Blue Creek-Howell Supplemental Watershed (Sponsor = Howell Town, Blue Creek Irrigation Co.)
The project is funded through authority of the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act.
Project Description
The United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), with Howell Town as the project sponsor and Blue Creek Irrigation Company as co-sponsor, is proposing to fund through the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act (Public Law [PL] 83-566) improvements within the Blue Creek-Howell Watershed in Box Elder County, Utah. The project is considering improvements to modernize the Blue Creek dam and irrigation water delivery systems.
NEPA Analysis
NRCS, as the lead federal agency, is initiating National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis in the form of a Supplemental Watershed Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (Plan-ES) to analyze impacts to the natural and human environment from this project. The Plan-EIS 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. The watershed planning process integrates NRCS’s nine-step planning process, NEPA, Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act policies (Public Law 83-566 and the Principles, Requirements & Guidelines for Water and Land Related Resources Implementation Studies and Federal Water Resource Investments (PRG, DM9500-013).
Current Status
The project is funded for development of a Supplemental Watershed Plan-EIS. A Notice of Intent (NOI) is currently being drafted for release to solicit comments from the public, organizations and agencies to inform NRCS and project sponsors about resource concerns, problems and opportunities within the watershed.
Notice of Intent (pending)
Project Schedule
Scoping Public Comment Period
Click here for the Scoping Report (pending)
Scoping Public Virtual Open House
Date, 2023 (pending)
You can click here to see the meeting flyer, presentation, and a recording of the meeting. (pending)
Alternative Development and Analysis
Spring 2023 - Winter 2023
Preparation of Draft Watershed Plan - Environmental Assessment (Draft Plan-EA)
Winter 2023 - Spring 2024
Draft Plan-EA Public Comment Period (30 days)
Summer 2024
Preparation of Watershed Plan & Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision (Plan-EIS and ROD)
Summer 2024- Winter 2025
Issue Record of Decision
Winter 2025
Contact Information
Jamie Tsandes – Bowen Collins & Associates
154 East 14075 South
Draper, UT 84020
Phone: 801-495-2224
Email: bluecreek@bowencollins.com
or
Derek Hamilton – NRCS
125 S. State Street – Room 4010
Salt Lake City, UT 84138-1100
Phone: (801) 524-4560
Email: derek.hamilton@usda.gov
Updated February 2023