DR-4420 Public Notice Letter (PW 106)
Repairs for Lake Wanahoo Trail
FINAL PUBLIC NOTICE
The City of Wahoo has applied for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance Program (PA) funding through Nebraska Emergency Management Agency.
Under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), federal actions must be reviewed and evaluated for feasible alternatives and for social, economic, historic, environmental, legal, and safety considerations. Under Executive Order (EO) 11988 and EO 11990, FEMA is required to consider alternatives, and to provide a public notice of any proposed actions in or affecting floodplains or wetlands. EO 12898 also requires FEMA to provide the opportunity for public participation in the planning process and to consider potential impacts to minority and low-income populations. This notice may also fulfill requirements under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA).
Funding for the proposed project will be conditional upon compliance with all applicable federal, tribal, state, and local laws, regulations, floodplain standards, permit requirements and conditions.
Sub-Applicant: City of Wahoo
Project Title: PA‐07‐NE‐4220‐PW00106: Project 97241 - Lake Wanahoo Trail
Location: City of Wahoo, Saunders County: Along Wanahoo Trail parallel to Sand Creek from Site 2 (41.226851 -96.614579) to Site 4 (41.228849 -96.61509)
National Flood Hazard Layer FIRMette
Special Flood Hazard Area Zone:
Work is located in a Floodway. Confirmation of location in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) was determined by the Saunders County Flood Insurance Rate Map, Panel Number: FIRM Panels 31155C0355E, dated 08/03/2016. The proposed work conforms to all applicable State of Nebraska and local floodplain regulations. There is a potential for the facility to be impacted by future flooding events due to its location within the floodway. The proposed work will not take place in wetlands per the United States Fish and Wildlife Service National Wetlands Inventory and will have little potential to impact or affect wetland values.
Proposed Work and Purpose:
Original March 2019 flood damage repairs were: The steep slope of the bank will be restored using Rip Rap, Type A at bank toe with approximately 2,000 tons of rip rap used; over 977 CY of backfill will be placed behind the Rip Rap and tamped down to stay in place; 100CY of backfill will be compacted by hand; 2,550SY of geo-tech fabric will be used to help stabilize the slope and approximately 1,000SF of bent grass sod will be placed. This repair was complicated by excess dewatering or base stabilization which lead to onsite embankment boils and sink holes. The remedy is to use filter fabric, geogrid, and crushed rock while re-stabilizing the base to support the structural fill. Since this work is necessary to effectively complete the repairs, the request for an additional $145,675.75
Project Alternatives:
The alternatives considered are No Action and Repair To Pre-disaster Condition. No action is not feasible as there is currently groundwater destabilization impeding repair and safe use of a portion of the recreational trail. In-kind repairs do not address the subsurface groundwater flows and erosion that increase flood risk, makes the trail irreparable, and would be a loss community recreational facility and have environmental and waterway impact.
Comment Period:
Comments are solicited from the public; local, state or federal agencies, and other interested parties in order to consider and evaluate the impacts of the proposed project on the community. Interested persons may submit comments, questions, or request a map of this specific project by writing to: Federal Emergency Management Agency, Region 7, 11224 Holmes Road, Kansas City, MO, 64131, or by teri.toye@fema.dhs.gov. Please send comments with the subject line [DR-4420-NE-00106- Lake Wanahoo Trail 11988 COMMENT].
All comments are due by no later than 15 days of the posted date of this notice.
POSTED ON: February 15, 2023