Contacts

Larry Freidig, Wisconsin DNR, (608) 266-5897

David Pederson, USFWS, (612) 713-5143

Public Input Sought on Environmental Assessment for Olde Stone Quarry Harbor of Refuge and Launch Area

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) are seeking public input on an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the proposed development of a harbor of refuge and expanded launching opportunity at the Olde Stone Quarry Park to the waters of Green Bay. Public comments will be accepted until March 7.

Olde Stone Quarry Park is a nine-acre parcel owned by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and operated as a park under agreement with Door County. It is located approximately 4 miles northeast of Sturgeon Bay, Wis. The park site is a “fair weather” launch site with two launch lanes exposed to the waters of Green Bay and parking for 40 car/trailer units. The launch site and shore fishing opportunity at the site are popular because of deep water depths and good habitat for a smallmouth bass fishery.

The proposed project is to construct a harbor of refuge at the present location of the two existing launch ramps. Two breakwater structures attached to the shoreline would extend lakeward to create 20,000 square feet of protected water. The balance of the harbor basin, approximately 40,000 square feet, would be excavated from the existing parkland.

The harbor will be excavated to a depth of 15 feet. The number of launch lanes would be increased from 2 to 6 lanes with accessible boarding docks for each launch lane. In addition, three floating docks located in the basin would provide transient dockage for boaters in inclement weather. Parking would be expanded by an additional 60 car/trailer units.

A second action alternative in the EA calls for construction of a 2.6-acre harbor of refuge entirely through the construction of breakwaters, with no land excavation. A "No Action" alternative, which would leave the boat launch site as it currently exists, is also analyzed, as required under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

In cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the DNR is gathering public information and public comment regarding the draft Environmental Assessment for the proposed project. Each agency will make independent decisions on the EA in accordance with their respective environmental regulations. If public comments indicate there are additional issues not covered in the draft EA, these issues will be addressed in the final EA.

The proposed project is also being reviewed under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. The area of potential effect for this undertaking is in the following areas: the shoreline and near shore are of the park in the immediate vicinity of the existing launch ramps. In these areas, there are remnants of the former quarry docking facilities including concrete structures, cable, wooden and metal pilings, massive iron connecting hardware and portions of steel and wooden retaining walls.

The public is requested to inform the Fish and Wildlife Service about archeological sites, buildings and structures, historic places, cemeteries, and traditional uses of the area that could influence decisions about the project. Such information may be sent to Dave Pederson, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1 Federal Drive, Ft. Snelling, MN 55111.
Copies of the draft EA can be obtained from Larry Freidig, Wisconsin DNR, 101 South Webster Street, Madison, Wisconsin 53707, (608) 266-5897, e-mail: larry.freidig@dnr.state.wi.us. The draft EA is also available from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Website at http://midwest.fws.gov/nepa.

Written comments should be sent to Larry Freidig at the above address or e-mail, or via fax to (608) 267-0496. All comments must be received no later than March 7, 2005.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses 545 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national fish hatcheries, 63 Fish and Wildlife Management offices and 81 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Assistance program, which distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.

-FWS-

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