The Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife (VDFW) is seeking a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, to conduct work in waters of the United States in conjunction with placing fill and dredging at a state fishing access area in South Hero, Vermont.
The Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife proposes to place fill material and perform dredging in Lake Champlain and place fill in adjacent wetlands in conjunction with the construction improvements at the existing John Guilmette State Fishing Access area off of U.S. Route 2 and Featherbed Lane in South Hero.
The basic purpose of this project is to improve an existing state fishing access area for recreational boaters and fishermen. The existing access consists of a 23-foot wide, 57-foot long concrete ramp with an adjacent 5-foot wide, 50-foot long floating dock.
The proposed work will remove the existing ramp and dock; construct a new 38-foot wide, 70-foot long reinforced concrete ramp with a 5-foot wide stone apron along the north, south and east sides; excavate about 1,850 cubic yards of silt and gravel that will be disposed of at an upland, non-wetland site; temporarily place about 1,400 cubic yards of excavated material and stone or granular borrow to facilitate dredging and the construction of the ramp in the dry; install a 70-foot long, 6-foot wide seasonal dock; realign about 450 linear feet of Featherbed Lane to improve sight distance for cars exiting the access area to Route 2; and expand and reconfigure the existing boat staging area.
The application for the federal permit was filed with the Corps of Engineers in compliance with Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, which regulates the discharge or fill of material in U. S. waters, including wetlands; and with Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act, which provides for federal regulation of any work in, or affecting navigable waters of the United States.
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Press Release, January 29, 2014