[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 48 (Monday, March 11, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17374-17377]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-05091]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Natural Resources Conservation Service

[Docket No. NRCS-2024-0001]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Logan River Watershed Project in Cache County, Utah

AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent (NOI) to prepare an environmental impact 
statement (EIS).

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SUMMARY: The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Utah State 
Office announces its intent to prepare a watershed plan and EIS for the 
Logan River Watershed Project located within the Logan River Watershed 
in Cache County, Utah. The proposed watershed plan will examine 
alternative solutions to reduce water loss and increase efficiency in 
the current agricultural water delivery system, provide flood control 
and protection, and enhance recreational facilities in portions of 
Logan, North Logan, and Hyde Park cities and portions of unincorporated 
Cache County, Utah between and to the west of the cities. NRCS is 
requesting comments to identify significant issues, potential 
alternatives, information, and analyses relevant to the proposed action 
from all interested individuals, Federal, State agencies, and Tribes.

DATES: We will consider comments that we receive by April 10, 2024.We 
will consider comments received after close of the comment period to 
the extent possible.

ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit comments in response to this notice. 
You may submit your comments through one of the methods below:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and search for docket ID NRCS-2024-0001. Follow the 
online instructions for submitting comments; or
     Mail or Hand Delivery: Derek Hamilton, Water Resources 
Coordinator, USDA, NRCS, Utah State Office, 125 S State Street, #4010, 
Salt Lake City, Utah 84138. In your comments, specify the docket ID 
NRCS-2024-0001.
    All comments received will be posted without change and made 
publicly available on www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Derek Hamilton; telephone: (801) 524-
4560; email: [email protected]. Individuals who require 
alternative means for communication should contact the U.S. Department 
of Agriculture (USDA) Target Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and text 
telephone (TTY)) or dial 711 for Telecommunications Relay service (both 
voice and text telephone users can initiate this call from any 
telephone).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Purpose and Need

    The primary purposes for the watershed plan is to improve 
agricultural water management in the Crockett Avenue Irrigation and 
Distribution, Inc. (Crockett Avenue Irrigation Company) service area. 
The project is essential to improve efficiency, water conservation, and 
the maintenance and enhancement of environmental conditions and 
beneficial water use in the form of instream flows and through the 
removal of barriers to fish passage; to provide flood control to the 
Cities of Logan, North Logan, and Hyde Park and portions of Cache

[[Page 17375]]

County from flooding that occurs from large thunderstorms and rain on 
frozen ground events in the valley; and to enhance recreational 
opportunities within the project area.
    This action is needed to address deficiencies in the agricultural 
water delivery system in the area. The aging canal system loses water 
to seepage and evaporation. Additionally, the primary method of 
irrigation to agricultural lands in the valley is flood irrigation and 
the potential for improving irrigation water management is limited. 
Improved efficiencies in the pressurization of water for secondary 
water systems (non-potable irrigation water for lawns and gardens) are 
needed to reduce strains on existing culinary water supplies for 
growing communities with limited water resources. Also, the irrigation 
infrastructure needs improvements as recent stormwater and flash floods 
have highlighted deficiencies in flood protection with high intensity 
runoff events overwhelming the existing diversion and canals. In 
particular, the Crocket Diversion dam is an aging piece of 
infrastructure originally built in 1860 and it currently poses hazards 
to:
     the irrigation company and city staff operating the 
diversion,
     area homeowners, and
     the public.
    The structure also limits recreation and is a barrier to fish 
passage. Additionally, the Crockett Canal near Merlin Olsen Park is at 
risk of slope failure along the hillside.
    This action will increase stormwater capacity to divert and 
transport excess stormwater flows from existing canals and convey to 
natural drainages west of Logan, Utah. The existing irrigation canals 
in the past have been used to deliver both irrigation water and 
stormwater runoff that occurs during storm events. Recent population 
growth has converted permeable farmland into impermeable surfaces, and 
these changes have increased storm water runoff. The existing canals do 
not have adequate flow capacity to transport the additional stormwater 
produced by larger storm events.
    This action will also enhance recreational facilities in the area. 
The rapidly growing area of Logan, North Logan, and Hyde Park has a 
limited trail system. Enhancements are needed to provide additional 
access points to the terrestrial and river trail systems to provide for 
safe and effective access for residents and visitors to nearby 
recreational facilities including USDA Forest Service public lands and 
their existing trail systems.
    NRCS will provide technical and financial assistance for the 
proposed project through the NRCS Watershed Protection and Flood 
Prevention Program, and NRCS will also design and implement a selected 
alternative.

