As described in the attached Public Notice, the Land Learning Foundation has requested approval for an in-lieu fee (ILF) mitigation project in Franklin County, Missouri. The project site encompasses a reach of Calvey Creek, a perennial tributary to the Meramec River; as well as reaches of two unnamed perennial tributaries to Calvey Creek. The Land Learning Foundation refers to this project as the Calvey Creek site, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (the Corps) has designated this project as MVS-2017-188. The project will include approximately 45 acres of permanently-protected forested riparian corridor within the project site. Approximately 29 acres of the forested riparian corridor will require restoration through tree plantings. The preserved and restored corridor will generally extend 300 feet perpendicular from the channel banks. The preserved and restored corridor will occur on both banks of all three of the on-site perennial tributaries. The site encompasses approximately 1,660 linear feet of Calvey Creek, 1,745 linear feet of Tributary A, and 740 linear feet of Tributary B.
The stabilization component of the project will restore bank stability to approximately 690 linear feet of Calvey Creek channel with actively failing, near-vertical banks. The proposed stabilization consists of the installation of seven rock vanes; approximately 160 linear feet of longitudinal peak stone toe protection; and the installation of a rock grade control structure. In addition to installation of the vanes and toe armoring, the affected channel banks will be graded to a stable angle, and revegetated with native herbaceous and woody species. If approved by the Corps, the Calvey Creek site will create a total potential mitigation credit release of 12,179 stream credits. The Land Learning Foundation would make the stream credit available to Department of the Army permittees seeking to fulfill requirements to purchase compensatory mitigation credit, to offset losses of aquatic functions and services. The Corps solicits your comment on the proposed mitigation project. Responses are due to this office no later than April 19, 2017.