SECTION I - INTRODUCTION

1.01 AUTHORIZATION

Federal laws provide that land and water areas of Department of the Army lakes, constructed for the primary purposes of flood control, navigation, and/or power, shall be administered to encourage and develop collateral uses, such as recreation, conservation of fish and wildlife resources, and other purposes in the public interest. The St. Francis Basin Project, which includes Wappapello Dam and Lake, was authorized for flood control by the Flood Control Act approved 15 June 1936 (Overton Act) as amended by subsequent Flood Control Acts. Development and use of flood-control reservoir areas for recreational and related purposes were authorized by Section 4 of the Flood Control Act approved 22 December 1944, as amended by Section 209 of the Flood Control Act of 1954 approved 3 December 1954. This report has been prepared in accordance with guidance contained in the following:

1. ER 1165-2-400 Water resource policies and Authorities, Recreational Planning, Development, and Management Policies(1985).



2. ER 1110-2-400 Design of Recreation Sites, Areas, and Facilities (1988).



3. ER 1120-2-404 Investigation, Planning and Development of Water Resources - Federal Participation in Recreational Development (1970).



4. ER 1130-2-400 Environmental Stewardship Operations and Maintenance Policies (1996).



5. EP 1130-2-540 Environmental Stewardship Operations and Maintenance Guidelines and Procedures (1996).



6. EM 1110-1-400 Recreation Planning and Design Criteria (1987).



7. ER 1130-2-550 Chapter 3: Project Master Plans and Operational Management Plans (1996).



8. EP 1130-2-550 Chapter 3: Project Master Plans and Operational Management Plans (1996).



9. ER 1130-2-406 Shoreline Management at Civil Works Projects (1990).

1.02 PROJECT PURPOSES

The authorized purpose of Wappapello Lake is to provide flood control for the St. Francis River and its tributaries. The lake is an integral part of the St. Francis Basin Project. The St. Francis Basin Project controls the St. Francis and Little St. Francis Rivers through a combination of a reservoir, levees, a pumping station, channel improvements, and interior drainage. Although the primary purpose of the project is recognized as flood control, the lake constitutes a major recreation resource and has been developed into a recreational center to meet the varied recreational needs of the surrounding region. Recreational facilities have been developed in accordance with Section 4 of the Flood Control Act of 1944.

1.03 PURPOSE OF THE MASTER PLAN

The original Master Plan served as a guide for the orderly and coordinated resource development and management of all land and water at the lake. Presented in the original document was data on the scope of development considered adequate for initial public use and an estimate of future requirements. This updated Master Plan presents an inventory and assessment of the land and water resources and related physical improvements, an analysis of resource use and a reevaluation of existing and future needs required to protect and improve the values of the resource base.

1.04 PRIOR MASTER PLANS AND SUPPLEMENTS

The original Master Plan, which was approved in 1946, revised in 1958, and updated in 1963, 1975 and last updated on 29 July 1985 as Supplement No. 2, Design Memorandum No. 504, updated Master Plan. Since that approval, there have been two supplements as described below.

1. Supplement No. 3, Wappapello Lake Traditional Access Plan, 1 December 1988, proposed rehabilitation and maintenance of 56 existing public accesses to project lands and waters, closure of 71 existing public accesses, and authorization of several additional designated primitive camping areas with associated minimum health and safety facilities.



2. Final Revised Plan, Wappapello Lake Traditional Access Plan, November 1992, provided an analysis and findings of only those accesses identified by the public for proposed changes during the review period for the Traditional Access Plan.



3. Supplement No. 4, 13 June 1997, DM 504, the Wappapello Lake Master Plan, St. Francis River, Missouri, approved construction of a shower building in the Greenville Campground, Wappapello Lake.

1.05 APPLICATION OF PUBLIC LAWS

Development and management of Federal reservoirs for various purposes is provided under several statutes. These laws cover development of recreation facilities, licensing of project lands for fish and wildlife purposes, protection of natural resources, and leasing of public lands for incidental uses other than recreation.

