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NEWS
Hoover Creek Public Scoping Session
Date
July 27, 2004
Contact
Bruce D. McKeeman, 319-643-2541
Herbert Hoover National Historic Site is beginning the development of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and a Stream Management Plan for the future management of Hoover Creek. The purposes of this EIS are to address resource issues within the park boundaries associated with Hoover Creek, to protect historic structures and cultural resources from frequent flood events, restore the stream to a more historic appearance, and improve natural stream function. A public scoping session will be held on Thursday, August 12, 2004 at 2:00pm and 7:00pm at the Hoover Presidential Library-Museum. “The public scoping session will allow citizens to have direct input into the decision making process of Herbert Hoover National Historic Site”, said Bruce McKeeman, Superintendent of the National Historic Site.
The public scoping session is the first step in the consultation process for this project to ensure that the planning efforts adequately address public concerns related to the EIS. As the planning continues, the public can expect to receive more information from the park, as well as invitations to public meetings. When the draft EIS is complete, a copy will be made available for review and comment.
Currently, the planning team is seeking input for developing alternatives. The alternatives will emphasize differing levels of flood protection, and stream management tools and techniques. The complete set of alternatives will be developed after receiving input during the scoping process. “We request the public’s input on issues, concerns, and suggestions about what we should consider when coming up with alternatives to deal with flooding, erosion, and protection of the park resources“, said Bruce McKeeman.
In 1993, Hoover Creek flooded the park, interrupted visitor services, and approached historic resources. After flow data and inundation studies were reviewed by hydrologists at the U.S. Geological Survey, it was determined that this flood had a 30-year recurrence interval. This determination represented a change from the previous calculation of 50-year recurrence for the same quantity of flow. This raised concern that historic resources of the park were more likely to be damaged by flood waters.
The stream course appears to be migrating, also causing concern over the safety of the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library-Museum, adjacent to the National Historic Site. Over the past two decades, significant lateral movement toward the building’s foundation has been noted by park and library staff.
The health and function of Hoover Creek have been degraded over time, resulting in sloughing stream banks, continual erosion, downcutting of the streambed, and poor water quality from bacterial contamination. The stream no longer supports a native riparian community or viable populations of aquatic animals.
Herbert Hoover National Historic Site and the Hoover Presidential Library-Museum are open daily 9-5 and located off of I-80 at exit 254 in West Branch, Iowa.
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