Restoration of Emergent Sandbar Habitat Complexes in the Missouri River, Nebraska and South Dakota

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act and implementing regulations, an Environmental Assessment EA, incorporated by reference herein, has been prepared for proposed emergent sandbar habitat ESH restoration projects pursuant to the Missouri River Recovery Program MRRP. The proposed project area, bordered by the States of Nebraska and South Dakota, encompasses the Fort Randall and Gavins Point reaches, designated as the 39-mile District and 59-mile District of the Missouri River National Recreational River MNRR respectively, and includes the Lewis and Clark Lake segment. The Missouri River experienced a significant high water event during 2011 resulting in record discharges on the Missouri River Mainstem System MRMS. The high releases resulted in the creation of large acreages of ESH below the dams, including an estimated combined total of 8,900 acres of ESH in the 39-Mile District and 59-Mile District of the Missouri River. As a result, the ESH Program will focus on maintaining as much of the ESH created in 2011 as possible over the next several years 2013-2017 through vegetation removal and control methods. The proposed project would restore and maintain emergent sandbar habitat ESH lost due to the construction and on-going operations of the dam system on the MRMS and would benefit two federally-listed bird species, the endangered Interior least tern Sterna antillarum and the threatened Northern Great Plains piping plover Charadrius melodus. Two alternatives were considered the Recommended Alternative and the No Action Alternative. The No Action alternative was eliminated from further consideration because it would not fulfill the purpose and need of the proposed action, which is to restore ESH lost as a result of the construction and operation of the mainstem dams.