Preliminary Proposed Action and Alternatives

    The objective of the EIS is to formulate and evaluate alternatives 
for the agricultural water needs in the approximately 73,285-acre 
watershed-focused planning area. The EIS is expected to evaluate three 
alternatives: two action alternatives, and one no action alternative. 
The alternatives that may be considered for detailed analysis include:
     Alternative 1--No Action Alternative: Taking no action 
would consist of activities conducted if no Federal action or funding 
were provided. The 10 irrigation companies that comprise the Crockett 
Avenue Irrigation Company would continue to divert water from the Logan 
River at the Crockett Diversion dam 1.3 miles below First Dam. To 
ensure operator safety at the Crockett Diversion dam, the Crockett 
Avenue Irrigation Company would necessarily rebuild the aging Crockett 
Diversion dam along the Logan River. To reduce the risk of slope 
failure along the hillside of the Crockett Canal near Merlin Olsen 
Park, they would also line 2,500 feet of the Crockett Canal if the No 
Action Alternative is selected. Water would continue to be distributed 
through the existing canal systems, and a pressurized pipe irrigation 
system and overflow structures would not be constructed. A recreational 
trail would not be built. The existing structures, besides the Crockett 
Diversion dam and a portion of the Crockett Canal, would continue to 
operate in their current condition and would not meet the purpose and 
need to provide flood control, improve agricultural water management, 
or enhance recreational opportunities. Existing river conditions would 
continue, and no instream flows would be provided, especially during 
the summer, when flows are critical for maintaining water quality and a 
functional aquatic ecosystem. No Federal action or funding would be 
associated with the No Action Alternative.
     Alternative 2--Proposed Action--First Dam Alternative: The 
proposed action is to change the diversion location of the Crockett 
Avenue Irrigation Company's water rights upstream from the existing 
Crockett Diversion dam to a new diversion at First Dam and would add an 
additional point of diversion downstream near the western end of the 
Logan River near N 3200 W. These two diversions would be used to 
pressurize a newly constructed pressurized irrigation system within the 
Crockett Avenue Irrigation Company's service area in Logan, North 
Logan, Hyde Park, and Cache County that would reduce canal water losses 
and pumping requirements, as well as allow secondary water connections 
to residents in the service area. The existing, unused Logan City 
lagoons would be converted to a secondary water storage reservoir, and 
three pump stations would be constructed, including a pump station to 
supply water to the storage reservoir from the diversion location along 
the western end of the Logan River and one to supply water from the 
reservoir to the irrigation distribution system. The third pump station 
would pump additional water rights held by a canal company into the 
storage reservoir. A hydropower turbine would be installed at the 
storage reservoir and would allow for power generation to offset 
pumping costs during reservoir filling. This proposed action would 
remove the Crockett Diversion dam and replace it with a series of steps 
and pools to reduce safety hazards experienced by system operators, 
remove several homes and a school from the floodplain, benefit water 
quality, facilitate fish and recreational passage, and improve river 
aesthetics. The Providence Pioneer Irrigation Company's Providence 
Pioneer diversion dam would also be removed, and their associated 
diversion would be supplied through the newly constructed pressurized 
irrigation system. This proposed action would secure and manage 
instream flows while recognizing existing water rights by maintaining 
an agreed upon amount of flow in the Logan River to the downstream 
diversion point during the irrigation season to improve river 
attainment of state water quality standards. Water would also be 
provided to the Little Logan Canal, including Merlin Olsen Park, the 
Cache County Fairgrounds, and Willow Park, during the irrigation 
season. To control floodwaters that enter the Logan, Northern, Hyde 
Park, Logan North Field, and Logan Northwest Field Canals along the 
east side of Cache Valley between Logan City and Hyde Park City, a 
mixed piped and open channel overflow system would be constructed. The 
system would extend from approximately 1400 North and 900 East to 1800 
North and 2400 West. Additionally, approximately 3,500 feet of a non-
motorized trail would be constructed along the Crockett Canal's

