The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking comments from the public on proposed alternatives for developing public use facilities on the Rapids Lake Unit of the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge in Carver County, Minnesota. Four alternatives are being offered to the public for review under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, preliminary to developing an Environmental Assessment. Written comments will be accepted through April 5, 2004, on the strengths or weaknesses of the various alternatives or suggestions for additional alternatives.
Under the first proposed alternative, the former Gehl-Mittelsted house located on the Rapids Lake Unit, would be restored and developed for use as a Visitor Contact Station and to provide administrative office space. The house would be moved to the terrace just west of its current location. An annex would be constructed adjacent to the visitor contact station to serve as an environmental education center. Outdoor environmental education and interpretive facilities would be constructed near these two structures. All disturbed areas immediately surrounding the former Gehl-Mittelsted homestead, including the abandoned quarry site, would be restored to native plant communities. A dormitory for refuge intern staff would be constructed on Service-owned property formerly known as the Lutz Farm. Services and infrastructure such as roads, septic, water, and utilities would be installed if not already present, or upgraded.
Under the No Action or second alternative, no new development would be implemented with this proposal and there would be no changes to existing public use facilities.
A third alternative considers the restoration and development of the Gehl-Mittelsted house in its current location into a combined Visitor Contact Station and environmental education center with office space. Steps would be implemented to make the house flood resistant. Outdoor environmental education and interpretive facilities would be constructed. All disturbed areas would be restored. Intern housing would be constructed on the terrace just west of the house. Services and infrastructure would be installed and/or upgraded.
The fourth alternative identifies the restored and relocated Gehl-Mittelsted house to be used as a shared Visitor Contact Station and environmental education center with office space.
The house would be moved to the terrace just west of its current location. Outdoor environmental education and interpretive facilities would be constructed. All disturbed areas would be restored. The dormitory would be constructed on the bluff near the site of the new Rapids Lake Maintenance Complex. Services and infrastructure would be installed and/or upgraded.
Proposed projects common to all action alternatives include the development of extended outdoor environmental education and interpretive facilities on the Rapids Lake Unit. Additional trails, boardwalks and observation platforms, and habitat demonstration sites would be constructed beyond the confines of the former Gehl-Mittelsted homestead. A trail traversing parallel to the Minnesota River would also be developed along the entire length of the Rapids Lake Unit. An additional spur trail would be constructed to link the Carver Ventures housing development to the proposed north-south trail.
Portions of the proposed project are currently being reviewed under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. The remainder of the proposed projects would also be reviewed under Section 106 prior to implementation. The area of potential effect for this undertaking is on various sites within the Rapids Lake Unit. Cultural resources are known to be located on some of these properties. The public is requested to inform the Service at the address below about archaeological sites, buildings and structures, historic places, cemeteries, and traditional uses of the area that could influence decisions about the projects.
Written comments on these proposed projects will be accepted through April 5, 2004. Comments can be mailed to Linda Malz at Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, 3815 American Boulevard East, Bloomington, Minn., 55425 or send via e-mail to: linda_malz@fws.gov. Copies of proposed project location maps are available at the refuge address noted above or can be requested by telephone at 952-854-5900. Proposed project location maps are also available at http://midwest.fws.gov/minnesotavalley. A draft Environmental Assessment will be written after any initial public comments have been received concerning these proposed projects. Once completed, copies of the draft EA will be made available for formal public review and comment.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System which encompasses more than 542 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 66 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices and 78 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.
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