Proposed by Augusta-area Stakeholders
The Problem
Neither of the WIIN Act Rock Weir alternatives (the free-standing rock weir or the rock ramp over the dam) will meet the technical requirements that Congress included in the WIIN Act. They are entirely unworkable – because the pool cannot be lowered and the flood levels cannot be raised. Further, the Rock Weir alternatives would impose unnecessary and unreasonable economic, human health, safety, and environmental risks on the citizens, businesses and municipalities of the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA).
The Risks
According to the Corps own documents, the Rock Weir alternatives could . . .
Cost more, as much as twice the cost of repairing the Lock and Dam and constructing a fish bypass;
- Potentially lower the river pool (notwithstanding the WIIN Act’s direction to the contrary); "
- Potentially cause increased flood risks (in spite of FEMA regulations prohibiting raising the flood level);
- Result in permanent loss of river navigation;
- Cause siltation and debris buildup;
- Include temporary loss of the pool during weir construction; and
- Impose an uncertain environmental and economic future for the CSRA.
The Common-Sense Solution
Fortunately, there is a solution that would align the environmental mitigation requirements of the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project (SHEP) with most of the goals of the Corps of Engineers, the Consortium for the Lock and Dam and the vital interests of both the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) businesses and the broader Middle Savannah River communities under a commonsense, workable plan, at a reasonable, if not substantially lower, cost than the other solutions. It is already environmentally vetted, and is virtually shovel-ready. The solution includes the following major components:
Rehabilitation of the New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam consistent with the intent of the WIIN Act and the mitigation needs of the SHEP project, thereby protecting: navigation and recreation, control of the pool for some flood regulation, and to support the many events that depend on a pool that can be easier regulated, such as the Augusta Drag Boat Races, Iron Man, etc.
- Construction of a Fish Bypass around the Lock and Dam as previously planned and approved for SHEP mitigation, similar to the already approved 2012 Fish Passage, along with the rehabilitation efforts listed above. Part and parcel to this, Save the Middle Savannah is asking the Corp to meet with South Carolina and Georgia DNR to ensure that the size of the bypass should be minimized to the amount necessary for sturgeon and other migratory fish, but no more, in an effort to control cost.
- Evaluation of localized spawning habitat restoration projects for endangered species downstream and elsewhere. There is much published material that neither a bypass of direct overpass will effectuate a facility that will be used by the sturgeon. Save the Middle Savannah is very much a proponent of using its influence to help ensure that, whatever alternative is decided for the sturgeon, that there is sufficient science to warrant success (versus simply checking a "mitigation box")
This common-sense solution would cost the least of all the alternatives heretofore proffered and would be the quickest to implement and the most beneficial for the SHEP initiative.