[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 75 (Wednesday, April 20, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20523-20524]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-7921]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Natural Resources Conservation Service
West Tarkio Watershed, Page and Montgomery Counties, IA and
Atchison County, MO
AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service, Agriculture.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969; the Council on Environmental Quality
Guidelines (40 CFR part 1500); and the Natural Resources Conservation
Service Guidelines (7 CFR part 650); the Natural Resources Conservation
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture gives notice that an
environmental impact statement (EIS) is being prepared for West Tarkio
Watershed, Page and Montgomery Counties, Iowa and Atchison County,
Missouri.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Van Klaveren, State
Conservationist, or David Beck, Planning Leader, 210 Walnut Street, 693
Federal Building, Des Moines, IA 50309-2180.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The environmental assessment of this
federally assisted action indicates that the project may cause
significant local, regional, or national impacts on the environment. As
a result of these findings, Richard Van Klaveren, NRCS State
Conservationist, has determined that the preparation and review of an
environmental impact statement (EIS) is needed for this project.
This project involves the development of a plan to manage, protect,
and enhance water and land resources in the West Tarkio Watershed. The
watershed project area is 106,000 acres; 71,000 acres in Page and
Montgomery Counties in southwest Iowa and 35,000 acres in Atchison
County, Missouri. The upper end of the watershed is four miles
northeast of Red Oak, Iowa. The City of Tarkio, Missouri, is at the
downstream boundary of the project area.
The original sponsors include the three county governments, three
county soil and water conservation districts, the city of Tarkio,
Missouri, as well as the cities of Clarinda and Shenandoah, Iowa. The
sponsors have formed the West Tarkio Watershed Steering Committee to
serve as an advisory body for the project. The Steering Committee is
made up of representatives from the sponsoring groups plus four local
watershed residents.
The sponsors' original objectives are regional water supply
including the Cities of Clarinda and Shenandoah, flood damage reduction
for the City of Tarkio and agricultural land, water based recreation,
grade stabilization of West Tarkio Creek and its tributaries, upland
gully and erosion control, and water quality protection.
The NRCS planning assistance is being provided under the authority
of the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act, Public Law 83-
566. The NRCS has completed studies to determine the extent of natural
resource problems and needs in accordance with the sponsors'
objectives.
Study results indicate that the sponsor objective of flood damage
reduction for the City of Tarkio and agricultural land is not
economically feasible. Land voiding and depreciation rates are not high
enough to justify grade stabilization dams to control gullies and
stream channel erosion. Other federal and state programs can be used to
satisfy landowner requests for upland gully and erosion control.
The NRCS studies indicate that the sponsors' objectives of water
supply, water based recreation, and water quality protection are likely
to be economically feasible. Additional study for these project
purposes will be completed.
The original sponsors reconsidered their interest in the project
considering the change in project purposes. Remaining sponsors are the
Cities of Clarinda and Shenandoah, Iowa, the Page County Soil and Water
Conservation District, and the Atchison County Soil and Water
Conservation District.
Four study sites on the main channel of West Tarkio Creek, all
located in Page County Iowa, were initially identified for possible
multiple-purpose reservoir sites. One study site was dropped from
further consideration after it was determined not to meet the water
supply objective and that it would have more effect on public roads
than other alternatives.
Studies indicated each remaining study site could be developed as a
multi-purpose water impoundment to provide water based recreation and
water supply. Six preliminary alternatives for multiple-purpose
reservoirs were developed, two alternatives at each study site. The
permanent pool sizes of the six preliminary alternatives ranged from
1100 acres to 1800 acres.
Groundwater was investigated as a water supply source as a result
of public comment. NRCS consulted with groundwater experts from the
Iowa Geological Survey Bureau of the Iowa Department of Natural
Resources and the U.S. Geological Survey Bureau. Generalized sources of
groundwater were identified in the area. There was no sponsor support
for an alternative plan featuring groundwater because it could not meet
the water-based recreation project purpose. In addition, one sponsor
had been previously advised that long term, they should seek a surface
water supply source to replace their current well fields.
Preliminary alternatives that do not meet the sponsors' objectives
will be removed from further study and consideration. Each alterative
plan that is carried through detailed planning will be compared against
a no action plan as a basis to determine effects. The sponsors will
select an alternative plan based on the effects, economic evaluation,
and the extent that it meets their objectives. The project will include
one multi-purpose reservoir with the purposes of water supply and
water-based recreation. Best management practices may be included in
the planned project in order to further protect the new surface water
supply.
Two open house informational meetings were held in Shenandoah, Iowa
on August 19, 2003, to initiate the planning process and obtain public
input. State and federal agencies, private organizations, and local
individuals were invited to a scoping meeting on February 17, 2004. The
public input received from these meetings and at meetings of the West
Tarkio Steering Committee will be considered as a draft Environmental
Impact Statement is developed. The periodic Steering Committee meetings
as well as individual member sponsor meetings are open to the public
and provide opportunity for citizen input.
Preliminary issues: Among the issues that the NRCS plans to
consider in the scope of the EIS analysis are:
--Environmental, economic, and social impacts of the alternatives.
Major categories are listed below.
Soil erosion Prime farmland
Flooding Agricultural/other rural land
[[Page 20524]]
Recreation Threatened and endangered species
Water quantity/supply Wetlands
Water quality Wildlife habitat
Cultural resources Air quality
--Costs and benefits of the alternatives.
The West Tarkio draft EIS will be developed and published in the
Federal Register with a target date of October 20, 2005. A 45-day
comment period will be available for the public to provide comments. A
30 day comment period will be available following publication of the
final EIS. A meeting will be held in the Shenandoah area near the date
of the draft EIS publication to inform the public about the draft
watershed plan-EIS and to obtain comments.
The draft watershed plan-EIS will be prepared and circulated for
review by agencies and the public. This review will be conducted
concurrently with the publication of the draft EIS in the Federal
Register. The Natural Resources Conservation Service invites
participation and consultation of public agencies, any affected Indian
tribe, and individuals that have special expertise, legal jurisdiction,
or interest in providing data for consideration in preparing the draft
EIS. Comments and other inputs received will be considered in plan
development. Further information on the proposed action may be obtained
from David Beck, Planning Leader, at the above address.
Dated: April 12, 2005.
Richard Van Klaveren,
State Conservationist.
[FR Doc. 05-7921 Filed 4-19-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-16-P