[[Page 17376]]

right-of-way corridor and Canyon Road from 200 East to 600 East to 
connect an existing trail network to the nearby Forest Service-
administered lands.
     Alternative 3--Proposed Action--Crockett Diversion 
Alternative: The proposed action would continue to supply a portion of 
the Crockett Avenue Irrigation Company's water rights by diverting 
water at the current Crockett Diversion dam on the Logan River but 
would add an additional point of diversion for the remainder of the 
water rights downstream at a new location along the western end of the 
Logan River near N 3200 W, as in Alternative 1. The Crockett Diversion 
dam would be reconstructed, and a pump station would be constructed 
near the Crockett Diversion. The new diversion dam would address 
structural deficiencies and feature a lower crest elevation that would 
reduce safety hazards experienced by system operators, remove several 
homes and a school from the floodplain, benefit water quality, 
facilitate fish and recreational passage, and improve river aesthetics. 
This proposed action would also secure and manage instream flows by 
maintaining an agreed upon amount of flow in the Logan River to the 
downstream diversion point during the irrigation season and providing 
flow to the Little Logan Canal, including Merlin Olsen Park, the Cache 
County Fairgrounds, and Willow Park, during the irrigation season, as 
in Alternative 1. Besides the diversion location changes and associated 
actions, the remainder of irrigation improvements (that is, 
constructing pressurized irrigation distribution system; converting 
lagoons to secondary water storage reservoir; constructing pump 
stations; removing Providence Pioneer dam; etc.) and all the flood 
control and recreation improvements would be the same as in Alternative 
1.

Summary of Expected Impacts

    An NRCS evaluation of this federally assisted action indicates that 
the proposed alternatives may have local, regional, or national effects 
on the environment. Potential effects include wetland and channel 
alteration, disturbances to wildlife, and temporary disturbances to 
riparian areas due to the piping of the irrigation system. Long-term 
beneficial effects would occur with the pressurized piping system and 
the additional recreational opportunities with the new trail.
    The proposed alternatives would also reduce flooding by providing 
flood protection and flood damage reduction within the service area and 
to downstream areas from runoff, erosion, and sediment deposition, as 
well as improve agricultural water management and public safety by 
piping and pressurizing the irrigation system. It would eliminate a 
source of open water in residential areas that could pose safety risks. 
It would also provide additional recreational opportunities for public 
use by constructing the trail connecting Logan City to nearby Forest 
Service-administered lands.

Anticipated Permits and Authorizations

    The following permits and other authorizations are anticipated to 
be required:
     Federal Emergency Management Agency Floodplain Development 
permit. Implementation of the proposed action would require 
coordination with the local floodplain administrator and may require a 
Floodplain Development Permit to ensure all development and engineering 
requirements for construction within the Special Flood Hazard Areas are 
implemented.
     Clean Water Act (CWA) and National Pollutant Discharge 
Elimination System (NPDES). The project would require water quality 
certification under section 401 of the CWA, permitting under section 
402 of the NPDES, and section 404 of the CWA for potential wetland 
impacts.
     Encroachment Permit. The project would require 
coordination and permitting with Utah Department of Transportation for 
temporary construction work within State and Federal roadway rights-of-
way.
     Stream Alteration Permit. The project would require 
coordination and permits with the Utah Division of Water Rights for the 
proposed canal improvements.
     National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) Section 106. 
Consultation with Tribal Nations and interested parties would be 
conducted as required by the NHPA.
     Local Encroachment. Consultation and potential 
encroachment permits would be required with Logan City, North Logan 
City, Hyde Park, and Cache County for all construction work within the 
local roadway rights-of-way.

Schedule of Decision-Making Process

    A Draft EIS (DEIS) will be prepared and circulated for review and 
comment by agencies, Tribes, consulting parties, and the public for at 
least 45 days as required by 40 CFR 1503.1, 1502.20, 1506.11, and 
1502.17, and 7 CFR 650.13. The DEIS is anticipated to be published in 
the Federal Register, approximately 21 months after publication of this 
NOI. A Final EIS is anticipated to be published within 3 months of 
completion of the public comment period for the DEIS.
    NRCS will decide whether to implement one of the action 
alternatives as evaluated in the EIS. A Record of Decision will be 
completed after the required 30-day waiting period and will be publicly 
available. The responsible Federal official and decision maker for NRCS 
is the Utah State Conservationist.

