SUBJECT: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Albuquerque District, (Corps) is evaluating a permit application from the City of Salida to construct the CR 105 Bridge Replacement project, which would result in impacts to approximately 0.15 acre of waters of the United States (WOTUS), including approximately 0.07 acre of stream bed and approximately 0.08 acre of riparian wetlands along an approximately 100-foot reach of the South Arkansas River. This notice is to inform interested parties of an adverse effects to a historic property associated with the proposed activity and to solicit comments.
AUTHORITY: This application is being evaluated under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act for the discharge of dredged or fill material in WOTUS.
APPLICANT: David Lady, City of Salida, 340 CO-291, Salida, Colorado 81201
AGENT: Bill Hussey, Crabtree Group, Inc., 325 D. St., Salida, CO 81201
LOCATION: The project is located in the South Arkansas River at approximately latitude 38.5210°, longitude -105.9779°, Salida, Chaffee County, Colorado.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The applicant proposes to remove the existing County Road 105 Bridge and construct a new precast concrete open-bottom arch bridge with wider lanes, an added pedestrian walkway, and increased capacity beneath the bridge. Based on the available information, the overall project purpose is to improve safety, accommodate increased traffic, and provide for more natural stream flow conditions. The attached drawing provides additional project details.
MITIGATION: Mitigation is an important part of the Corps’ permitting process. Mitigation is sequential and includes avoidance, minimization, and compensation for unavoidable adverse impacts to aquatic resources. The Corps has determined that compensatory mitigation will not be required for this project since the loss of WOTUS would not exceed the thresholds specified in General Condition 23 of the nationwide permits.
HISTORIC PROPERTIES: The Corps consulted district files and records, the latest version of the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), and state records of NRHP-eligible and potentially eligible historic properties to determine if there are any historic properties that may be affected by the proposed undertaking. The project area was last surveyed for historic properties in 2000 and updated identification efforts may be required. Currently, the Corps has determined one NRHP-eligible historic property is known to exist in the proposed project permit area; consultation with the State Historic Preservation Officer on our eligibility determination has not yet commenced. This historic property is the County Road 105 Bridge, also known as the South Arkansas River Bridge (CDOT No. CHA105-00.50). Based on this initial information, the Corps has made a determination that the proposed undertaking will adversely affect this historic bridge which meets the criteria for inclusion in the NRHP. Therefore, the Corps is soliciting comments from the public in regards to the proposed adverse effect to this historic bridge.
CLOSE OF COMMENT PERIOD: All comments pertaining to this Public Notice must reach this office on or before April 3, 2023, which is the close of the comment period. Extensions of the comment period may be granted for valid reasons provided a written request is received by the limiting date. If no comments are received by that date, it will be considered that there are no objections. Anyone may request, in writing, that a public hearing be held to consider this application. Requests shall specifically state, with particularity, the reason(s) for holding a public hearing. If the Corps determines that the information received in response to this notice is inadequate for thorough evaluation, a public hearing may be warranted. If a public hearing is warranted, interested parties will be notified of the time, date, and location. Comments and requests for additional information should be submitted to:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Albuquerque District
Attn: Joshua Carpenter, Project Manager
201 West 8th Street, Suite 350
Pueblo, Colorado 81003
Phone: (719) 543-9459 X 2
E-mail: joshua.g.carpenter@usace.army.mil
Please note that names and addresses of those who submit comments in response to this public notice may be made publicly available through the Freedom of Information Act.