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Maumelle River Ecosystem Restoration Study   

Contact Information

Environmental Branch, Regional Planning and Environmental Center
 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
P.O. Box 867,
Little Rock, Arkansas  72203-086

Planning Branch

Mailing Address:            

USACE Little Rock District
P.O. Box 867
Little Rock, AR 72203-0867    

Email: SWLPLN@usace.army.mil
Phone: 501-324-5751

What is the study for?

The purpose of the study was to investigate and determine modifications that would restore degraded aquatic and riparian habitat in and along the Maumelle River in the Lake Maumelle River watershed, approximately 10 miles west of Little Rock on highway 10.

 

creek running through hardwood tree forest

What are we trying to accomplish?

The work we are doing here will assist the non-federal sponsor, Central Arkansas Water, restore aquatic and riparian habitat in and along the Maumelle River, and  to restore ecosystem functionality.  Specifically, we propose to remove two low-water dams that were constructed in the 1980’s to dam water for irrigation purposes.  In addition, we propose to restore riparian habitat along the Maumelle River by reconnecting side channels that were isolated from the river by a large levee, and reforest 140 acres of land with native, bottomland hardwood trees.  This land was cleared decades ago for agricultural purposes. 

 

What is NEPA?

The National Environmental Policy Act is our basic national charter for protection of the environment. It is foremost a procedural law that helps ensure that federal decision makers take a hard look at the potential effects of a proposed action and allow the public and other stakeholders to comment on the federal agency’s effects analysis and consideration of reasonable alternatives. The NEPA analysis helps these decision makers understand the environmental consequences of the alternatives in comparative form before making a decision. This “hard look” is informed by the public and other stakeholders, starting with a project or study’s scoping phase.

graphic describing the national environmental policy act
* click the image to enlarge 

The environmental review process that accompanies Corps planning studies and its value to the public are not always easy to understand. Recognizing this, and to help the public and organizations effectively participate in federal agency environmental reviews, the Council on Environmental Quality wrote the informational A Citizen’s Guide to the NEPA