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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:
- National Economic Development (NED) Principles and Guidelines
- Air quality
- Coral reefs
- Cultural resources
- Ecologically critical areas
- Endangered and threatened species
- Environmental justice and civil rights
- Essential fish habitat
- Fish and wildlife (including coordination requirements)
- Floodplain management
- Forest resources
- Invasive species
- Land use
- Migratory birds
- Natural areas
- Parklands
- Prime and unique farmland, and farmland of statewide significance
- Public health and safety
- Regional water resource plans (including coastal zone plans)
- Riparian areas
- Scenic beauty
- Scientific resources
- Sole source aquifers
- Social issues
- Soil resources
- Water quality
- Water resources
- Waters of the United States, including special aquatic sites
- Wetlands
- Wild and scenic rivers
- Other concerns identified by Sponsoring Local Organization, agencies, and the public
Public Involvement
Public Scoping Meeting
- Date: Wednesday, May 18, 2022
- Time: 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. MDT
- Place:
- Online at Zoom.us
- Meeting ID: 897 1547 1267
- Call-in Number: (346) 248-7799
How To Comment
- Submit comments on the map below:
- Send an email to:
- Mail comments to the following address:
- Jones & DeMille Engineering
- Attn: Jenna Jorgensen
- 1535 S. 100 W., Richfield, UT 84701
- (435) 896-8266
- (Mon-Fri, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. MDT)
Public Comment + Map
Questions & Comments Can Be Directed To:
Jenna Jorgensen – Public involvement contact:
(435) 896-8266 (Mon-Fri, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. MDT)
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