[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 56 (Friday, March 21, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15278-15279]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-5743]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

UTAH RECLAMATION MITIGATION AND CONSERVATION COMMISSION


Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Assessment and 
Finding of No Significant Impact for Fort Field Diversion Dam 
Reconstruction, Utah County, UT

AGENCY: Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission 
(Mitigation Commission),

[[Page 15279]]

Central Utah Water Conservancy District (District) and U.S. Department 
of the Interior (Department), jointly prepared an Environmental 
Assessment (EA) to determine the effects of reconstructing the Fort 
Field Diversion on the Provo River in Utah County, to provide 
unimpaired fish passage during low flow conditions and to meet 
diversion requirements for canal companies and legal water users.
    The Proposed Action selected from the EA for implementation entails 
the Mitigation Commission, District and Department cooperating to 
reconstruct the Fort Field Diversion structure, consisting of a cobble 
bar, a concrete sluiceway, with gates, tree removal and replacement or 
lining of a section of pipeline.
    The Fort Field Diversion often functions as a dry dam: it diverts 
the entire stream flow of Provo River, with the exception of small 
quantities of water that leak through the diversion structure. It is 
also the lowest diversion on the Provo River and the first diversion 
encountered by June sucker as they ascend the Provo River to spawn. The 
June sucker is an endangered fish species found only in Utah Lake, 
which swims from Utah Lake up into the Provo River to spawn.
    The Fort Field Diversion restricts June sucker spawning to only the 
lowest 3.8 miles of Provo River, and compromises the quality of 
spawning habitat in that lower reach; the upper 1.1 miles of the 4.9 
mile reach designated as critical habitat for June sucker, is often 
inaccessible during May and June, when June sucker spawn.
    The decision to select the Proposed Action from the EA will allow 
reconstruction of the Fort Field diversion structure resulting in fish 
passage and access to the additional 1.1 miles of June sucker's 
critical habitat. It will also allow accurate and real-time bypass and 
measurement of instream flows, maintaining the ability to meet 
diversion requirements for canal companies and legal water users who 
divert water at the Fort Field Diversion structure.
    Based on information contained in the EA, a Finding of No 
Significant Impact (FONSI) was made, thus the Proposed Action does not 
require preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) (it will 
not have a significant effect on the human environment; negative 
environmental impacts that could occur are negligible and can be 
generally eliminated with mitigation; there are no unmitigated adverse 
impacts on public health or safety, threatened or endangered species, 
sites or districts listed in or eligible for listing in the National 
Register of Historic Places, or other unique characteristics of the 
region; no highly uncertain or controversial impacts, unique or unknown 
risks, cumulative effects, or elements of precedence were identified 
that have not been mitigated; and, implementation of the action will 
not violate any federal, state, or local environmental protection law.)

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of 
No Significant Impact can be obtained at the Utah Reclamation 
Mitigation and Conservation Commission, 230 South 500 East, Suite 230, 
Salt Lake City, Utah, 84102. They may also be viewed on the internet 
at: http://www.mitigationcommission.gov/news.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maureen Wilson, Project Coordinator, 
(801) 524-3166.

    Dated: March 13, 2008.
Michael C. Weland,
Executive Director.
[FR Doc. E8-5743 Filed 3-20-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-05-P