1 Boulder / Swiftcurrent Creek Stabilization Project Boulder / Swiftcurrent Creek Stabilization Project Public Meeting Wednesday, January 15, 2014 Havre, MT 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Source: DOWL HKM Source: DOWL HKM Source: DOWL HKM
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Boulder / Swiftcurrent Creek Stabilization Project
Boulder / Swiftcurrent Creek Stabilization Project
Public Meeting Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Havre, MT 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Source: DOWL HKM Source: DOWL HKM Source: DOWL HKM
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Boulder / Swiftcurrent Creek Stabilization Project
Welcome & Introductions
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Boulder / Swiftcurrent Creek Stabilization Project
Purpose of This Meeting • Starting Phase III – environmental
compliance and preliminary design
• Public input is an important part of this process. At this meeting we want to:
– Present information on the project – Gather your feedback on issues and concerns
that you have related to this project.
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Boulder / Swiftcurrent Creek Stabilization Project
Meeting Format Presentation • Project History • Purpose and Need of the
Project • Alternatives • Potentially Impacted
Resources • Next Steps
Discussion Period • Public Comments/Questions
Source: DOWL HKM
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Boulder / Swiftcurrent Creek Stabilization Project
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Boulder / Swiftcurrent Creek Stabilization Project
Project History Milk River Irrigation Project • Farmers along the Milk River began building small
irrigation dams in the 1890s. Water for these facilities was unreliable.
• Milk River Irrigation Project constructed by the BOR in the early 1900s
• Supplies water to the North Fork Milk River & adjacent farms
Source: DOWL HKM
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Boulder / Swiftcurrent Creek Stabilization Project
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Boulder / Swiftcurrent Creek Stabilization Project
Sherburne Dam
BOR Dike
Saint Mary Diversion Dam
Saint Mary Canal
Source: DOWL HKM
Source: BOR Website 2013
Source: BOR Website 2013
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Boulder / Swiftcurrent Creek Stabilization Project
Project History • Early 1990’s: Blackfeet Tribe begins voicing
concerns over: flooding, channel instability, sediment accumulation in Lower Saint Mary Lake, damaged and/or fragmented fish habitat, and canal seepage.
• January 2008: Technical Amendment to the Federal Highway Administration SAFETEA-LU bill make funding available to the BOR for the Boulder/Swiftcurrent Bed and Bank Stabilization Project.
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Boulder / Swiftcurrent Creek Stabilization Project
Project History • October 2008: BOR and BEO met in Great Falls to
plan the scope of the project and identify major issues and general plans for the project.
• 2009: BEO holds a series of Stakeholder and Working Group meetings in Browning.
• 2009-2010: Phase I – Concept Development
• 2011-2012: Phase II – Appraisal Evaluations
• 2013-2014: Phase III – Environmental Compliance and Preliminary Design
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Boulder / Swiftcurrent Creek Stabilization Project
Project Need The Milk River Irrigation Project facilities have damaged the natural resources of the Blackfeet Tribe. The Tribe recognizes the intrinsic value of the natural ecosystem, and has an interest in restoring the culturally-significant Boulder Creek and Swiftcurrent Creek drainages to a more natural condition. The project is needed to address the following key injuries.
1. Altered hydrology 3. Delta growth
2. Channel & floodplain changes 4. Sediment transport
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Boulder / Swiftcurrent Creek Stabilization Project
Project Need: Altered Hydrology 1. Sherburne Dam has affected the hydrology of Swiftcurrent Creek
by reducing spring flows and increasing summer flows.
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Boulder / Swiftcurrent Creek Stabilization Project
Project Need: Channel & Floodplain 2. The BOR dike has disconnected Swiftcurrent Creek from its historic
floodplain and alluvial fan.
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Boulder / Swiftcurrent Creek Stabilization Project
Project Need: Delta Growth 3. The dike routes sediment directly into Lower Saint Mary Lake
causing the formation of a delta at the northern end of the lake.
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Boulder / Swiftcurrent Creek Stabilization Project
Project Need: Sediment Transport 4. Sediment conveyed directly into Lower Saint Mary Lake deprives
Saint Mary River of sediment and large woody debris.
Upstream of Kennedy Ck. Downstream of Kennedy Ck.
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Boulder / Swiftcurrent Creek Stabilization Project
Project Purpose The purpose of the project is to provide a cost-
effective, feasible solution to address the adverse physical and biological effects within
the Boulder Creek and Swiftcurrent Creek drainages that have resulted from construction
and operation of the Milk River Irrigation Project facilities, while protecting social and cultural interests to the extent practicable.
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Boulder / Swiftcurrent Creek Stabilization Project
Project Parameters • Water rights
• Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909
• Continued water storage and diversion for the Milk River Irrigation Project
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Boulder / Swiftcurrent Creek Stabilization Project
Phase I Concept Development
• Alternative 1: No Action
• Alternative 2: Implement localized stabilization and/or flood control measures at identified problem areas.
• Alternative 3: Maintain existing Swiftcurrent Creek channel alignment and incorporate sediment harvesting to limit sediment input into lower Saint Mary Lake.
• Alternative 4: Maintain existing Swiftcurrent Creek channel alignment; reconstruct lower reaches to allow floodplain sediment deposition.
• Alternative 5: Develop a two-channel system – (1) Diverted clean water supplies to Saint Mary Lake; (2) Natural floodway to accommodate sediment and natural floods.
