North Fork Elkhorn River
Turkey Creek
Aowa Creek
Elm and Turkey

USDA NRCS Notice of Availability: Box Butte Creek Watershed Plan

Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Nebraska has prepared a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) titled “Box Butte Creek Watershed Plan, Box Butte, Dawes, and Sheridan Counties in Nebraska” in partnership with the Upper Niobrara-White Natural Resources District. The environmental assessment of this federally assisted action indicates that the project will not cause significant local, regional, or national impacts on the environment. As a result of these findings, it has been determined that the preparation and review of an environmental impact statement is not needed for this project.

The Proposed Action involves constructing three in-stream diversion dam structures that direct water to off-channel storage basins (or catchments) to promote ponding, water infiltration, and passive groundwater recharge. The Proposed Action also includes improving three roads by raising the roadbeds 2-feet and installing larger culverts. The primary goal of the Proposed Action is to reduce damages to agricultural land related to groundwater declines, and the secondary goal is to reduce flood damage to public infrastructure.  

No administrative action on implementation of the proposal will be taken until after March 20, 2026. You may view a copy of the FONSI and associated Environmental Assessment below:

• Watershed Plan & Agreement (PDF: 31 MB)
• Appendix A – Correspondence (PDF: 9 MB)
• Appendix B – Project Map (PDF: 2.2 MB)
• Appendix C Part 1 – Supporting Maps Part 1 (PDF: 49 MB)
• Appendix C Part 2 – Supporting Maps Part 2 (PDF: 71 MB)
• Appendix D – Investigations and Analysis (PDF: 61.5 MB)
• Appendix E1 – Other Supporting Documentation Part 1 (PDF: 10 MB)
• Appendix E2 – Other Supporting Documentation Part 2 (PDF: 31.3 MB)
• Appendix E3 – Other Supporting Documentation Part 3 (PDF: 1.7 MB)
• Appendix F – Environmental Assessment (PDF: 1.3 MB)
• Box Butte Creek FONSI (PDF: 567 KB)

For more information, please contact Melissa Baier, ASTC-Water Resources and Easements, at 402.437.4065 or by email at melissa.baier@usda.gov.

USDA NRCS Notice of Availability: North Fork Elkhorn River

Sponsor: Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District

Project Website: https://jeo.com/north-fork-wfpo/

Project Location: Antelope, Cedar, Knox, and Pierce Counties, Nebraska

Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Nebraska has prepared a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) titled “North Fork Elkhorn River Watershed Plan, Antelope, Cedar, Knox, and Pierce Counties, Nebraska” in partnership with the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District. The environmental assessment of this federally assisted action indicates that the project will not cause significant local, regional, or national impacts on the environment.  As a result of these findings, the NRCS State Conservationist has determined that the preparation and review of an environmental impact statement is not needed for this project.

The Proposed Action involves levee improvements and interior drainage improvements in Pierce, Nebraska, and a road raise and home floodproofing in Osmond, Nebraska. The primary goal of the Proposed Action is to reduce flood damages to the City of Pierce and the City of Osmond.  

No administrative action on implementation of the proposal will be taken until after April 3, 2026. You may view a copy of the FONSI and associated Environmental Assessment below:

• Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) (PDF; 395 KB)
• Watershed Plan & Agreement (PDF; 9.7 MB)
• Appendix A – Correspondence (PDF; 12 MB)
• Appendix B – Project Map (PDF; 2 MB)
• Appendix C Part 1 – Supporting Maps (PDF; 51.6 MB)
• Appendix C Part 2 – Supporting Maps (PDF; 10.7 MB)
• Appendix D – Investigations and Analysis (PDF; 7 MB)
• Appendix E Part 1 – Other Supporting Documentation (PDF; 49.9 MB)
• Appendix E Part 2 – Other Supporting Documentation (PDF; 51 MB)
• Appendix E Part 3 – Other Supporting Documentation (PDF; 38 MB)

For more information, please contact Melissa Baier, ASTC-Water Resources and Easements, by phone at 402-437-4065 or by email at melissa.baier@usda.gov.

USDA NRCS Notice of Public Meeting and Opportunity for Public Comment: Draft Watershed Plan for Turkey Creek

Sponsor: Lower Republican Natural Resources District

Project Location: Gosper and Furnas Counties, Nebraska

Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Nebraska within the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has prepared a draft Watershed Plan titled “Turkey Creek Watershed Plan, Furnas and Gosper Counties, Nebraska” in partnership with the Lower Republican Natural Resources District. The watershed plan and associated environmental assessment analyze alternative approaches to NRCS involvement through the Public Law (PL)83-566 Small Watershed Program’s authorized purpose of Agricultural Water Management. 

The proposed action includes construction of an augmentation wellfield, a diversion dam, and a pump station. Groundwater pumped by the wellfield would be piped to Turkey Creek and allowed to flow downstream to a diversion dam. At the diversion dam, a pump station would pump water from the creek to the Cambridge Canal and make the water available to irrigators during years when there is limited irrigation water. Comments on the watershed plan will be accepted from March 17-April 16, 2026.

A public meeting will be held virtually on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, from 2:00pm-4:00pm, on Zoom. Staff from NRCS, Lower Republican NRD, and Olsson will be available to discuss the watershed plan and answer questions.  

Public Meeting Details

Date: Tuesday, March 24, 2026

Time: 2:00pm-4:00pm.

