EP 1165-2-502
30 Sep 99
12. Recreation. Ecosystem restoration projects are formulated to restore degraded ecosystem
structure, function, and dynamic processes to a less degraded, naturalistic condition. It is
important that proposed recreation features are appropriate in scope and scale to the opportunity
provided by ecosystem restoration projects, and that the recreation development and anticipated
use be compatible with the ecosystem restoration purpose of the project. Recreation development
at ecosystem restoration projects should not require additional lands, and should be ancillary to
restoration benefits. Recreation facilities may be added to take advantage of the education and
recreation potential of the ecosystem project if the separable costs of such facilities are justifiable
by the recreation opportunities, but the project cannot be specifically formulated for a recreation
purpose. The recreation potential may be satisfied only to the extent that recreation does not
diminish the ecosystem restoration purpose. Or, if there is a reduction in ecosystem restoration
outputs, the remaining ecosystem restoration benefits must still be sufficient to justify the
ecosystem restoration costs of the project. Where an ecosystem restoration project provides
critical habitat for a federally listed threatened or endangered species, recreation facilities at that
project should be precluded in the critical habitat and limited to only those facilities needed for
minimum health and safety and/or natural resources interpretation. Whenever conflicts occur
between the ecosystem restoration purpose and recreation, ecosystem restoration shall have
priority. More detailed information on policy regarding recreation development at ecosystem
restoration projects is provided in Appendix B.
13. Major Rehabilitation. The major rehabilitation program is designed to address reliability and
efficiency improvement at Civil Works operated and maintained facilities. The objective of the
program is to improve the reliability of the existing structures and, in the case of efficiency
improvement, to enhance the operational efficiency of the major project components. It is Corps
policy to both comply with environmental statutes and regulations, as well as to pursue ecosystem
restoration needs and opportunities in a manner that is cost effective. It is intended that the
rehabilitation program be consistent with this policy. A number of authorities are available for
implementing these policies, depending upon the circumstances.
a. If an existing environmental feature is experiencing a reliability problem, or if an efficiency
improvement will enhance the environmental feature, then the recommended changes can be
addressed under the major rehabilitation program. The recommended change must be justified
and, like any other feature of the project, will compete with other new start projects.
b. Negative environmental impacts attributable to rehabilitation efforts will be mitigated, and
the cost of mitigating those impacts will be included in the alternative's costs and economic
evaluation, as part of the major rehabilitation evaluation report.
c. Long recognized environmental problems, either attributable to the project or for which the
restoration measure is related to the rehabilitation measure, may be pursued under major
rehabilitation. An example of this is turbine aeration schemes which appear to provide cost
effective measures for improving dissolved oxygen levels. The cost of such measures must be
included in the economic evaluation as part of the major rehabilitation evaluation report.
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