The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Chicago District extended the public comment period for the draft Integrated Feasibility Report and Environmental Assessment for the Río Guayanilla Flood Risk Management Study at the Municipality of Guayanilla, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. USACE is now accepting comments through Oct. 4, 2019.
The draft feasibility report was completed in collaboration with our local sponsor, the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources; primary stakeholder, the municipality of Guayanilla; and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. The study area is the alluvial valley in which the municipality resides, with principal benefits of the plan for Guayanilla and the outlying neighborhoods of El Faro, Playa, and Beldum.
The draft report considers structural and nonstructural management measures to reduce the risk of flooding in the lower watershed at Guayanilla. Features of the proposed alternatives described in the draft report include various diversion channel and levee alignments and types that would direct all flood waters at or above the two-year flood occurrence around the municipality of Guayanilla to the west.
Public meetings are scheduled next week in Puerto Rico to provide more information about the proposed alternative(s), and seek input from members of the community and other stakeholders:
Public Meeting - September 18, 2019
Costa Bahia Hotel and Convention Center, Guayanilla
2 p.m. - Open House
3 p.m. - Presentation
3:45 p.m. – 6 p.m. - Public Comments
Open House - September 19, 2019
Museo de Historia de Guayanilla
172 Calle Luis Munoz Rivera
9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
The report is available online and details for the public meetings will also be provided on the district’s webpage:
https://www.lrc.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works-Projects/Rio-Guayanilla/
USACE is accepting comments through Oct. 4, 2019. Comments may be submitted at the Sept. 18 public meeting, at the Sept. 19 open house, by e-mail to guayanilla_comments@usace.army.mil, or mailed to:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Chicago District
ATTN: Frank Veraldi
231 S. LaSalle Street, Suite 1500
Chicago, IL 60604