CONCORD, Mass. – Project SHARE of Machiasport, Maine, is seeking a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District to conduct work in waters of the U.S. in conjunction with a stream habitat enhancement project in Beddington, Maine. This work is proposed in the Narraguagus River in Beddington.
The work involves the filling of approximately 819 square feet (0.019 acre) of the Narraguagus River off of East Beddington Road in Beddington, in conjunction with a stream habitat enhancement project. The project consist of the placement of six rock clusters and a vertical log to test these structures effectiveness for future river/stream habitat enhancement projects. As this is a test project for stream habitat enhancement and has minimal fill material, no mitigation is proposed.
This proposed work may impact Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) for Atlantic salmon. This habitat consists of stream bottom composed of mixed sand, gravel, cobble and boulders. Long-term impact to this species is expected to be minimal with appropriate erosion control measures, in stream work windows and other best management practices. Therefore, the Corps has made a preliminary determination that the site-specific adverse effect will be minimal. Further consultation with the federal resource agencies regarding EFH conservation recommendations is being conducted and will be concluded prior to the final permit decision. Similarly, consultation will be initiated regarding the presence of salmon as they are a federally listed endangered species.
The decision whether to issue a permit will be based on an evaluation of the probable impact of the proposed activity on the public interest. That decision will reflect the national concern for both protection and utilization of important resources.
The application for the federal permit was filed with the Corps in compliance with Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, which regulates the discharge or fill of material in U.S. waters, including wetlands. The public notice, with more specifics on the work proposed by Project SHARE, can be viewed on the Corps website at https://www.nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/PublicNotices/.
Public comments on this work proposed by Project SHARE (file # NAE-2020-1178) should be forwarded no later than May 13, 2020 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, Maine Project Office (ATTN: Shawn Mahaney), 442 Civic Center Drive, Suite 350, Augusta, Maine 04330. Additional information is available from Permit Project Manager Shawn Mahaney at 978-318-8492 or toll free 800-343-4789 or 800-362-4367 (if calling from within Massachusetts) or by email to: shawn.b.mahaney@usace.army.mil.