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Santa Clara Watershed (Sponsor = Washington County, Utah)

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

Project Description

The United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS), with assistance of Washington County, Utah, as the project sponsor, announce the availability of the Final Watershed Plan and Environmental Assessment (Plan-EA) for the Santa Clara Watershed. The proposed improvements include the construction of stream diversions and detention basins within the Dammeron and Diamond valleys as well as other improvements within the Shivwits Band of Paiutes lands, including stream restoration, irrigation supply, and flood protection. Improvements under consideration will address flood control and protection, agricultural demands, and public safety risks, while enhancing species habitat.

NEPA Analysis

NRCS, as the lead federal agency, initiated a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis in the form of a Watershed Plan and Environmental Assessment (Plan-EA) to analyze impacts to the natural and human environment from this Project. The Plan-EA will comply with the USDA’s NEPA regulations at 7 CFR Part 1b and NRCS’s NEPA regulations at 7 CFR Part 650, which require an evaluation of potential environmental impacts associated with federal projects and actions.

Current Status

A Public Meeting for the Draft-EA was held on June 11, 2025. The public comment period occurred from June 11, 2025, to July 13, 2025. 

On Sept 9, 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) issued the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Final Watershed Plan and Environmental Assessment (Plan-EA). See below for the Final Plan-EA and FONSI.

The project is moving into the design phase, pending funding availability. Phased construction could begin as early as Spring 2028.

Project Documents

Contact Information

Ammon Boswell
Watershed Programs Manager, NRCS Utah
ammon.boswell@usda.gov
435-459-1621