Draft Environmental Assessment: Holmes Lake Waterfowl Production Area Shallow Lake Restoration

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Windom Wetland Management District is seeking comments on the Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Holmes Lake Waterfowl Production Area located in Martin County, Minnesota, regarding the proposed restoration of a 121-acre shallow lake. This environmental assessment evaluates the effects associated with the proposed action and a “no action alternative”. The proposed action would reroute a portion of the Judicial Ditch #46 system by exchanging rights with Martin County's previously held statutory right-of-way and restore a 121-acre shallow lake basin at the Holmes Lake Waterfowl Production Area. The proposed action would be achieved by establishing a new easement for the county drainage system as well as tree removal, tile removal, soil scrapes, and construction of berms and an outlet structure. The no action alternative would leave the 121-acre basin drained. Restoring the hydrology of the shallow lake basin would result in substantial improvements to the ecology of the WPA and have positive downstream impacts in the watershed.