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��Pt1l` NT OF T y�ya s p United States Department of the Interior FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE H 3.a�� BLOOMINGTON FIELD OFFICE (ES) REnR 620 South Walker Street MLYrU Bloomington, Indiana 47403-2121 (812) 334-4261 FAX 334-4273 February 24, 2000 Mr. Neal Gehring, Chief Engineering and Construction Division a U.S. Army Engineer District t o G 1 i Detroit P.O. Box 1027 Detroit, Michigan 48231 Attn: Florence Bissel, Environmental Analysis Branch Dear Mr. Gehring: e so-LL-� The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has reviewed the information provided with your letter of January 20, 2000, concerning a proposed shoreline protection project on the St. Joseph River in the City of South Bend, St. Joseph County, Indiana. The site is designated CSO #6 and is being investigated as an Emergency Stream Bank and Shoreline Protection Project under Section 14 of the Federal Flood Control Act of 1946. These comments have been prepared under the authority of the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (16 U.S.C. 661 et seq.) and are consistent with the intent of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Mitigation Policy. The site is located on the south bank of the St. Joseph River near the intersection of Leland Avenue and Riverside Drive. The riverbank adjacent to a 90 -inch combined sewer outfall is steep, about 35 feet high, and is eroding. It is proposed to place riprap around the outfall structure. Some minor excavation may be required to secure the riprap stone into the riverbank and around the structure. A biologist from our Northern Indiana Suboffice visited the proposed project site on February 9, 2000. The steep riverbank is well vegetated with a variety of trees and shrubs, but erosion is occurring at the structure itself, which is basically a concrete box outfall. Our main concern is the method for placing the riprap. Equipment access from the 35 -foot high steep bank would be difficult and would likely require the clearing of vegetation. Such clearing would expose soil to erosion. Usina eauioment in t_ha_ river would also present problems, including bottom disturbance and increased turbidity in the water. At the time of our site visit there was a large area of exposed sediments offshore from the CSO (see our report on the North Shore Drive_ project). If the riprap is placed during low water conditions, access could be available on this sand/gravel bar. R - 8