[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]


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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.

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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