be increased erosion of the earthen berm just across the Waluski River (South) that would threaten properties?
- WYCRP13 0015 -
SimonsenPlease see attached document for comment
View Attachment
- WYCRP13 0016 -
ScogginsPlease see attached document for comment
View Attachment
- WYCRP13 0017 -
VoorheisPlease see attached document for comments
View Attachment
- WYCRP13 0018 -
ClotterbuckPlease see attached document for comment
View Attachment
- WYCRP13 0019 -
HatcherPlease see attached document for comment
View Attachment
- WYCRP13 0021 -
RileyWallooskee-Youngs Confluence Restoration My wife and I are worried because of our closeness to the water, our concern is that we would like some assurance in writing that this project won't change our river bank or our waterfront property in any way. Please contact us at your convenience.
- WYCRP13 0020 -
Carlson
Telephone comment:
- Project is a good idea
- Work harder on Salmon spawning area
- Put fish ladder on falls
- Stop wasting money on projects that dont do anything for the fish
- WYCRP13 0022 -
Bauer/Wetland Conservancy
(Please fix the mis-spelling on the project title – we can debate “Walluski” versus “Wallooskee” - but either way, this is incorrect: “Wallooksee-Youngs Confluence Restoration (DOE/EA-1974)*” )
- WYCRP13 0023 -
StolzPlease see attached document for comment
View Attachment
- WYCRP13 0024 -
Weber/Rainland Fly CastersPlease see attached document for comment
View Attachment
- WYCRP13 0025 -
Voorheis
Please have your studies look at Climate change impacts on this restoration.
It is strongly anticipated that water levels will rise significantly.
It should be a consideration on how much to lower the tide dikes and dig out estuary channels.
I suggest that the channels have an adjustable mechanism to control tidal flows.
Without this consideration it is possible that the lowlands could be permanently flooded over time.
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