STUDY OVERVIEW
The United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), with assistance from Price City (project sponsor), proposes improvements to improve the efficiency, resiliency, and reliability of the existing water system for water users in the watershed. These improvements would allow for greater capacity for and flexibility in accommodating the needs of multiple uses, including municipal, industrial, agricultural, recreational, and environmental, while minimizing downstream impacts and reducing the potential for damages resulting from either future flooding or drought events.
The need for this Project arises from water users in the Watershed experiencing frequent or recurring water shortages in their municipal, industrial, and agricultural water supplies. These shortages are due to a combination of long-term climatic trends affecting the amount of water available for users in the watershed, seasonal imbalances that affect the timing of water availability and use, inefficient water usage in municipalities and agricultural irrigation facilities, and an upcoming inter-basin transfer project that would further reduce the amount of water available to users.
An evaluation of potential project alternatives and associated environmental impacts is required to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations. The evaluation will be documented in the form of a Watershed Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (Plan-EIS).
UPPER PRICE RIVER WATERSHED PLAN-EIS
SCHEDULE
Questions about the environmental process? Check out our Environmental Process Flyer.
The Upper Price River Watershed Project, funded through USDA-NRCS’s PL83-566 program, is needed to examine methods that will provide a more reliable water supply to water users and to conserve water in the watershed. Project benefits include improving the efficiency, resiliency, and reliability of water systems to provide greater capacity for and flexibility in accommodating the needs of multiple uses, including municipal, industrial, agricultural, and environmental.
Price City, as the local sponsoring organization for the project, and the study team are making progress with the planning phase to evaluate the proposed project measures and preparing a draft Watershed Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (Plan-EIS). The study team is comprised of engineering and environmental professionals from Horrocks Engineers, Johansen & Tuttle Engineering Inc, and RB&G Engineering. A modification was recently approved by NRCS to include the piping of approximately 50 miles of open irrigation canals/laterals in order to provide safe and reliable water for agricultural users, enable increased efficiency in water use, and meet water conservation objectives. These canals include the Gay Ditch, Price-Wellington Canal, and Carbon Canal systems. Proposed project measures being evaluated include:
• Proposed diversion structure on Price River near the existing Bryner-Ploutz diversion upstream of Gigliotti Pond
• Proposed large diameter pipeline (60-72”) from diversion location to a proposed reservoir
• Proposed reservoir: Two locations being evaluated - Garley Canyon and Consumers Wash (3 alignment options)
• Proposed piping of Gay Ditch, Carbon Canal, and Price-Wellington Canal irrigation systems (pressurized)
It is anticipated that a Draft Plan-EIS will be available for public review during the spring of 2024.
PUBLIC MEETINGS
ONLINE PUBLIC MEETING
The public was invited to participate in an online Public Scoping Meeting on Oct. 29, 2020 to learn about the environmental study process, ask questions and learn how to submit comments.
Note: This meeting was recorded for those unable to join live,
see video below.
Public Scoping Meeting | Oct. 29, 2020
CLICK ON EACH PUBLIC MEETING BELOW TO VIEW THE PRESENTATION MATERIALS. MATERIALS WILL BE POSTED THE DAY AFTER EACH MEETING.
CONTACT US
PHONE: 435-922-3882
EMAIL: Info@UpperPriceRiverEIS.com
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