---------- From: "mark mcadams" <[log in to unmask]> Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2001 05:19:03 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: [iowa-native-plants] Eddyville Dunes Eddyville Dunes and Wetlands, January 2001 Dear Friends, I always intended to send a "Dunes News" without the usual plea to write - just for a refreshing change of pace - but didn’t get it done. Sorry! The public comment period for the Corps’ 404 permit and the IDNR’s 401 permit ends February 8th. We need letters about the mitigation proposal. As you know, the IDOT moved the south end of the bypass to the west in order to avoid the Pale-green orchids and some of the Ornate box turtle habitat (both state-protected species) at 182nd St. Then the IDOT realized that the relocated interchange would require a stupendous amount of fill (5.2 million cubic yards), ballooning the cost of construction. The south interchange is now a trumpet design, which means less fill (only 4.2 million cubic yards). The redesign and changes in the mitigation proposal have been documented in a Reevaluation of the FEIS. Over the course of the past five years, it has become abundantly clear that only the Near East Alternative is acceptable to the Eddyville community, which includes the corporate interests at Eddyville’s industrial park. The IDOT has avoided and minimized many of the Near East’s environmental impacts. The IDOT is more honest about wetland impacts which may occur. Mitigation for unavoidable impacts is based largely on a little-used provision for exceptional circumstances. It consists of the preservation and restoration of existing wetlands and their sand prairie surroundings. The mitigation proposal includes: Preservation of 50 acres of sand prairie and wetlands at the Teno property, near the north interchange. This parcel will be given to the Mahaska County Conservation Board, with an option to claim any other unused right-of-way at the Teno property. 9 acres of wetlands are to be restored or enhanced at 4 different locations at or near the Teno property. This is as on-site (within the Dunes landform) and as in-kind (as the wetlands to be destroyed) as possible. Mitigation also includes preservation of about 200 acres of sand prairie and wetlands at the 182nd St. area, to be given to the Wapello County Conservation Board. It will extend north to G-77 (the county pavement past the Eddyville High School), south to the new 4-lane, west to the mainline and south interchange, and east to include the east end of the Acris Pond, additional wetlands including the Forest Pond of Dr. Christiansen’s study, and additional sand prairie. After being used as haul roads, 182nd St. and 240th Ave. will be closed. The permanent closure of 182nd St. seems a reasonable trade-off for its use as a haul road, because it means that the 200-acre 182nd St. area will be contiguous, and protected from secondary development impacts. 182nd St. is to be surfaced, but the work is not to widen the road or disturb the ditches. The asphalt is to be removed after construction. Possibly 240th Ave. and a portion of 182nd St. will be removed after construction. Temporary barriers to prevent animal mortality are to be used during construction, with permanent barriers installed after project completion. We need to show that conservation-minded individuals throughout Iowa remain interested in the outcome of the bypass project and the future of the Dunes. It is important to understand that the wetland mitigation consists primarily of the preservation, restoration, and enhancement of existing wetlands and sand prairie. The IDOT is turning over this job to the CCBs - in other words, the CCBs will actually carry out the mitigation. Our job is to encourage the IDNR and Corps to place conditions in the 401 and 404 permits to ensure that the CCBs can successfully accomplish the IDOT’s mitigation goals. Please include the following points in your letter; your own words are better: 1. In consultation with the County Conservation Board Directors, the IDOT must provide a budget adequate to ensure the successful preservation, restoration, and enhancement of the wetlands and sand prairies being entrusted to them. The costs of restoration are inconsequential in comparison to out-of-state consultants, haul trucks, and concrete. 2. Mitigation monitoring for 10 years. There must be a provision to revisit the mitigation agreement in the event of only minimal success or mitigation failure at any of the preservation, restoration or enhancement sites. 3. Care during construction - effective, temporary fencing around all construction zones and haul roads in the Dunes, with periodic checking of fencing by IDOT. 4. Permanent, effective animal barriers along the bypass mainline, interchanges, and interchange access road in the Dunes prior to removal of temporary barriers. Periodic checking of barrier integrity by IDOT. Permanent barriers to be adequately maintained by IDOT. 5. Temporary asphalt surfacing of 182nd St. or 240th Ave. may not widen existing roads; no work in foreslopes or backslopes of ditches. Asphalt surface must be removed in a timely manner after construction. 6. 50-ft. buffer for all impacted stream channels. 7. Permanent fencing at the Mahaska and Wapello County preservation sites to discourage dumping of garbage and ATV use, yet allow for small animal movement. 8. Use of local ecotype seed for all restoration or enhancement work and permanent IDOT right-of-ways. This request has already been made by both CCB directors; please support them! 9. Lastly, please say thank you. The Eddyville Bypass has been a very contentious project; please thank everyone for their patience. Please send copies of your letter by *February 8th* to: District Engineer U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District Clocktower Bldg. - P. O. Box 2004 Rock Island, IL 61204 attn: Mr. Neal Johnson <[log in to unmask]> You may e-mail with the understanding that the Corps will not respond by e-mail. Please include your writing address; a phone number is also requested in case Mr. Johnson needs to clarify a point in your letter. Please let Mr. Johnson know that you sent your comments to Ms. Schwake. It will help them coordinate the public response. Iowa Department of Natural Resources 900 East Grand Ave. Des Moines, Iowa 50319 attn: Ms. Chris Schwake <[log in to unmask]> Please let Ms. Schwake know that you sent your comments to Mr. Johnson. Mr. Mark Wandro, Director Iowa Department of Transportation 800 Lincoln Way Ames, Iowa 50010 For a copy of the Reevaluation of the FEIS for the Eddyville Bypass, please contact Mr. Ron Ridnour, IDOT, at (515) 239-1613. Thank you! Thank you for your trust and support! Together we have accomplished much. We are still the "human vocal chords" for the Dunes. They need us one more time. Thank you for sending letters. If you have questions please feel free to contact us: Glenda Buenger and Pat McAdams 2282 Teller Avenue, Rose Hill, Iowa 52586 (641) 632-8308; <[log in to unmask]> Workday - EarthDay - April 21 at the Dunes with Mahaska CCB We hope to draw some local folks so that we can start dissolving the "them" vs. "us" mentality. A lot of fine people live and work in Eddyville, and they need to know that "environmentalists" are just as capable of sweating as running their mouths at Public Hearings, that the Dunes are as special as we said they are, and that mostly we are people pretty much like them. The real work begins. Please watch for announcements as EarthDay draws closer. We can knock off early for those wishing to visit the 182nd St. area in Wapello County. We expect this to be the last season before construction begins. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To get off the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask]