TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: The intent of this Public
Notice is to provide an opportunity for the public to express their views on
proposed adverse effects to historic properties associated with the Lake
Loramie Reservoir rehabilitation activities.
APPLICANT: Ohio
Department of Natural Resources (ODNR)
2045 Morse
Road, Building E-3
Columbus,
Ohio 43229
LOCATION:
As depicted on the enclosed Project
Location Map (Sheet 1 of 4), the
proposed project would be located in Loramie Creek and an adjacent wetland
located at Lake Loramie State Park in McLean Township, Shelby County, Ohio
(40.358924° N, -84.359871° W).
DESCRIPTION OF
PROPOSED WORK: The applicant has requested a Department of
the Army permit (DA) authorization for the proposed discharge of dredged and/or
fill material into waters of the United States associated with the Lake Loramie
Reservoir rehabilitation activities. The
spillway, pedestrian bridge, and portions of the abutments exhibit significant
deterioration. Based upon a geotechnical
analysis, it was determined that the existing embankment exhibits marginal or
unacceptable stability along approximately 1,800 feet. The ODNR proposes to implement interim risk
reduction measures to correct the spillway and lake drain deficiencies in order
to bring the dam spillway into compliance with the ODNR dam safety regulations.
The
existing spillway would be removed down to five feet below the normal pool
elevation, and the remaining structure would be abandoned in place. The existing pedestrian bridge deck and
concrete substructure would be removed in their entirety. A new 113-feet wide and 8.9-feet tall
labyrinth spillway would be constructed to the northwest adjacent to the
existing structure. A new lake drain
system would be incorporated into the spillway which would serve to control the
lake level and lower the lake during emergency drawdown situations. The existing normal pool elevation would be
maintained with the new structure. A new
earthen embankment would be constructed to tie the existing embankment to the
proposed new spillway to the existing bank.
A concrete floodwall would be constructed around the bank where it would
then tie into the existing earthen dam.
Of the 485 linear feet of Loramie Creek proposed to be filled,
approximately 300 linear feet downstream of the existing spillway would be
converted to upland in order to accommodate the earthen embankment for the
proposed new spillway. Approximately 152
linear feet downstream of the proposed new spillway would be lined with riprap
and topped with native bed material to create substrate habitat similar to the
conditions currently existing within Loramie Creek. As a result of the proposed project, an
additional 165 linear feet of Loramie Creek immediately downstream of the
existing spillway would be converted to open water habitat (Lake Loramie). A new channel totaling approximately 150
linear feet would be constructed to connect the proposed new spillway to the
existing channel.
Approximately
0.42 are of W-03 would be filled as a result of the proposed spillway outlet
channel alignment. Refer to the enclosed
construction drawings for a depiction of the proposed activities (Sheets 2-4 of 4).
The
Corps was determined to be the lead federal agency for this undertaking, as the
only federal action in association with this proposal is the requirement to
obtain authorization under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act for the discharge
of dredged and/or fill material into waters of the United States. The proposal is under review for possible
authorization under an individual standard permit pursuant to Section 404 of
the Clean Water Act.
The Corps
is mandated by the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) to ensure no
federal undertaking, including a Corps permit action, which may affect historic
resources, is commenced before the impacts of such action are considered and
the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation and the State Historic
Preservation Office are provided an opportunity to comment as required by the
NHPA, 36 CFR 800, and 33 CFR 325, Appendix C.
Based on coordination with the Ohio Historic
Preservation Office (OHPO), it has been determined that the Loramie Reservoir
and its associated dam are significant for their association with the Miami and
Erie Canal, as the reservoir was constructed as a high feeder water supply for
the canal and is considered eligible for inclusion on the National Register of
Historic Places (NRHP).
The
proposed Lake Loramie Reservoir rehabilitation activities would occur within
the proposed NRHP boundary of the Miami and Erie Canal and would directly
affect, through alterations and additions, the Lake Loramie Dam, which is a
contributing element of the Miami and Erie Canal. A 150 by 125 foot section of
the earthen embankment of the Lake Loramie Dam would be removed. At the edge of lake where sheet piling is
proposed to be installed, an approximate 200 foot wide segment of the earthen
embankment would be removed. The
historic integrity of the dam would be further diminished by the construction
of the two segments of new earthen embankment.
Based on the
above, we have been determined the proposed undertaking would have an adverse
effect on the Miami and Erie Canal. This Public Notice serves to solicit
public input on potential mitigation activities to resolve the adverse effects on
a contributing element of the Miami and Erie Canal.
PUBLIC
INTEREST: The Corps is soliciting comments from the
public, Federal, state and local agencies and officials, Indian Tribes and
other interested parties in order to consider and evaluate the proposed adverse
effect on historic properties. Should
you wish to express your views on the undertaking’s effects on historic properties,
or provide comments, objections or mitigation proposals associated with the proposed
undertaking, please forward this information to our office prior to the close
of the comment period for this Public Notice.
CLOSE OF COMMENT PERIOD: All comments
pertaining to this Public Notice must reach this office on or before the close
of the comment period listed on page one of this Public Notice. Persons
wishing to submit comments or objections concerning this proposal should write:
United
States Army Corps of Engineers
ATTN:
CELRH-RD-N-Public Notice No. LRH-2015-533-GMR
502
8th Street
Huntington,
West Virginia 25701-2070
Please note, the names and
addresses of those who submit comments in response to this Public Notice become
part of our administrative record and, as such, are available to the public
under provisions of the Freedom of Information Act. If you have any questions concerning this
public notice, please call Ms. Teresa Spagna of the North Branch at 304-399-5210.