Public Scoping Process

    Federal, State, Tribal, local agencies and representatives, and the 
public were invited to take part in this watershed plan scoping period 
through which coordination, sought input on issues of economic, 
environmental, cultural, and social importance in the watershed.
    The Logan River Watershed Project began in 2020 when key 
stakeholders identified resource concerns within the Logan River 
Watershed. A virtual public scoping meeting was held on January 28, 
2021, and an adjacent property owner scoping meeting was held on March 
4, 2021, to gather input on concerns and interests and to inform 
alternative development and prioritization for the watershed. The 
public submitted 781 comments, of which the majority emphasized the 
importance of protecting existing water rights and maintaining water 
flows that preserve the aesthetics of Logan River and property values 
and assure aquatic recreation and water quality for wildlife habitat. 
Scoping meeting presentation materials are available on the NRCS 
website, along with project background information at https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/logan-river-watershed-project.
    Based on funding limitations, the NRCS determined an EIS was 
necessary, and is seeking further public comment to help determine the 
range of actions, alternatives, and impacts to be evaluated and 
included in the EIS. NRCS will include the comments received from the 
previous scoping efforts into the EIS analysis.

Identification of Potential Alternatives, Information, and Analyses

    NRCS invites agencies, Tribes, consulting parties, and individuals 
that have special expertise, legal jurisdiction, or interest in the 
Logan River project to provide written comments concerning the scope of 
the analysis and identification of potential alternatives, information, 
and analyses relevant to the Proposed Action.
    NRCS will coordinate the scoping process to correspond with any 
required NHPA processes, as allowed in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3) and 800.8 (54 
U.S.C. 306108). The information about historic

[[Page 17377]]

and cultural resources within the area potentially affected by the 
proposed Logan River project will assist NRCS in identifying and 
evaluating impacts to such resources in the context of both the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and NHPA.
    NRCS will consult with Native American tribes on a government-to-
government basis in accordance with 36 CFR 800.2 and 800.3, Executive 
Order 13175, and other policies. Tribal concerns, including impacts on 
Indian trust assets and potential impacts to cultural resources and 
historic properties, will be given due consideration.

Authorities

    This document is published pursuant to the NEPA regulations 
regarding publication of a NOI to issue an EIS (40 CFR 1501.9(d)). 
Watershed planning is authorized under the Watershed Protection and 
Flood Prevention Act of 1954, as amended, and the Flood Control Act of 
1944.

Federal Assistance Programs

    The title and number of the Federal Assistance Program as found in 
the Assistance Listing \1\ to which this document applies is 10.904, 
Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention.
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    \1\ See https://sam.gov/content/assistance-listings.
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Executive Order 12372

    Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs,'' requires consultation with State and local officials that 
would be directly affected by proposed Federal financial assistance. 
The objectives of the Executive Order are to foster an 
intergovernmental partnership and a strengthened federalism, by relying 
on State and local processes for State and local government 
coordination and review of proposed Federal financial assistance and 
direct Federal development. This Logan River project is subject to the 
provisions of Executive Order 12372, which requires intergovernmental 
consultation with State and local officials.

USDA Non-Discrimination Policy

    In accordance with Federal civil rights law and USDA civil rights 
regulations and policies, USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, 
and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are 
prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, 
religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual 
orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, 
income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or 
reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program 
or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all 
programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or 
incident.
    Individuals who require alternative means of communication for 
program information (for example, Braille, large print, audiotape, 
American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or 
USDA TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and text telephone) or dial 
711 for Telecommunications Relay Service (both voice and text telephone 
users can initiate this call from any phone). Additionally, program 
information may be made available in languages other than English.
    To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA 
Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at https://www.usda.gov/oascr/how-to-file-a-program-discrimination-complaint and 
at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in 
the letter all the information requested in the form. To request a copy 
of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form 
or letter to USDA by: (1) mail to: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence 
Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) 
email: [email protected].
    USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Emily Fife,
Utah State Conservationist, Natural Resources Conservation Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-05091 Filed 3-8-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-16-P