Previous Story
Public comment sought for CNMI watershed assessment
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Honolulu District and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Island Governor’s Office are conducting a watershed assessment authorized by Section 729 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986, as amended. This was initiated as a result of the 2018 Super Typhoon Yutu, which caused widespread damage throughout the CNMI. The purpose of this effort is to provide a conceptual strategy that will help rehabilitate and improve the resiliency of damaged infrastructure and natural resources while reducing risks to human life and property from future natural hazards throughout the CNMI.
The WA incorporates available information related to recent storm damage from Yutu, as well as other past storms that have had a major impact on the CNMI. It also assesses social, economic, life loss, and environmental risks. In collaboration with study partners and stakeholders, the recommendations focus on addressing issues within six different problem categories: tropical storms and typhoons, coastal areas, water quality and quantity, inland ecosystems, rainfall events, and tsunamis. A risk- and uncertainty-based approach was utilized to help prioritize recommendations and develop an implementation strategy, which focuses on immediate versus incremental implementation steps.
The draft report and its appendices will be released March 1, 2022 for a 45-day public review and comment period. They can be accessed either on the DCRM website (https://dcrm.gov.mp/our-programs/water-quality-and-watershed-management/watershed-working-group/) or the USACE website (https://www.poh.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Civil-Works-Projects/). All comments should be emailed to CNMIWA@usace.army.mil no later than April 15, 2022 for further review and consideration. (PR)
