Upper and Lower Black Creek Watershed

Overview

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), with the assistance of the Navajo Nation as the project Sponsor, is considering improvements within the Upper and Lower Black Creek watersheds on the Navajo Nation. Improvements are intended to address erosion and sedimentation, insufficient water for livestock, inadequate habitat for fish and wildlife, and degraded plant condition within the watershed.

The NRCS will assist the Navajo Nation in preparing a watershed plan and environmental assessment (that will be combined into a single document called the Plan-EA) for both the Upper and Lower Black Creek watersheds. The Plan-EAs will be prepared to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

Schedule

• Public scoping comment period: May 2 – June 1, 2022 (30 days)
• Draft Plan-EA/30% Design: estimated early winter 2023 (45-day comment period)
• Final Plan-EA & Decision: estimated spring 2023

Scoping

The NEPA process includes an early and open process to determine the scope of issues for analysis; this process is termed scoping. The scoping process for this Watershed Plan-ED will include public meetings and a comment period when the public can submit information, comments, and concerns to consider during development of the Watershed Plan-ED. During this period, the public may provide comments via this website, email, or mail (see How to Comment section below). In addition to comments and input provided by the public, per Title 390 – National Watershed Program Manual Part 501.24, scoping must consider, but is not limited to, the following:

1. National Economic Development (NED) Principles and Guidelines
2. Air quality
3. Coral reefs
4. Cultural resources
5. Ecologically critical areas
6. Endangered and threatened species
7. Environmental justice and civil rights
8. Essential fish habitat
9. Fish and wildlife (including coordination requirements)
10. Floodplain management
11. Forest resources
12. Invasive species
13. Land use
14. Migratory birds
15. Natural areas
16. Parklands
17. Prime and unique farmland, and farmland of statewide significance
18. Public health and safety
19. Regional water resource plans (including coastal zone plans)
20. Riparian areas
21. Scenic beauty
22. Scientific resources
23. Sole source aquifers
24. Social issues
25. Soil resources
26. Water quality
27. Water resources
28. Waters of the United States, including special aquatic sites
29. Wetlands
30. Wild and scenic rivers
31. Other concerns identified by Sponsoring Local Organization, agencies, and the public

Public Involvement

Questions & Comments Can Be Directed To:

Jenna Jorgensen – Public involvement contact:

(435) 896-8266 (Mon-Fri, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. MDT)

comment@blackcreekwatershed.com

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