The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Kansas is developing the Elk Creek Watershed Project. The effort involves completing a USDA-NRCS Supplemental Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Elk Creek Site No. 4 and No. 12 Dams in Nemaha and Jackson Counties. The supplemental EA is being developed to determine the impacts of items not fully addressed by the respective Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) or other relevant environmental documentation. The planning process involves:

• Evaluating potential alternatives to the proposed construction of  Dams No. 4 and No. 12.
• Reviewing resource issues that the alternative may affect.
• Recommending a proposed action that maximizes net economic benefits consistent with protection of the environment.

Following the National Environmental Policy Act NEPA process, the NRCS and the Ad Astra consultant team will coordinate two rounds of public participation based on project phasing:

• Phase 2 - Identification of Resource Concerns: To identify public, agency, and tribal concerns, such as known watershed natural resource problems.
• Phase 4 - Preparation of the EA Document: To provide opportunities for public, agency, and tribal review of the draft EA Document. 

Click here to view maps of the project area.

The Comment and Survey period is now closed.