• Alternative 6: Remove diversion dike and canal; restore pre-1900 Swiftcurrent Creek channel alignment within a defined floodplain corridor; install a pumping station at the Saint Mary River siphon on the Saint Mary Canal.
• Alternative 7: Restore Swiftcurrent Creek and floodplain to pre-irrigation system (baseline) conditions.
LEAST RESTORATION
EFFORT
LEAST BENEFIT TO
TRIBE
GREATEST RESTORATION
EFFORT
GREATEST BENEFIT TO
TRIBE
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Boulder / Swiftcurrent Creek Stabilization Project
Phase II – Appraisal Evaluations Goal: Perform an appraisal-level evaluation to select alternatives to carry forward to feasibility level design.
Alternatives to be carried forward:
• Alternative 1 – No Action
• Alternative 4 – Reconstruct Lower Reach
• Alternative 6a – Pre-1900 Alignment
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Boulder / Swiftcurrent Creek Stabilization Project
Phase III – Environmental Compliance & Preliminary Design • Current phase of the project
– Evaluation of forwarded alternatives
– Preliminary design
– Environmental compliance
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Boulder / Swiftcurrent Creek Stabilization Project
Alternative 1 (No Action)
• Perpetuate existing conditions within the project area.
• Forwarded as a baseline for comparative analysis. • Does not meet purpose and need of the project.
Source: DOWL HKM
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Boulder / Swiftcurrent Creek Stabilization Project
Alternative 4 • Reconstruct the lower
reaches of Swiftcurrent Creek and modify the BOR dike.
• Alter the release schedule of Sherburne Dam.
• Stabilize Swiftcurrent Creek sediment sources.
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Boulder / Swiftcurrent Creek Stabilization Project
• Restore the pre-1900 Swiftcurrent Creek channel.
• New diversion near Boulder/Swiftcurrent confluence.
• Convey canal under new floodway using an inverted siphon.
• Modify Sherburne Dam operations.
• Stabilize Swiftcurrent Creek sediment sources.
Alternative 6a
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Boulder / Swiftcurrent Creek Stabilization Project
Potentially Impacted Resources • Threatened and Endangered Species • Wildlife • Cultural & Traditional Resources • Land Use • Infrastructure • Wetlands
Source: DOWL HKM Source: DOWL HKM
Source: DOWL HKM
Source: Wikipedia – Author: PD-USGov-Interior-NPS
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Boulder / Swiftcurrent Creek Stabilization Project
Threatened & Endangered Species T&E Species Likely to Occur in Project Area
Species Status
Grizzly Bear Ursus arctos horribilis
Threatened
Canada Lynx Lynx canadensis
Threatened, Critical Habitat
Bull Trout Salvelinus confluentus
Threatened, Critical Habitat
Meltwater Lednian Stonefly Lednia tumana
Candidate
Sprague’s Pipit Anthus spragueii
Candidate
Wolverine Gulo gulo luscus
Proposed Threatened
Source: Wikipedia – Author: Michael Zahra
Source: Wikipedia – Author: PD-USGov.
Source: Flickr – Author: USDA.gov.
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Boulder / Swiftcurrent Creek Stabilization Project
• Only bull trout found east of the divide in the U.S.
• Project Area includes critical habitat & essential habitat
• Bull trout in the Saint Mary drainage more common than believed
• Include both migratory & non-migratory populations
• Boulder Creek – Important habitat for spawning & reproduction
Source: Mogen and Kaeding 2003, 2005a and 2005b; Mogen et al. 2011; DeHaan et al. 2011; Mogen 2013
Bull Trout
Source: www.fws.gov
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Boulder / Swiftcurrent Creek Stabilization Project
Wildlife • Elk migration • Wildlife corridors • Migratory birds/nests • Habitat
Source: DOWL HKM
Source: DOWL HKM
Source: Wikipedia – copyright holder released to public domain
Source: Wikipedia – Author: Yathin S. Krishnappa
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Boulder / Swiftcurrent Creek Stabilization Project
Cultural & Traditional Resources • Methods
– Literature review – Interviews with elders – Field reviews/pedestrian survey
• Overview – Culturally significant area
• Study Area – Swiftcurrent Creek area – Alternative 4 – Survey of Alternative 6a is pending – Saint Mary Canal may be considered historic
Source: DOWL HKM
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Boulder / Swiftcurrent Creek Stabilization Project
Land Use
Residential Development
Gravel Pit
Grazing
Source: DOWL HKM
Source: DOWL HKM Source: DOWL HKM
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Boulder / Swiftcurrent Creek Stabilization Project
Infrastructure • Housing
• Milk River Infrastructure – Dike – Diversion Dam – Canal
• Roadways
• Utilities
• Babb Airstrip
Source: DOWL HKM
Source: DOWL HKM
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Boulder / Swiftcurrent Creek Stabilization Project
Wetlands & Riparian Vegetation
A
B
C
A
B
C
Source: DOWL HKM
Source: DOWL HKM
Source: DOWL HKM
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Boulder / Swiftcurrent Creek Stabilization Project
Next Steps In Progress • Preliminary Design and Environmental Compliance
– Preliminary Design of Alternatives 4 and 6a
– Initiate NEPA Process
• Final Design – Environmental Permitting
Future Steps • Implementation/Construction
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Boulder / Swiftcurrent Creek Stabilization Project
Discussion Period Submit Comments:
• Leave a comment sheet with us tonight
• Mail/e-mail comments to: Sarah Nicolai DOWL HKM PO Box 1009 Helena, MT 59624