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Executive Office PRELIMINARY FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT EMERGENCY RIVERBANK PROTECTION SOUTH BEND, INDIANA A4_�Ck C_� VNA e Vt � b In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Detroit District, Corps of Engineers, has assessed the environmental impacts of constructing emergency riverbank protection at three sites on the St. Joseph River, South Bend, Indiana. The sites include the east shore of Leeper Park Island and, about Y2 -mile downstream, the riverbank along North Shore Drive and a stormwater outfall on the opposite bank. Severe erosion at the three sites threatens municipal wells on Leeper Park Island, approximately 1,500 feet of North Shore Drive, and several outfalls and utilities. The proposed action is to protect all three sites with riprap stone. The upper bank at the North Shore site would be protected with a bio -engineered erosion control turf mat to preserve some of the riverbank trees. At Leeper Park, parts of a stone wall damaged by the erosion would be rebuilt. An Environmental Assessment (EA) of the proposed riverbank protection at South Bend has been completed. The EA indicates that the proposed action would not result in significant adverse environmental effects. Nor would it be expected to result in any significant cumulative or long-term adverse environmental effects. Adverse effects would be minor, including short- term noise and air emissions from equipment operation, temporary local traffic diversions, temporary turbidity from construction, localized displacement of fish and wildlife, localized clearing of vegetation, and destruction of bottom -dwelling organisms in the immediate work area. The proposed riverbank protection would protect against erosion undermining public facilities and would result in a reduction of erosion -induced turbidity and sedimentation. Also the riprap stone would provide in -water aquatic habitat along the toe of the slope and upland small mammal habitat. The riverbank protection project has been coordinated with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; no impacts to species that are Federally listed as threatened or endangered are expected. The project is located within the 100 -year floodplain; however, the project would not encourage floodplain development, nor would it impact flood stages. The proposed action complies with the Federal Executive Order 11988, Flood Plain Management, because there is no practicable alternative to construction in the flood plain.