The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is seeking public comment and will conduct a series of open houses – including one in Heppner – to help determine the issues to be addressed in the Mid-Columbia River Regional Master Plan and integrated environmental assessment.
The purpose of the Mid-Columbia River Regional Master Plan is to serve as the overall strategic management document guiding the Corps’ comprehensive administration and development of recreational, natural and cultural resources on Corps-owned lands associated with projects at Bonneville, The Dalles, John Day and Willow Creek. The master plan would provide an overall land use management plan, including objectives and concepts for the efficient and cost-effective management, development and use of project lands for the next twenty years.
All interested parties are invited to attend any or all of the open houses. Each open house will provide general information about the Mid-Columbia River Regional Master Plan, and individual open houses will focus on specific areas.
In Heppner, the open house will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 13 at Heppner City Hall, 111 N. Main St.
Master plans for the mid-Columbia River projects date back to the 1970s. A regional master plan is needed to integrate and update management and development planning for the mid-Columbia River projects in order to guide responsible stewardship and sustainability of project resources for the benefit of present and future generations.
Each Corps dam contributes to a water resource management system that provides flood risk management, power generation, water quality improvement, irrigation, fish and wildlife habitat and recreation on the Columbia River and some of its tributaries.
Written comments may be sent via email to mid-columbia-plan@usace.army.mil.
