Project Description

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), with Weber County as the project sponsor is proposing to fund through the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act (Public Law [PL] 83-566) The rehabilitation of the Utaba Retarding Dam. The Utaba Dam was constructed in 1962 to provide flood control on the North Fork Ogden River. The reservoir created by the dam detains sediment, removes debris and reduces flood flows. The dam is over 60 years old and does not comply with current dam safety standards. The principal and auxiliary spillways are undersized, and the concrete is in poor condition. Additionally, there are concerns with seepage around the principal spillway and foundation. The purpose of this planning process is to better define the deficiencies and identify the most environmental, economic and technically feasible alternative to rehabilitate the dam and bring it into compliance with current dam safety standards. The project is located in Weber County, Utah.

NEPA Analysis

NRCS, as the lead federal agency, is preparing National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis in the form of a Watershed Plan and Environmental Assessment (Plan-EA) to analyze impacts to the natural and human environment from this project. The Plan-EA will comply with the Council on Environmental Quality’s regulations at 40 CFR Parts 1500-1508, which require an evaluation of potential environmental impacts associated with federal projects and actions.

Current Status

The Watershed Plan-EA is currently being prepared. This phase includes data collection, field surveys, preparation of technical memoranda, and alternative formulation and screening. The Plan-EA will identify existing conditions at the dam and the potential impacts of all evaluated alternatives.

Project Schedule

• Scoping Public Comment Period: August 1, 2024 – August 30, 2024
• Scoping Public Meeting: August 15, 2024
• Alternative Development and Analysis: Fall 2024 and Winter 2025
• Preparation of Draft Watershed Plan – Environmental Assessment (Draft Plan-EA: Spring 2025
• NRCS Review of Plan-EA: Summer and Fall 2025
• Prepare Final Plan-EA Document: Winter 2026
• Issue Finding of No Significant Impact: Spring/Summer 2026

Contact Information

Shawn Stanley, NRCS North Watershed Engineer, Shawn.Stanley@usda.gov

Ashley Thoman, Weber County Engineering, athoman@WeberCountyUtah.gov  

Layne Jensen, Franson Civil Engineers, ljensen@fransoncivil.com