The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), in cooperation with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), invites the public to review and comment on a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the proposed Schweitzer Dam removal and restoration project, on Cedar Creek in Washington County. The draft EA evaluates several alternatives, including the proposed alternative, which is to remove the dam structure and restore the stream and its natural floodplain corridor. Each agency will make independent decisions on the EA in accordance with their respective environmental regulations.
The project is expected to cost about $90,000 and would be paid in part with federal Sport Fish Restoration funds. The dam, located on Lily Road one mile west of Jackson and just north of Highway 60, was built in 1946. Removing the dam and restoring the stream would improve the quality of water and habitat for fish and wildlife species and will complement on-going resource conservation efforts in the Cedar Creek watershed.
The proposed alternative that would address this need involves; 1) removing the Schweitzer dam; 2) restoring and enhancing habitat in the newly formed river channel and exposed sediment; and 3) creating a small replacement pond of less than 0.25 acre for use by the riparian riparian
Definition of riparian habitat or riparian areas.
Learn more about riparian landowners for home cooling purposes, yet removed from Cedar Creek. The two other alternatives considered are the "No Action" alternative, which would require repairing the dam, and repairing the dam and enhancing the pond through dredging.
The draft EA was prepared in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) which applies to the actions of all federal agencies.
The proposed project is also being reviewed under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. The area of potential effect for this undertaking is the Schweitzer dam, the pond formed by the dam and underlying streambed. The public is requested to inform the Service about archeological sites, buildings and structures, historic places, cemeteries, and traditional uses of the area that could influence decisions about the project.
Copies of the draft EA are available at the DNR Southeast Region Headquarters, 2300 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. Milwaukee, WI 53212 (414-263-8699) and at the City of West Bend Public Library at 230 S. 6th Street, West Bend, WI and the Town of Polk town hall at 3680 State Highway 60. The draft EA is also available on the Services Regional Internet site at: http://midwest.fws.gov/nepa . Written comments should be sent to Mr. Will Wawrzyn at the above address; via email to wawrzw@dnr.state.wi.us; or via fax to 414-263-8716. Comments on the draft EA are welcome and should be submitted in writing. Comments should be received by Mr. Wawrzyn not later than August 6, 2002.
