Environmental Compliance Notices

Documents posted here are Public Notices and Notices of Availability related to the potential environmental impacts of NRCS federal actions in California. The NRCS publishes these environmental documents pursuant to Section 102[2][c] of the National Environmental Policy Act, the Council on Environmental Quality [40 CFR Part 1500], and the Natural Resources Conservation Service Regulations [7 CFR Part 650]. 

For additional information regarding these notices contact commentsCAwatersheds@usda.gov.

List of Notices​

1 - NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY: Draft Supplemental Watershed Plan No. 1 - Environmental Assessment Central Sonoma Watershed - Matanzas Creek Dam Rehabilitation Project

AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) 
UNIQUE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: EAXX-005-53-006-1126918456. 
ACTION: Notice of Availability for the Draft Supplemental Watershed Plan-Environmental Assessment and Public Meetings
SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and the Natural Resources Conservation Service Regulations (7 Code of Federal Regulations Part 1b), the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) gives notice that an environmental impact statement is not being prepared for the Central Sonoma Watershed Matanzas Creek Dam Rehabilitation Project, Sonoma County, California (Project). 

A draft Watershed Plan-Environmental Assessment (EA) was prepared and will be available for review on July 26, 2026, on the project’s website https://matanzascreekdamrehab.com, and at the Sonoma County Water Agency’s website https://www.sonomawater.org/environmental-documents.

The 30-day public review period for the draft EA extends from July 26, 2026, to August 25, 2026. All comments postmarked by August 25, 2026, will be considered and incorporated into the final EA, as appropriate. Specific responses will also be included in a comments and responses appendix to the final document. 

To provide comments and/or for further information regarding this notice, email commentsCAwatersheds@usda.gov or contact Richard Rivas, Natural Resources Conservation Service, 430 G Street, Davis, CA 95616, by telephone and leave a voicemail at (530) 792-5510 (Attn: Small Watershed Program, Central Sonoma Watershed Matanzas Creek Dam Rehabilitation Project.

An in-person public meeting will also be held at the following location, date, and time to provide additional opportunity for public comment: Iron & Vine, 3330 Yulupa Ave., Santa Rosa, CA 95405, Tuesday, August 11, 2026, 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The draft EA of this federally assisted action indicates that the Project will not cause significant local, regional, or national impacts on the environment. As a result of these findings, the State Conservationist, Carlos Suarez, has determined that the preparation and review of an environmental impact statement are not needed for this Project. 

The purpose of the Project is to continue to provide flood protection and sediment reduction downstream of Matanzas Creek Dam in the most efficient manner. The Matanzas Creek Dam facility currently provides flood protection for the City of Santa Rosa and adjacent unincorporated areas in Sonoma County, California. It also captures approximately 3.8 acre-feet of sediment annually. Based on recent assessments, the dam does not meet NRCS and California Division of Safety of Dams (DSOD) standards. The need is to bring the dam into compliance with current standards while maintaining flood protection and sediment reduction services. 

The Notice of Availability of the draft EA has been forwarded to various federal, state, and local agencies and interested parties. This document is also available in hard copy form at the NRCS Petaluma Service Center, 5401 Old Redwood Highway, Suite 100, Petaluma, CA. 94954 and the Sonoma County Water Agency at 404 Aviation Blvd., Santa Rosa CA. 95403. Basic data developed during the environmental assessment are on file and may be reviewed through coordination with NRCS by calling (530) 792-5510 (Attn: Small Watershed Program Matanzas Creek Dam Rehabilitation) or emailing at commentsCAwatersheds@usda.gov. 

2 - Notice of Availability (NOA) of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the McGriff Lakes-Sutter Basin Watershed Flood Control and Flood Safety Project Sutter County, California

AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
ACTION: Notice of Availability for Draft Environmental Impact Statement & Public Meeting
SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 Code of Federal Regulations Part 1500), and the Natural Resources Conservation Service Regulations (7 Code of Federal Regulations Part 650), the U.S. Department of Agriculture NRCS gives notice that a draft environmental impact statement has been prepared for the McGriff Lakes-Sutter Basin Watershed Flood Control and Flood Safety Project. Unique Identification Number: EISX-005-53-006-1107702473. 

