Master Water Control Manual Update Environmental Impact Statement for the Apalachicola – Chattahoochee – Flint River Basin
Frequently Asked Questions
Q.2 Who provides authorization for Water Control Operations?
Q.3 Why is a Master Water Control Manual necessary?
Q.4 What will individual Water Control Manuals consist of?
Q.5 Which laws mandate the updates of the Water Control Manuals?
Q.6 How will the Corps involve the public in the Water Control Manual update?
Q.7 What are the communication goals for Public Involvement?
Q.8 How will the information be assimilated among interested public?
Q.9 What communication tools will be used to keep the public and stakeholders informed?
Q.10 What team from the Corps will provide the Master Water Control Manual?
Q.11 What is the anticipated timeline and cost for completing the Master Water Control Manuals?
Q.1 What is the purpose of the Master Water Control Manual?
A.1 The operations at each federal reservoir managed by the Corps are described in a Master Water Control Manual, which includes Water Control Manuals for individual waterbodies. The individual manuals typically outline the regulation schedules for each project, including operating criteria, guidelines and guide curves for varying conditions as well as specifications for storage and releases from the reservoirs. The individual Water Control Manuals also outline the coordination protocol and data collection, management and dissemination associated with routine and specific water management activities such as flood control operations or drought contingency operations.
Q.2 Who provides authorization for Water Control Operations?
A.2. The authority for Water Control Operations for Corps-owned and operated reservoir projects is contained in legislative authorization acts and referenced project documents. The public laws and project documents usually contain provisions for the development of Water Control Plans, and appropriate revision thereto, under the discretionary authority of the Chief of Engineers. In addition, section 7 of the "Flood Control Act of 1944" provides that, "On and after December 22, 1944, it shall be the duty of the Secretary of the Army to prescribe regulations for the use of storage allocated for flood control or navigation at all reservoirs constructed wholly or in part with Federal funds provided on the basis of such purposes, and the operation of any such project shall be in accordance with such regulations:…" (33 USC 709). In addition to the authorizations provided in the specific project documents, the following blanket congressional authorizations apply to all federal reservoir projects:
- Flood Control Act of 1944 (P.L. 78-534)
- Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1958 (P.L. 85-624)
- Water Supply Act of 1958 (P.L. 85-500)
- Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972 (P.L. 92-500)
- Endangered Species Act of 1973 (P.L. 93-205)
- Water Resource Development Acts
- Corps regulation in support of Flood Control and Navigation for non-federal projects (FERC license, Memorandums of Agreement, etc.)
Q.3 Why is a Master Water Control Manual necessary?
A.3. Without a comprehensive, updated Master Water Control Manual, the Corps runs the risk of, among other things, not providing sufficient water where needed (when needed to meet the authorized purposes of the projects and the needs of stakeholders, whether domestic, municipal or industrial); adversely affecting endangered species and expending water resources too early, which reduces the ability to maintain the system to meet project purposes and the needs of stakeholders; and flooding people and facilities that are now within flood plains.
This risk is due to changing conditions within the basin and at federal reservoirs which, if not accounted for, can affect water management decisions. Hydrologists must consider and evaluate many factors to determine the appropriate management of water at each lake. In addition to the constraints of the authorized purposes, they must also consider power contract commitments, hydrologic and climatologic factors, downstream lake and basin-wide conditions, potential threats of flood and drought, and lake levels.
Q.4 What will individual Water Control Manuals consist of?
A.4. Updated individual Water Control Manuals will capture the following:
- Project/system operations refined over the years due to changes in basin hydrology and withdrawals/consumption that resulted from years of growth/development
- Drought contingency requirements to account for new data and operational changes
- Updated data reflecting current basin conditions
- New/rehabilitated project structural features
- Environmental requirements for endangered species and fish spawns
- Procedures for capturing/using real-time data provided by additional gages and monitoring devices installed since the last manual updates
- Latest computer models and techniques to evaluate and establish guidelines for project operations
- Improved and streamlined methods for data exchange between the Corps and other agencies
Q.5 Which laws mandate the updates of the Water Control Manuals?
