Questions and Answers Ohio River Basin Comprehensive Study

As of June 30 2009

Q1. What is the Ohio River Basin Comprehensive Study?

A1. The Ohio River Basin Comprehensive Reconnaissance Study is a collaborative effort between 4 Corps Districts, the 15 basin states and a multitude of stakeholders, project sponsors and the public. The comprehensive reconnaissance-level basin plan will feature a preliminary reinvestment strategy for the existing reservoirs and local protection projects as well as identifying opportunities for additional municipal and industrial water supply, hydropower facilities, restoration of damaged ecosystems and recreation. The Study will provide a pathway for resolving not only the problems faced by Corps projects but also other Federal, regional, state and local water resources problems and needs while identifying opportunities for expanded and enhanced water management through future collaborative watershed planning and decision-making.

Q2. Who pays for the study and how much does it cost?

A2. The full costs of the study ($986,000.00) are being paid by the Federal Government. Cost sharing is not required for reconnaissance level studies. None of the funds came from the Congressionally-approved stimulus package.

Q3 How would this study potentially benefit people who live in the Ohio River Basin? Or, why is it important? (provide example)

A3. As will become glaringly obvious to everyone during the study, the basin is confronted with a myriad of problems and needs that require study and evaluation of alternative solutions so that limited funds can be spent wisely to repair, rehabilitate and replace worn infrastructure and invest in a reliable protection system. Additionally, there are unresolved problems in the basin regarding flood damages, water quality, water supply, ecosystem degradation, energy needs, and navigation that affect every individual in the basin to some degree – this study will identify those problems and the pathways to resolving those problems for the future.

Q4. What is the timeline for the study?

A4. A draft report of the study is scheduled to be completed by the end of October 2009 and will be made available to the public for review on the www.orboutreach.com web site. The final report is scheduled to be completed by the end of December 2009. The final report will also be available to the public on the www.orboutreach.com web site.

Q5. What types of disciplines do the people have who are working on the study?

A5. The racially, ethnically and gender diverse planning team is composed of water resources planners, engineers, geographers, community planners, landscape architects, economists, hydrologists, ecologists, project managers, archeologists and other support personnel.

Q6. What types of issues does the study address?

A6. The study will address issues related to water resources management and development, flood damages, water supply, hydropower, fish and wildlife habitat, ecosystem restoration, recreation, navigation, existing flood control infrastructure, and any other issues raised by basin stakeholders and the public that relate to the basin’s water resources.

Q7 What products come out of the study?

A7. The study will generate the following items:

Q8 Explain how and why the GIS portion of the study is important?

A8. The benefits of the Geographical Information System portion of the study will be to generate basin-wide thematic mapping (with database) of demographic, social, ecological, hydrologic, land cover, soils, critical wildlife habitat, and other features of the region that can be used in the planning process as well as general information for public outreach activities. In addition, the spatial (GIS) portion of the study will provide state-of-the-art planning information to the study team and cooperating agencies and guide future coordination efforts. To date, this type of comprehensive compilation of spatial data on a regional framework has not been accomplished for the basin.

Q9. How many members of the team are there and where do they work?

A9. There are approximately total 40 members of the study team including Corps team members from the Huntington, Pittsburgh, Nashville and Louisville Districts of the US Army Corps of Engineers. In addition there are members of the Agency Technical Review Team from the three Great Lakes Corps offices in Detroit, Buffalo and Chicago and members of the Mississippi Valley District, and the South Pacific Division office. Also, the citizens of the Ohio River Basin region and the key Federal, state and local agencies are part of this team as you express your concerns, issues and comments through the web site.

Q10 When was the last time the Corps or another agency attempted such a large scale effort?

A10. The Great Lakes and Ohio River Division along with partners from other state and Federal agencies looked at the Ohio River Basin in a comprehensive study in 1969. Other Corps of Engineers Districts have studied large basin areas in the 1960’s and 1970’s.

Q11. After the study is complete what will happen?

A 11. Once the study is complete and the report has been reviewed and approved for public release, the report and the thematic Atlas will be placed on the www.orboutreach.com web site for the public. In addition, as funds are provided by Congress and authority is provided to address some of the more pressing issues identified in the report, the Corps of Engineers in collaboration with key stakeholders and study sponsors will begin the process of detailed planning to resolve basin problems. One ultimate goal would be the formation and implementation of an organization to be “the voice of the Basin” for facilitating future investments.