Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Anacostia Park Wetlands Management Plan with Goose Management Strategies

The focus of the wetland management plan is nearly 100 acres of restored tidal wetlands in Anacostia Park, including Kingman Marsh, Heritage Marsh, Fringe Marsh, and Kenilworth Marsh. A number of obstacles to the success of these restored wetlands persist. Resident Canada geese consistently denude areas not protected by fencing. Questions about proper wetland elevations, erosion, and sedimentation continue to arise. Invasive plant species are present in many restored wetland areas.

NPS initially started an EA to address these concerns. However, after considering comments received during public scoping, initially evaluating potential alternatives, and continuing to examine data, the National Park Service decided to complete an EIS rather than an EA for this plan. Due to the potential for significant impacts associated with some of the alternatives considered in the EA, additional detailed scientific analysis and data collection is needed.

The scope of the EIS will remain the same as the EA. The Park has identified the need to address management tools for resident Canada geese, hydrologic regimes, invasive species, and wetland vegetation planting methods. Additionally, issues such as the effect of urbanization and toxicity will be addressed. Stabilization methods used to address erosion and sedimentation, such as the sheet piling used at Fringe Marsh, will also be examined. The EIS may identify potential future wetland restoration sites, but will not analyze them in detail.

The Park requests comments on the purpose, need, and objectives (see the NOI) for the next 30 days. Anyone who did not comment on the EA this summer is encouraged to provide comments during this time. All comments received during the summer comment period for the EA will be considered and do not need to be resubmitted.

Document Content:

NOI to Prepare EIS for Anacostia Wetlands Plan with Goose Management Strategies   (55.2 KB, PDF file) Disclaimer: Links within the above document(s) were valid as of the date published. Note: Some of the files may be in PDF format and can be viewed using the Adobe Acrobat Reader software. You may download a free copy of from Adobe Systems.