Project Location: The project is located within Cedar Lake in Section 16/21, Township 83 North, Range 7 West, Linn County, Iowa. Latitude: 41.9930, Longitude: -91.6665.
Project Description: The City of Cedar Rapids Seeks to improve public use areas and amenities in proximity to Cedar Lake. The current Cedar Lake Trail configuration requires cyclists to use Shaver Road. Due to the private property and existing structures in the area, the proposed project would place fill to extend the shoreline into Cedar Lake for the construction of the trail, a fishing pier, and a jetty. The entirety of this project will implement shoreline improvements and restoration, habitat improvements, trail, roadway, and parking improvements, shelters, restrooms, canoe/kayak launches, and landscaping. The trail and lake improvements will require selective dredging at the jetty site and construction of a jetty in the lake. Fill will be placed in the lake along the north and east shores. Construction BMPs will be followed to reduce erosion. Fill will be placed along 1,880 linear feet of the shoreline. Impacts to the lake include approximately 6920 cubic yards of fill for the multi-use trail and 2830 cubic yards of fill for the fishing jetty totaling 9750 cubic yards of fill below the ordinary high-water mark.
Purpose and Need: The purpose of the project is to address safety issues due to the increased bicycle traffic on Shaver Road NE, the surrounding trails, and to improve recreational access to Cedar Lake and the surrounding businesses. The current Cedar Lake Trail configuration requires cyclists to use Shaver Road. The City recognized that the increased usage of Shaver Road NE in proximity to the bike paths at Cedar Lake was creating safety issues. Cyclists and pedestrians need an off-street trail and additional parking to address parking shortages and reduce car/bicycle interactions. Due to the private property and existing structures in the area, the proposed project would place fill to extend the shoreline into Cedar Lake for the construction of the trail, a fishing pier, and a jetty. The lakeside trail increases safety while the trail, and other amenities, provide recreation.
Avoidance and Minimization Statement: During the design process, attempts were made to avoid impacts to Waters of the Unities States (WOTUS) where possible. When avoidance was not possible, impacts to WOTUS, including wetlands, were minimized to the most practical extent possible.
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