AQUATIC ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION

Section 206

Under the authority provided by Section 206 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1996, the Corps may plan, design and build projects to restore aquatic ecosystems for fish and wildlife. Projects conducted in New England under this program have included eelgrass restoration, salt marsh and salt pond restoration, freshwater wetland restoration, anadromous fish passage and dam removal, river restoration, and nesting bird island restoration. Projects must be in the public interest and cost effective and are limited to $5 million in Federal cost.

Project Process. The process for Section 206 projects begins after a non-federal sponsor requests Corps of Engineers assistance under the program. When funding is available, the Corps of Engineers prepares a feasibility study, beginning with an estimate of the overall scope and cost of the study and a determination of whether the project is in the federal interest. The feasibility study formulates alternatives to achieve the restoration, evaluates the environmental effects of the alternatives, documents the project requirements, and provides a scope and cost estimate for project implementation. If the feasibility report recommends a plan for implementation, the Corps of Engineers prepares detailed project plans and specifications and obtains any required federal permits. The Corps of Engineers then manages construction of the project by a private contractor.

Cost Sharing.
The Corps of Engineers provides the first $100,000 of study costs. A non-Federal sponsor must contribute 50 percent of the cost of the feasibility study after the first $100,000 of expenditures, 35 percent of the cost of design and construction, and 100 percent of the cost of operation and maintenance. The sponsor receives a credit for the value of real estate necessary to implement the project. The entire non-Federal share of the project cost may be credited as work in kind, but, to receive credit, the services must be provided after a formal Feasibility Study Cost Sharing Agreement or Project Cooperation Agreement is signed.

How to Request Assistance. Requests for assistance should be in the form of a letter describing the location and nature of the problem and requesting assistance under the program. The request should be submitted by a state or local government agency¹ to Mr. John Kennelly, Chief, Planning Branch, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, 696 Virginia Road, Concord, MA 01742-2751. For more information call Larry Oliver of the Project Planning Section at 978-318-8347.

¹ Non-Federal sponsors must be public agencies or national non-profit organizations capable of undertaking future requirements for operation, maintenance, repair, replacement and rehabilitation (OMRR&R), or may be any non-profit organization if there are no future requirements for OMRR&R. All potential sponsors must be able to provide any required lands, easements, rights-of-way, relocations and dredged or excavated material disposal areas (LERRD). The affected local government must consent to the non-profit entity being a sponsor.

(LETTERHEAD OF LOCAL SPONSOR)

Mr. John R. Kennelly, Chief                                                                                              (DATE)
Planning Branch
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
New England District
696 Virginia Road
Concord, Massachusetts 01742-2751

Dear Mr. Kennelly:

We have identified a potential opportunity for TYPE OF AQUATIC ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION PROJECT. We request that the Corps investigate the possibility of preparing a feasibility study under its Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Program (Section 206 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1996, as amended) to formulate a restoration plan for the site.

We believe this project would restore TYPE OF BENEFITS (e.g. wetlands, fish habitat).

We understand that the study will investigate alternative solutions to identify a restoration plan for implementation. We also understand our obligations as local sponsor under the Section 206 Program, including the cost-sharing requirement of 50 percent of the feasibility cost after the first $100,000 in federal expenditures and 35 percent of the project implementation costs if a feasible plan is identified. We intend to pursue budgetary actions so that funds will be available to meet our cost sharing requirements at the time needed by the Corps of Engineers.

The NAME OF AGENCY OR COMMUNITY has designated NAME OF LOCAL CONTACT AT AGENCY AND PHONE NUMBER as the point of contact for this project.

                                                                          Sincerely,

                                                                          AGENCY OFFICIAL