A.5. The authority for Water Control Operations for Corps-owned and operated reservoir projects is contained in legislative authorization acts and referenced project documents. The public laws and project documents usually contain provisions for the development of Water Control Manuals, and appropriate revision thereto, under the discretionary authority of the Chief of Engineers. In addition, section 7 of the "Flood Control Act of 1944" provides that, "On and after December 22, 1944, it shall be the duty of the Secretary of the Army to prescribe regulations for the use of storage allocated for flood control or navigation at all reservoirs constructed wholly or in part with Federal funds provided on the basis of such purposes, and the operation of any such project shall be in accordance with such regulations:..." (33 U.S.C. 709). Updated Water Control Plans (WCPs) are done in accordance with statutory ("Flood Control Act of 1944") and regulatory requirements ("Engineering Regulation (ER) 1110-2-240 and ER 1110-2- 8156"), and in compliance with NEPA and account for demographic, hydrologic, environmental, and technological changes that have occurred within the basins. The "Water Resources Development Acts of 1988 and 1990" also provide for public involvement of all interested stakeholders during the development of new or revised water control plans to reflect the current public interests within the basin.
Q.6 How will the Corps involve the public in the Water Control Manual update?
A.6. Public participation in the planning and NEPA process promotes open communication between the public and the Corps and, consequently, better analysis and decision making. Public, federal, tribal, state and local community involvement is a critical, early, and continuing part of the Water Control Manual update process.
Q.7 What are the communication goals for Public Involvement?
A.7. There is a heightened sense of awareness within the general public of the importance of Water Control Manuals because of the severity of the drought that has prevailed in the basin during 2007-2008 and its effect on people's lives and livelihoods. The following goals for public outreach and involvement for the Water Control Manual update process have been identified:
- Increase awareness and understanding for the Water Control Manual update process, its goals, limitations, purposes and integration with other basin operations (i.e., hydro power projects)
- Provide timely information to the public regarding the Water Control Management Team's efforts
- Provide and promote effective intra- and interagency communication at the local, state, and federal level
- Provide extensive opportunities to involve public and stakeholder participation in the Water Control Manual update throughout the decision-making process
Q.8 How will the information be assimilated among interested public?
A.8. A key component of this process will be a communications plan to outline the approach for transmitting information from the team to the public; receiving information from stakeholders and the public; informing the media, local governments, state, tribal, and federal partners; Congress; and other important decision makers.
Q.9 What communication tools will be used to keep the public and stakeholders informed?
A.9.- Section 310 of the "Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 1990" and NEPA both require public involvement. The NEPA process allows agencies to hold public scoping meetings to ascertain the interests of various publics and stakeholders as to their thoughts on what should be analyzed, reviewed, changed or considered during the process. Public scoping meetings were conducted throughout the basin in an open house format in October of 2008. In October 2009, based on a July 17, 2009 Federal District Court ruling, public scoping was reopened for additional comments. These comments were collected on this Web site, through US Mail and in faxed submissions.
- Web site—The Web site will be maintained as a repository of WCP update information. This will include an overview of the process, actions and needs. It will include all press releases, fact sheets and other informational items to meet the needs of the public and media to stay informed. As particular study elements are completed (i.e., hydrologic models, flood control analysis, pool level changes) they will be posted for public review/information.
Q.10 What team from the Corps will provide the Master Water Control Manual?
A.10. The Corps has formed an interdisciplinary Project Delivery Team (PDT), in the Mobile District to undertake the planning, analysis, and tasks necessary to develop an updated water control plan for the ACF rivers system.
Q.11 What is the anticipated timeline and cost for completing the Master Water Control Manuals?
A.11. The timeline to complete the Master Water Control Manual is approximately two years from this point and $5 million.