River Front Development LLC – Elk River

Wheeler Reservoir, Limestone County, Alabama

TVA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) have jointly prepared a draft environmental assessment (DEA) presented below, which evaluates the effects of a proposal by River Front Development LLC on Wheeler Reservoir in Limestone County, Alabama. The proposal includes cove dredging, bank stabilization, and construction and operation of a community dock, boat ramp, and courtesy dock in conjunction with River Front’s commercial dry-stack boat storage facility and back-lying residential development along the Elk River. The purpose of this project is to provide water access and enhanced recreation opportunity for residents of the planned adjoining community as well as access and commercial boat storage to the public.

TVA and the Corps are evaluating the effects of the original plans for the community dock, boat ramp, and courtesy dock. Based on preliminary review, the modified proposed dredge has been reduced in length, and now, roughly 7,000 cubic yards of reservoir bottom would be removed to accommodate recreational boat access to the ramp and cove. No riprap would be placed in the back of the embayment but would be needed on both sides of the proposed ramp. The proposed fixed boardwalk to access the community dock facility would be constructed immediately adjacent to and a minimum of 2 feet above the normal summer pool shoreline, elevation 556.0 mean sea level. The proposed shoreline alterations require TVA approval under Section 26a of the TVA Act and Corps approval under Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. 

The time period for submitting comments on the DEA was extended from August 31, 2009, to September 14, 2009. All comments received on the DEA will be addressed in a final environmental assessment, which will be posted at this site upon completion.

Documents

PDF files require Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Draft Environmental Assessment (PDF, 419 kb)

Appendices to the Draft Environmental Assessment
Appendix A (PDF, 494 kb)
Joint Public Notice 08-19

Appendix B (PDF, 383 kb)
Inspection Required for Permit Processing

Appendix C (PDF, 389 kb)
Modified Project Plans and Drawings

Appendix D (PDF, 3.3 mb)
Joint Public Notice Responses

Appendix E (PDF, 138 kb)
Applicant’s Rebuttal to the Joint Public Notice Responses

Appendix F (PDF, 1.8 mb)
Alabama State Historic Preservation Officer and Tribal Consultation Correspondence

Contact

For more information, contact:

Stanford E. Davis, Senior NEPA Specialist
Tennessee Valley Authority
400 West Summit Hill Drive, WT 11D
Knoxville, TN 37902
sedavis2@tva.gov
Phone:  865-632-2915; Fax: 865-632-3451