Notice of Intent

North Cache Valley Watershed Plan Environmental Impact Statement, Franklin County, Idaho and Cache County, Utah

Public Comment Period: Comments can be submitted through Dec. 22, 2025

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Idaho State Office, in cooperation with the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation, The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, with Franklin County as project sponsor and Cub River Irrigation Company (CRIC) and Cache County (co-sponsors), announces its intent to prepare a watershed plan and EIS for the North Cache Valley Watershed Plan located within Franklin County, Idaho and Cache County, Utah. The proposed watershed plan will examine alternative solutions to provide improved agricultural water management and to enhance recreational facilities.

NRCS is requesting comments to identify significant issues, potential alternatives, information, and analysis relevant to the proposed action from all interested individuals, Federal and State agencies, and Tribes.

The North Cache Valley Watershed Project began in 2020 when key stakeholders identified resource concerns within the North Cache Valley Watershed. NRCS and stakeholders held a public scoping meeting on November 19, 2020 to gather input on concerns and interests and to inform alternative development and prioritization for the watershed. Scoping meeting presentation materials are available on the NRCS website, along with the full Notice of Intent (NOI) and additional background information and maps at https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/conservation-basics/conservation-by-state/idaho/north-cache-valley-watershed-plan-ea. 

The full NOI will also be published and available to the public in the Nov. 22, 2025 issue of the Federal Register at https://www.federalregister.gov/.

Based on funding limitations, NRCS determined an EIS was necessary and is seeking further public comment to help determine the range of actions, alternatives, and impacts to be evaluated and included in the EIS. NRCS will include the comments NRCS received from the previous scoping efforts into the EIS analysis.

Identification of Potential Alternatives, Information, and Analyses

NRCS invites agencies, Tribes, consulting parties, and individuals that have special expertise, legal jurisdiction, or interest in the North Cache Valley Watershed Plan to provide written comments concerning the scope of the analysis and identification of potential alternatives, information, analyses relevant to the Proposed Action. 

DATES: We will consider comments that were receive by Dec. 22, 2025. We will consider comments received later to the extent possible. 

ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit comments in response to this notice. You may submit your comments through one of the methods below:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and search for docket ID NRCS-2024-0003. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments; or

Mail or Hand Delivery: Dan Murdock, Water Resources Planning Specialist, USDA, NRCS, Idaho State Office, 9173 W. Barnes Drive, Ste C Boise, ID 83709. In your comments, specify the docket ID NRCS-2024-0003.

All comments received will be posted without change and made publicly available on www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Dan Murdock, Water Resources Planning Specialist; telephone (208) 37805700; email: daniel.murdock@usda.gov. Individuals who require alternative means for communication should contact the U.S. Department of Agriculture Target Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and text telephone (TTY)) or dial 711 for Telecommunications Relay service (both voice and text telephone users can initiate this call from any telephone).

If other comments or questions arise after the public comment period, email the project team at lrichins@fransoncivil.com.

Written comments must be postmarked by Dec. 22, 2025.