1. Recreation. Development and management of recreation facilities by the Corps of Engineers, other governmental agencies, local groups, or individuals is authorized under the following public laws:



1. Section 4 of the Flood Control Act, approved 22 December 1944 (Public Law 534, 78th Congress), authorizes providing facilities for public use, including recreation, and conservation of fish and wildlife.



2. The River and Harbors Act, approved 2 March 1945 (Public Law 14, 79th Congress), specifies the rights and interests of the states in watershed development and water utilization and control, and the requirements for cooperation with state agencies in planning for flood control and navigation improvements.



3. The Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965, approved 1 September 1964 (Public Law 578, 88th Congress, 78 Stat. 897), contains provisions by which the Corps may charge for admission and use of its recreation areas under prescribed conditions.



4. The Federal Water Project Recreation Act, approved 9 July 1965 (Public Law 72, 89th Congress, 79 Stat. 213) contains cost sharing provisions for acquisition of lands and development of recreation facilities for water resources projects authorized after 1965. It also provides for cost sharing development of new areas that were not part of initial project construction.



5. The Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 (Public Law 90-480) together with the acts and amendments listed in 6, 7, and 8, below provides information and guidance regarding universal accessibility for persons with disabilities to the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers recreation facilities and programs.



6. The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Public Law 93-112) and the Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1974 (Public Law 93-516) (see 5 above).



7. The Rehabilitation, Comprehensive Services, and Developmental Disabilities Amendments of 1978 (Public Law 95-602) (see 5 above).



8. The Americans with Disabilities Act of l990 (Public Law 101-336) (See 5 above).



9. The Omnibus Budget Act - Day Use Fees, approved August 10, 1993 (Public Law 103-66), contains provisions by which the Corps may collect fees for the use of developed recreation sites and facilities, including campsites, swimming beaches, and boat launching ramps but excluding a site or facility which includes only a boat launch ramp and a courtesy dock.



2. Fish and Wildlife. The fish and wildlife resource is maintained and protected in compliance with the following public laws:



1. The Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, enacted 10 March 1934, as amended 14 August 1946 (PL 79-732), 1958 (PL 85-624), 1965 (PL 89-72),and Section 4 of the Flood Control Act of 22 Dec. 1944, as amended (16 U.S.C. 460D) provide authority for making project lands of value for wildlife purposes available for management by interested Federal and State wildlife agencies. It further provides for more effective integration of a fish and wildlife conservation program with Federal water resources developments.



2. The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 as amended (42 USC 4321 et seq) declares a national environmental policy and requires that all federal agencies shall to the fullest extent possible use a systematic, interdisciplinary approach which integrates natural and social sciences and environmental design arts in planning and decision making.



3. The Endangered Species Act of 1973 as amended (16 USC 1531 and 1536) requires that federal agencies shall, in consultation with FWS (or the National Marine Fisheries Service), use their authorities in furtherance of conserving endangered and threatened species and take such action as necessary to assure that their actions are not likely to jeopardize such species or destroy or modify their critical habitat.



4. The Water Resource Development Act of 1986, Section 1135 provides for modifications in the structures or operations of a project, consistent with authorized project purposes to improve the quality of the environment i.e. restoration of fish and wildlife habitat.



