Input sought on McNary lands master plan
By Terry Murry on Tuesday, May 3rd, 2022 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
UMATILLA – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Walla Walla District is interested in hearing from the public how it uses lands surrounding Lake Wallula behind McNary Dam, and how it would like those lands to be managed in the future. The USACE is accepting comments as part of the McNary Master Plan revision now through June 2.
“The McNary Master Plan needs to be updated because it was written in 1982, that’s 40 years ago,” Master Planner Leigh Cranmer said. “Now, as these are high-level strategic documents, they’re supposed to last about 20 years.”
The master plan describes how the USACE manages the recreational, natural, and cultural resources on these lands. The master plan does not address dam operations such as spill, fish passage, or dam breaching. The 1982 Master Plan and other associated documents are available on the corps’ website at https://www.nww.usace.army.mil/Locations/District-Locks-and-Dams/McNary-Lock-and-Dam/McNary-Master-Plan/.
Comments may be submitted electronically through the website or via email to McNaryMP@usace.army.mil. To submit written comments via regular mail, send them to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District, ATTN: McNary Master Plan, 201 N. 3rd Avenue, Walla Walla, WA 99362-1876
The corps has scheduled two open house public meetings to provide information and accept comments on the scope of the Master Plan revision. The meetings are scheduled for Tuesday May 10 at the Red Lion Inn Columbia Center in Kennewick and Wednesday May 11 at the McNary Lock and Dam Visitor Center in Umatilla. Both meetings will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. with formal presentations at 5 and 6 p.m.
