Key Permit for Dam Construction Approved

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 Submitted by Brad Scott 

Milan, MO: On Wednesday March 27th, Chairman of the North Central Missouri Regional Water Commission (NCMRWC), Harve Rhodes signed the Clean Water Act Section 404 Permit, and it was delivered to the Kansas City District of the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) where it was countersigned and approved. The 404 Permit requires that habitat impacted by a project must be replaced through restorative efforts in equal or greater amounts at another location preferably as near to the impacted area as possible. The NCMRWC has also satisfied the requirements for Cultural Resources and Endangered Species Act. The Roy Blunt Reservoir will impact jurisdictional Waters of the U.S., which includes wetlands. and its approved mitigation plan provides for restorative measures in the Lower Grand Watershed where it resides. 

The North Central Missouri Regional Water Commission’s Project Team reviewed dozens of proposals and sites in search for a combination of locations to restore habitat. None of those sites or proposals proved sufficient or economically feasible. The Project Team developed a plan for restoration at the Swan Lake National Wildlife Refuge, a system in dire need of rehabilitation and located in the middle of a critically threatened ecosystem. After much review by relevant stakeholders the proposal and plan were approved and ultimately the permit signed. 

Harve Rhodes, Chairman of NCMRWC stated, “This permit is the culmination of a years-long journey to satisfy all permitting requirements and removes the last remaining major environmental permitting obstacle to dam construction. While there have been many great achievements in pursuit of the Reservoir, this may be the biggest one.” 

While acquisition, demolition, clearing, road and bridge construction have been underway for some time, the 404 permit was required for dam construction and other impacts to jurisdictional Waters of the U.S. The NCMRWC awaits final approval of dam plans by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR). 

Rhodes continued, “I want to thank NRCS officials for their tireless efforts and guidance. The construction of the Roy Blunt Reservoir is historic, but it is nearly matched by the $25 Million worth of environmental restoration that is to be performed at Swan Lake National Wildlife Refuge. 

Brad Scott, General Manager of NCMRWC, “I want to thank and commend the Project Team and especially the Engineers at Allstate Consultants, as well as those at Olsson Associates. Their innovation, passion, excellence and creativity have been on display throughout the Reservoir project, perhaps none more than at Swan Lake. Their work will be the stuff and subject of transformational case studies for decades.” 

With the 404 Permit in-hand work at both Swan Lake and the Roy Blunt Reservoir can commence including some clearing, grubbing, excavation, rip-rap placement and the emplacement of a clay pad liner on the east ridge adjoining the dam at the Reservoir.