3. Forest Resources. Protection and Improvement of Natural Resources. The Conservation of Forest Land Act of 1960 (PL 86-717) approved 6 September 1960, provides for the protection of forest cover in reservoir areas, and specifies that reservoir areas of projects for flood control, navigation, hydroelectric power development, and other related purposes owned in fee and under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Army and the Chief of Engineers shall be developed and maintained so as to encourage, promote and assure fully adequate and dependable future resources of readily available timber through sustained yield programs, reforestation, and accepted conservation practices, and to increase the value of such areas for conservation, recreation and other beneficial uses; provided, that such development and management shall be accomplished to the extent practicable and compatible with other uses of the project. The law further provides that in order to carry out the national policy declared in the first section of this Act, the Chief of Engineers, under the supervision of the Secretary of the Army, shall provide for the protection and development of forest or other vegetative cover and the establishment and maintenance of other conservation measures on reservoir areas under his jurisdiction, so as to yield the maximum benefit and otherwise improve such areas. Programs and policies developed pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be coordinated with the Secretary of Agriculture, and with appropriate State conservation agencies.



4. Other Incidental Uses. Title 16, United States Code, Section 460d, authorizes use of public lands for recreation-related purposes, including fish and wildlife, if it is in the public interest. Such uses are also subject to regulations, policy and delegations of authority. The use of project lands for easements and licenses is authorized in various Congressional Acts and codified in Titles 10, 16, 30, 32, and 43 of the United States Code.



5. Cultural and Historical Considerations. A number of laws mandating the protection of cultural resources on public lands have been passed during the past 75 years. These laws and Executive Orders are summarized in Appendix A of St. Louis District Cultural Resource Management Policy (April 1982). The following laws subsume, clarify or supersede all previous cultural resource law:



1. The Archeological Resources Protection Act of 1979 (16 USCU 470 aa-11), Public Law 96-95, 96th Congress Revision and update of 1906 Antiquities Act. Protects archaeological resources and sites which are on public lands and Indian land, and fosters increased cooperation and exchange of information between governmental authorities, the professional community, and private individuals.



2. The 1980 Historic Preservation Amendment to the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, Public Law 96-515, 96th Congress states a policy of preserving, restoring and maintaining cultural resources and requires that Federal agencies take into account the effect of any undertaking on any site eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.



3. The Archaeological and Historic Preservation Act (Reservoir Salvage Act, PL 86-523) June 27, 1960, as amended 16 USC 469 et seq., provides for the preservation of historical and archaeological data which might otherwise be lost or destroyed as the result of flooding or any alteration of the terrain caused as a result of any Federal construction projects.



6. Other Cultural/Historical Laws. The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (PL 101-601) November 16, 1990, requires Federal agencies and museums to inventory human remains and associated funerary objects and to provide culturally affiliated tribes with the inventory of collection. The Act requires repatriation, on request, to the culturally affiliated tribes and establishes a grant program within the Department of the Interior to assist tribes in repatriation and to assist museums in preparing the inventories and collections summaries.

1.06 MISSION STATEMENT

1. Dr. John H. Zirschky, Former Acting Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works), signed the following Mission Statement for the Army Civil Works Natural Resource Management Program. The statement reads as follow:



2. The Army Corps of Engineers is the steward of lands and waters at Corps water resource projects. Its Natural Resources Management Mission is to manage and conserve those natural resources, consistent with ecosystem management principles, while providing quality public outdoor recreation experiences to serve the needs of present and future generations.



3. In all aspects of natural and cultural resources management, the Corps promotes awareness of environmental values and adheres to sound environmental stewardship, protection, compliance and restoration practices.



4. The Corps manages for long-term public access to, and use of, the natural resources in cooperation with other Federal, State, and local agencies as well as the private sector.



5. The Corps integrates the management of diverse natural resource components such as fish, wildlife, forest, wetlands, grasslands, soils, air, and water with the provision of public recreation opportunities. The Corps conserves natural resources and provides public recreation opportunities that contribute to the quality of American life.

1.07 SCOPE OF THE REPORT

This is the fourth update of the Wappapello Lake Master Plan since it was revised in 1958. It is primarily oriented toward reflecting current conditions, reclassification of project lands, formulate resource use objectives and proposed facilities and actions. To amplify paragraph 1-03 above, this update was accomplished for the purpose of revising outdated material, reflect the status of Wappapello Lake at this time, outline future plans, and present land use classifications.

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