Looking To the Future

 PUBLIC NOTICE

​

Harbor Water People’s Utility District

Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Project

​

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is proposing to provide financial assistance to the Harbor Water People’s Utility District (HWPUD), through the Oregon Office of Emergency Management for flood hazard mitigation and protection of infrastructure in Curry County, Oregon. HWPUD applied for a grant under FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, authorized under Section 404 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act.

 

FEMA intends to review the proposed project for impacts to biological, environmental, historic and cultural resources in compliance with federal environmental and historic preservation laws, pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act, and in accordance with 44 CFR Part 9.12, FEMA gives notice under Executive Orders 11988, Floodplain Management, and 11990, Protection of Wetlands, since the action is located within or affects the floodplain or may affect wetlands.

 

The entirety of HWPUD’s drinking water supply is provided by a Ranney Water Collector (Collector) situated on the Chetco River (42.064914, 124.238172) with restricted access from South Bank Chetco River Road, three miles north of the Oregon Coast Highway interchange. Since its construction in 1982, the river has migrated, resulting in a loss of 16 to 20 feet of substrate above the infiltration components of the Collector and has increased its susceptibility to possible damage from high flows during flood conditions. The purpose of the project is to improve the functionality and protect the structural stability of the Collector.

 

To address these issues, HWPUD is proposing to do the following: 1) provide structural support above the laterals of to the Collector by replacing substrate lost to channel migration with rock, 2) re-route an unnamed tributary contributing to erosion around the base of the collector, and to 3) add riverine habitat complexity by installing engineered log jams to encourage sediment deposition along the undercut bank. Upland areas disturbed during construction will be restored and re-planted with native species.

 

Comments concerning the proposed action will be accepted from the affected public; local, state and federal agencies; and other interested parties to consider and evaluate alternatives and the potential environmental impacts of the proposed action. Comments should be made in writing, sent to the Responsible Official at FEMA listed below, and postmarked within 30 days of publication of this notice.

 

FEMA Responsible Official:

Science Kilner

Regional Environmental Officer

FEMA Region 10

130 228th Street Southwest

Bothell, WA 98021-9796

fema-r10-ehp-comments@fema.dhs.gov

 

HWPUD Point of Contact:

Ken Burshem

Superintendent

Harbor Water People’s Utility District

98069 West Benham Lane

Harbor, OR 97415