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Cove-East Fork Virgin River Watershed (Sponsor = Kane Co. Water Conservancy Dist

The project is funded through authority of the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act.

Public Notice of Availability

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), in coordination with Kane County Water Conservancy District and Washington County Water Conservancy District as project sponsors, announces the availability of the Draft Cove-East Fork Virgin River Watershed Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (Plan-EIS) for proposed improvements (Project) in Kane and Washington Counties, Utah. The Project would be partially funded through the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act (Public Law [PL] 83-566). 

 

Project Description

The following measures are included in the Project: 

  • Earthen dam (1,900-ft long and 90-ft high)
  • 6,000 acre-foot reservoir
  • Recreational amenities surrounding the reservoir
  • Reservoir outlet pipeline
  • Glendale Irrigation pipeline
  • Mt. Carmel irrigation pipeline and booster pump station

  • Access roads

     

NEPA Analysis

NRCS has prepared a Draft Plan-EIS that analyzes potential Project impacts to the natural and human environment, in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The Draft Plan-EIS also integrates analysis following the Principles, Requirements and Guidelines for Water and Land Related Resources Implementation Studies and Federal Water Resource Investments (PR&G, 2018). The Draft Plan-EIS has been reviewed by NRCS-Utah, the National Water Management Center, and NRCS-National Headquarters.

 

Current Status

NRCS is accepting comments on the Draft Watershed Plan-EIS between September 18, 2026 and November 2, 2026. Comments must be submitted by email or physical mail to Ammon Boswell (see contact information below). 

NRCS also invites comments related to cultural resources as part of the NEPA public participation process. We will use this process to satisfy the public involvement requirements under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) (54 U.S.C. § 306108) and pursuant to 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3). The information about cultural resources within the area potential effect for this undertaking will assist the NRCS in identifying and evaluating effects/impacts to such resources in the context of both NEPA and Section 106 of the NHPA.

 

Project Documents

 

Public Comment Period—Draft Plan-EIS

Open:    Friday, September 18, 2026
Close:    Monday, November 2, 2026

 

Public Meeting

Date:    Wednesday, September 30, 2026
Time:    5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Location: Old Rock Church Events Center, 2615 South State Street, Mt. Carmel, Utah 84775

Contact Information

Ammon Boswell, Watershed Program Manager

1950 West Main Street, Tremonton, UT 84337

CoveEFVR@usda.gov

 

Updated: September 2026