EP 1165-2-1
30 Jul 99
CHAPTER 19
ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION AND PROTECTION
19-1. Introduction. This chapter has been significantly revised to
reflect the increased emphasis being placed upon ecosystem restoration
and protection within the Corps of Engineers (Corps) Civil Works
Program. In particular, this chapter attempts to clarify the linkages
among the various environmental statutes and the programs and policies
established by recent Water Resources Development Acts (WRDAs), such
that the Corps role in ecosystem restoration and protection is more
clearly defined. Ecosystem restoration and protection is the concept
or "umbrella" under which the Corps' more traditional environmental
responsibilities involving, e.g., wetlands, fish and wildlife
resources, and endangered species, are to be implemented. Each of
these traditional environmental topics are discussed and their
relationship to ecosystem restoration and protection established. In
addition to examining these more traditional environmental policies
and their relationship to ecosystem restoration and protection we also
discuss the application of ecosystem principles in our more
traditional mission areas of flood control and navigation, i.e., the
beneficial use of dredged material and the modification of project
features and/or their operations to benefit the environment.
19-2. Ecosystem Restoration and Protection in the Civil Works
Program. The Corps began seriously considering environmental issues
following the passage of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
of 1969 (Public Law 91-190), as amended, which required that all
Federal agencies prepare a statement describing the environmental
impacts of any proposed activity on the natural and social resources
within a project area. (see also paragraphs 3-2 and 25-2; ER 200-2-2;
ER 1105-2-100, Chapter 2; and, 40 CFR 1500-1508) since the initial
response to NEPA's requirements, the Corps Civil Works Program has
matured to now include projects whose purpose is to restore and/or
protect significant environmental resources. Within the Civil Works
Program, one of the project purposes considered for inclusion in the
budget are projects whose purpose is the restoration of degraded
ecosystem functions and values, including the ecosystem's hydrology,
plant and animal communities, and/or portions thereof, to a less
degraded ecological condition (see current Corps annual budget
guidance; ER 1105-2-100, Chapter 4, Section VIII). Budgetary priority
is to be given to cases where Corps projects have contributed to the
degradation of the ecosystem or where the modification of existing
Corps projects is the most cost-effective means of restoring the
resources of the degraded ecosystem.
19-3. Corps Focus in Ecosystem Restoration and Protection. Corps
activities in ecosystem restoration and protection will concentrate on
engineering solutions to water and related land resource problems.
The Corps principal focus in ecosystem restoration will be on those
ecological resources and processes that are directly associated with,
or are directly dependent upon, the hydrologic regime of the
ecosystem(s) and/or watershed(s) in which they are found. There will
be instances where components of an ecosystem restoration plan are
better addressed by other agencies through their missions and
programs; however, given the dependent nature of ecosystem components
it would be prudent to collaborate, to the extent permitted by our
authorities, with other agencies in the implementation of ecosystem
restoration activities. Those ecosystem restoration activities that
involve modification of hydrology or aquatic substrates are most
likely to be appropriate for Corps initiatives and include ecosystems
classified as wetlands, riparian and other aquatic systems. Budget
19-1
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