Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment Comment Period Notification for Water Access Projects

Mar 20, 2024

AKWESASNE — The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe’s Environment Division is notifying community members that a 30-day Comment Period is being provided for a Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment (RP-EA).

The RP-EA is a joint initiative brought forth by the Saint Lawrence Environment Trustee Council consisting of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe (SRMT)—the lead administrative Trustee for the case—and Co-Trustees New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (U.S. FWS).

The SLETC has proposed three public access projects along the St. Regis and Raquette Rivers. The Akwesasne Water Access Projects will partially compensate the public for ecological and recreational fishing losses resulting from the contamination by restoring streambank habitat and public access to rivers. The projects will also provide economic, cultural, educational, and recreational benefits to Akwesasne and the regional community.

The proposed Water Access Projects include: The Skén:nen Park West Project, the Skén:nen Park East Project, and the Raquette River Public Access Project. In addition, the project will include streambank stabilization, native vegetation plantings, river platform installation for recreational fishing and wildlife viewing, all-persons pedestrian walkways and trails, a boat launch, parking g, informational/educational signage and kiosks, and stormwater management and erosion control features.

The submitted Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment is available to view here: (https://tinyurl.com/4n97h78c). A copy can also be requested by contacting Tony David, SRMT Environment Division Director at (518) 358-5937.

The deadline to submit written comments is Friday, April 19, 2024 and can be sent to:

Tony David

Environment Division Director

SRMT Environment Division

449 Frogtown Road

Akwesasne, NY 13655

Email: environment@srmt-nsn.gov

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The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Council is the duly elected and federally recognized government of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe.