Spring Creek
Turkey Creek
North Platte
West Branch
Cottonwood

Notice of Availability – Finding of No Significant Impact, Spring Creek Watershed Plan

Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), within the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has prepared a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) titled “Spring Creek Watershed Plan, Custer and Dawson Counties, Nebraska” in partnership with Central Platte 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 constructing two independent diversion channels with associated earthen berms, bridges, culverts, and conveyance ditches. At Lexington, the proposed action includes constructing an earthen berm along an existing ditch on the north side of town and increasing capacity in Spring Creek on the east side of town. In Cozad, the proposed action includes improvements to existing drainage channels, earthen berms along existing drainage channels, and the construction of new drainage channels to divert flood water along the north and east sides of town. The primary goal of the proposed action is to protect the Cities of Cozad and Lexington from the adverse effects of flooding, which has been a frequent issue in the region. The project aims to minimize flood damage by reducing runoff, erosion, and sediment, and by controlling surface water from excessive rainfall and stream overflow.

No administrative action on implementation of the proposal will be taken until after August 15, 2026. You may view a copy of the FONSI and associated Environmental Assessment below:

Watershed Plan (PDF; 23.7 MB)
FONSI (PDF; 187 KB)
Appendix A – Correspondence (PDF; 18.5 MB)
Appendix B – Project Map (PDF; 562 KB)
Appendix C Part 1 – Supporting Maps (PDF; 48.9 MB)
Appendix C Part 2 – Supporting Maps (PDF; 17.4 MB)
Appendix D – Investigations and Analysis (PDF; 24.6 MB)
Appendix E Part 1 – Wetland Delineation Reports (PDF; 26.9 MB)
Appendix E Part 2 – Wetland Delineation Reports (PDF; 37.3 MB)
Appendix E Part 3 – Wetland Delineation Reports (PDF; 31.3 MB)
Appendix E Part 4 – Cultural Resources Report and NHPA Programmatic Agreement (PDF; 24.5 MB)
Appendix F – Environmental Assessment (PDF; 1,692 KB)

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.
  

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY - Finding of No Significant Impact Turkey Creek Watershed Plan 

Sponsor: Lower Republican Natural Resources District
Project Location: Gosper and Furnas Counties, Nebraska

Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), within the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has prepared a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) titled “Turkey Creek Watershed Plan, Furnas and Gosper Counties, Nebraska” in partnership with Lower Republican 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 constructing a wellfield, a diversion weir, and pump station. The wellfield would pump groundwater into Turkey Creek. The downstream pump station would pump water from Turkey Creek into the Cambridge Canal to supplement irrigation water.

No administrative action on implementation of the proposal will be taken until after September 15, 2026. You may view a copy of the FONSI and associated Environmental Assessment at the following website: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/state-offices/nebraska/projects-ready-for-public-comment-and-review 

• Turkey Creek Plan and Agreement (PDF; 6,822 KB)
• FONSI (PDF; 190 KB)
• Appendix A – Correspondence (PDF; 8.8 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 Information (PDF; 30.6 MB)
• Appendix F – Environmental Assessment (PDF; 1,446 KB)

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. 
 

NOTICE OF OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT – NORTH PLATTE AREA IRRIGATION CANAL DIVERSION MODERNIZATION PROJECT WATERSHED PLAN

Sponsor: Twin Platte NRD
Project Location: Keith and Lincoln Counties, Nebraska

Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) within the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has prepared a draft Watershed Plan titled “North Platte Area Irrigation Canal Diversion Modernization Project, Keith and Lincoln Counties, Nebraska” in partnership with the Twin Platte Natural Resources District (TPNRD). The draft watershed plan and associated complete environmental assessment analyze alternative approaches to NRCS involvement through the Pub. L. (PL) 83-566 Small Watershed Program’s authorized purpose of agriculture water management.

The proposed action includes the replacement and modernization of six irrigation canal diversion structures along the North Platte River and Birdwood Creek. 

Interested parties may view the watershed plan and associated documents below:

• Draft Watershed Plan (DOCX; 22.4 MB)
• Environmental Assessment (PDF; 1,334 KB)
• Appendix A – Correspondence (PDF; 74.8MB)
• Appendix B – Project Map (PDF; 2,760 KB)
• Appendix C – Supporting Maps (PDF:1,978 KB)
• Appendix D – Investigations and Analysis (PDF; 3,218 KB)
• Appendix E1 – Canal History (PDF; 190 KB)
• Appendix E2 – Structural Assessment Reports (PDF; 14 MB)
• Appendix E3 – Seismic Memo (PDF; 2,280 KB)
• Appendix E4 – Significant Scientific Resources (PDF; 439 KB)
• Appendix E5 – Threatened and Endangered Species information (PDF; 4,917 KB)
• Appendix E6 – Best Management Practices (PDF; 84 KB)
• Appendix E7 – Cultural Resources Investigation (3,479 KB)
• Appendix E8 – Wetlands Delineation Report (PDF; 39.3 MB)

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 September 4, 2026. 

NOTICE OF OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT – West Branch Thirty-Two Mile Creek Watershed Plan

Sponsor: Little Blue Natural Resources District
Project Location: Adams County, Nebraska

The Little Blue Natural Resources District (LBNRD) and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) partnered to develop the West Branch Thirty-Two Mile Creek Watershed Plan (Plan). The Plan documents existing flooding problems, evaluates strategies for flood reduction, and lays out a plan for implementation. The planning process follows NRCS requirements and once approved, projects will qualify for additional funding to complete design and construction in future phases. Written comments will be accepted through October 5, 2026. The draft Plan is available for review below.

•    Draft Watershed Plan (PDF; 10.2 MB)
•    Environmental Assessment (PDF; 857 KB)
•    Appendix A Comments and Responses (PDF; 14.9 MB)
•    Appendix B Project Map (PDF; 1.3 MB)
•    Appendix C Other Project Maps (PDF; 40 MB)
•    Appendix D Inventory and Analysis Report (PDF; 3.7 MB)
•    Appendix E Other Supporting Documentation (PDF; 49.6 MB)

Current planning efforts started in spring 2023 and are anticipated to be complete by the end of 2026. Additional information, contact information, maps and other materials for review can be found on the project website at https://littlebluenrd.org/groundwater-management/thirty-two-mile-creek-watershed-flood-risk-reduction-plan/.

Any written comments or requests regarding the project should be submitted to Michael Placke with JEO Consulting Group at mplacke@jeo.com, (402) 432-4617, or mailed directly to the JEO Lincoln office at 2000 Q Street Ste. 500, Lincoln, NE 68503.

For more information, please contact Scott Nelson at (402) 364-2145 or snelson@littlebluenrd.org or Melissa Baier at (402) 437-4065 Melissa.Baier@usda.gov. 
 

NOTICE OF OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT – Cottonwood 21-A Dam Rehabilitation, Supplemental Watershed Plan No. 5

Sponsor: Lower Platte North Natural Resources District
Location: Saunders County, Nebraska

Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Nebraska within the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has prepared a draft Supplemental Watershed Plan titled “Draft Supplemental Watershed Plan No. 5 for the Rehabilitation of Floodwater Retarding Structure No. 21-A, Cottonwood Creek Watershed, Saunders County, Nebraska” in partnership with the Lower Platte North Natural Resources District. The supplemental watershed plan analyzes alternative approaches to NRCS involvement through the Public Law (PL) 83-566 Small Watershed Program’s dam rehabilitation authority.

The proposed action includes the rehabilitation of one dam to meet current Nebraska Department Water, Energy, and Environment – Dam Safety Division safety and performance standards. The Proposed Action includes the construction of a new spillway, increasing the height of the dam embankment, downstream protection of a cemetery, and improvements to the county road across the dam.

Interested parties may view the watershed plan below:

• Draft Watershed Plan (PDF; 4.2 MB)
• Environmental Assessment (PDF; 1,215 KB)
• Appendix A Comments and Responses (PDF; 4.9 MB)
• Appendix B Project Map (PDF; 1,345 KB)
• Appendix C Other Project Maps (PDF; 24.3 MB)
• Appendix D Inventory and Analysis Report (PDF; 994 KB)
• Appendix E Other Supporting Documentation (PDF; 8.4 MB)

To receive full consideration, comments on the watershed plan must be submitted to Melissa.Baier@usda.gov or received in writing at the address below by the end of the day on October 13, 2026.

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

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.