Location: Virtual, via Zoom

Join Online:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85047302857

Meeting ID: 850 4730 2857

Join by Phone:
(719) 359 4580
Meeting ID: 850 4730 2857#

Interested parties may view the watershed plan below: 

• Draft Watershed Plan (PDF; 6.6 MB)
• Appendix A – Correspondence (PDF; 8.6 MB)
• Appendix B – Project Map (PDF; 1,861 KB)
• Appendix C – Supporting Maps (PDF; 15.8 MB)
• Appendix D – Investigations and Analysis (PDF; 1,125 KB)
• Appendix E – Other Supporting Documentation (PDF; 27.9 MB)
• Appendix F – Environmental Assessment (PDF; 1,419 KB)

To receive full consideration, comments on the watershed plan and environmental assessment must be submitted to Melissa.Baier@usda.gov or received in writing at the address below by the end of the day on Thursday, April 16, 2026. 

USDA NRCS Notice of Opportunity for Public Comment: Draft Supplemental Watershed Plan for Aowa Creek Sites 1-3 and 22-3 (Dam Rehabilitation)

Sponsor: Lewis and Clark Natural Resources District

Project Location: Dixon County, Nebraska

Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) within the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has prepared a draft Supplemental Watershed Plan titled “Supplemental Watershed Plan No. 3 for the Rehabilitation of Aowa Creek 1-3 and 22-3 in the Aowa Creek Watershed, Dixon County, Nebraska” in partnership with the Lewis and Clark Natural Resources District. The supplemental watershed plan and associated environmental assessment analyze alternative approaches to NRCS involvement through the Pub. L. (PL) 83-566 Small Watershed Program’s authorized purpose of watershed protection. 

The proposed action includes the rehabilitation of two dams to meet current Nebraska Department Water, Energy, and Environment – Dam Safety Division safety and performance standards. The Proposed Action for Site 1-3 involves raising the top of dam elevation, raising the auxiliary spillway crest, raising the principal spillway crest, and widening the auxiliary spillway. The permanent pool storage would increase from 4.7 acre-feet to 40 acre-feet. The Proposed Action for Site 22-3 involves raising the top of dam elevation, raising auxiliary spillway crest, raising principal spillway crest, and widening the auxiliary spillway. The permanent pool storage would increase from 65.1 acre-feet to 186 acre-feet. 

A public meeting will be held in person at Ponca City Hall (123 W 3^rd St) in Ponca, NE on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. Staff from NRCS, Lewis and Clark NRD, and Conservation Works Joint Venture will be available to discuss the watershed plan and answer questions. 

Interested parties may view the watershed plan and appendices below:

• Draft Supplemental Watershed Plan (PDF; 2.7 MB)
• Appendix A – Correspondence (PDF; 19.4 MB)
• Appendix B – Project Map (PDF; 5.4 MB)
• Appendix C – Supporting Maps (PDF; 42.4 MB)
• Appendix D – Investigations and Analysis (PDF; 1,297 KB)
• Appendix E Part 1 – Other Supporting Documentation (PDF; 45.3 MB)
• Appendix E Part 2 – Other Supporting Documentation (PDF; 54.9 MB)
• Appendix E Part 3 – Other Supporting Documentation (PDF; 41.4 MB)
• Appendix F – Environmental Assessment (PDF; 1,036 KB)

To receive full consideration, comments on the watershed plan and environmental assessment must be submitted to Melissa.Baier@usda.gov or received in writing at the address below by the end of the day on Thursday, April 30, 2026. 

Melissa Baier 
Assistant State Conservationist-Water Resources and Easements
USDA/NRCS 
1121 Lincoln Mall, Room 360
Lincoln, NE 68508
 

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY 

Nebraska: Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), a program within the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has prepared a Final Watershed Plan-Environmental Impact Statement (Plan-EIS) and Record of Decision (ROD) titled “Elm and Turkey Creeks Watershed Plan, Environmental Impact Statement, and Record of Decision” in partnership with the Central Platte Natural Resources District. The Plan-EIS and ROD analyze the potential environmental impacts of alternative approaches to NRCS involvement through the Public Law 83-566 Small Watershed Program’s authorized purpose of Flood Prevention. The Final Plan-EIS-ROD is available for review and comment prior to issuing a decision.

The proposed solution is to construct two diversion channels that will convey floodwater to the south and help prevent flood damage to the Kearney region. NRCS is requesting that agencies review and comment on the Final Plan-EIS-ROD by the end of the day on June 15, 2026.

The Environmental Protection Agency published the Notice of Availability in the Federal Register on May 15, 2026 (91 FR 27939). Interested parties may view the Final Plan-EIS-ROD below:

• Final Watershed Plan-Environmental Impact Statement-Record of Decision (PDF; 32.5 MB)
• Appendix A – Correspondence (PDF; 34.7 MB)
• Appendix B – Project Map (PDF; 1,097 KB)
• Appendix C – Supporting Maps (PDF; 14.6 MB)
• Appendix D – Investigations and Analysis (PDF; 3,648 KB)
• Appendix E1 – Other Supporting Documentation Part 1 (PDF; 49.6 MB)
• Appendix E2 – Other Supporting Documentation Part 2 (PDF; 43.4 MB)
• Appendix E3 – Other Supporting Documentation Part 3 (PDF; 52.7 MB)

Written comments may be emailed to Melissa.Baier@usda.gov or mailed to:

Melissa Baier
Assistant State Conservationist-Water Resources and Easements 
USDA/NRCS 
1121 Lincoln Mall, Room 360
Lincoln, NE 68508

To receive full consideration prior to the decision, comments on the Final Plan-EIS-ROD must be provided to Melissa.Baier@usda.gov or received in writing at the address indicated by the end of the day on June 15, 2026.

For more information, please contact Melissa Baier, Assistant State Conservationist-Water Resources and Easements, at 402.437.4065 or by email at melissa.baier@usda.gov. 

All comments received, including the names and addresses of those people who comment, will be part of the public record and will be released for public review as required and allowed by law. Comments, information, and analyses provided should be as specific as possible and an explanation of why the information is important to the analysis should be included.