Corps Seeks Public Comment on Environmental Assessment for Hickory Ridge

Published Nov. 21, 2010

Knoxville, Iowa – The Rock Island District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, has released the Environmental Assessment titled Lake Red Rock Master Plan Supplement for the Hickory Ridge Acquisition and Reclassification of Adjacent U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Managed Land, Marion County, Iowa, for public review and comment. The public comment period will end December 22, 2010.

Hickory Ridge is a 47-acre tract of land adjacent to Lake Red Rock. It is a former timeshare campground that was located on private property now owned by the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation (INHF). The INHF is proposing to donate this unique oak-hickory forest tract to the Corps for the purpose of perpetual public ownership, thereby ensuring its preservation. The property would also provide a unique location for low density, primitive camping.

The Environmental Assessment presents an evaluation of alternatives, assesses the potential impacts of alternatives and recommends a preferred alternative for the site. The preferred alternative is for the Rock Island District to enter into a real estate transaction with the INHF resulting in government ownership and management of the parcel of land known as Hickory Ridge. The draft Environmental Assessment includes a draft Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the preferred alternative.

The Environmental Assessment can be viewed at: http://www2.mvr.usace.army.mil/RedRock/HickoryRidgePrimitiveCamp.cfm. If you would like a paper copy or CD please contact Marsha Dolan at 309-794-5648 or by email marsha.g.dolan@usace.army.mil. Copies will also be available at Lake Red Rock, Pella Public Library and Knoxville Public Library.

Comments regarding the Environmental Assessment can be e-mailed, phoned or mailed to:

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Rock Island District
Attention: Wendy Frohlich, Biologist
Clock Tower Building
P.O. Box 2004
Rock Island, IL 61204-2004
(309) 794-5573
wendy.m.frohlich@usace.army.mil


Release no. 11-11-03