To provide comments and/or further information regarding this notice, you can email commentsCAwatersheds@usda.gov or you can contact Richard Rivas, Natural Resources Conservation Service, 430 G Street Davis, CA 95616, by telephone and leave a voicemail at (530) 792-5600 (Attn: Small Watershed Program, McGriff Lakes-Sutter Basin Watershed Flood Control and Flood Safety Project).  A public meeting will also be held at 15094 Cranmore Road, Robbins, CA. 95676, in RD 1500 Board room, from 9:00 am to 10:00 am on June 30, 2026 to provide an additional opportunity for public comment.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: An Environmental Impact Statement was required to be completed for this project due to Federal Small Watershed Program Requirements.

The purpose of this Project is to provide reliable and long-term flood control and damage reduction for the Sutter Basin and to protect public safety and emergency access. The need for this Project is to provide at least the current level of flood protection to the Sutter Basin that is provided by the existing Karnak Drainage Facility, which has provided flood prevention for the Sutter Basin for over 100 years but is antiquated and nearing the end of its useful life, to maintain protection of the social and economic activities in the benefitted area, including local housing and industry, agriculture and transportation across a critical evacuation route. Without intervention, the existing Karnak Drainage Facility will eventually fail and no flood protection would be provided, therefore modernization is needed.   

The notice of availability of the draft McGriff Lakes-Sutter Basin Watershed Plan and Environmental Impact Statement has been forwarded to various federal, state, and local agencies and interested parties. The draft Watershed Plan and Environmental Impact Statement is available for review in hard copy form at the NRCS Yuba City Service Center,1511 Butte House Rd, Suite B, Yuba City, CA 95993 and the Reclamation District No. 1500 office at 15094 Cranmore Road, Robbins, CA 95676 or can be downloaded from the following links: www.rd1500.org.   Basic data developed during preparation of the environmental impact statement are on file and may be reviewed through coordination with NRCS by calling (530) 792-5600 (Attn: Small Watershed Program, McGriff Lakes-Sutter Basin Watershed Flood Control and Flood Safety Project). Comments of Federal, State and local agencies, Native American Tribes, or other interested persons will be made available for public inspection after receipt.

No administrative action on implementation of the proposal will be taken until 45 days after the date of this notification.

3 - Notice of Availability (NOA) of Final Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FNSI), Sukhraj Property Conservation Easement Subordination for Rosemary Solar, LLC (NRCS Emergency Watershed Protection Program – Floodplain Easement #75-9104-0-200XNN), Fresno County, California 

4 - Notice of Availability of a Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact, Black Rascal Creek Watershed Flood Control and Flood Safety Project Merced County, California

AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
ACTION: Notice of a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)
SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 Code of Federal Regulations Part 1500), and the Natural Resources Conservation Service Regulations (7 Code of Federal Regulations Part 650), the U.S. Department of Agriculture NRCS gives notice that an environmental impact statement is not being prepared for the Black Rascal Creek Watershed Flood Control Project (Project), Merced County, California.
For further information on this notice you can email commentsCAwatersheds@usda.gov or you can contact Dylan Hickey, Natural Resources Conservation Service, 430 G Street, Davis, CA 95616, by telephone and leave a voicemail at (530) 792-5632 (Attn: Small Watershed Program Black Rascal Creek). 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The environmental assessment of this federally assisted action indicates that the Project will not cause significant local, regional, or national impacts on the environment. As a result of these findings, the State Conservationist, Carlos Suarez, has determined that the preparation and review of an environmental impact statement are not needed for this Project.
The Project is intended to provide flood reduction to the City of Merced and rural communities within Merced County downstream of Black Rascal Creek. The overall purpose of the Project is to temporarily detain floodwaters during periods of heavy precipitation, thereby limiting flow in the diversion channel and reducing peak diversion channel flows entering Bear Creek downstream of the Project.
The notice of a FONSI has been forwarded to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and to various federal, state, and local agencies and interested parties. The Black Rascal Creek Watershed Plan and Environmental Assessment is available at the Merced County Public Works Office (345 West 7th Street, Merced, CA 95341) or for download at https://www.countyofmerced.com/754/Creeks. Basic data developed during the environmental assessment are on file and may be reviewed through coordination with NRCS by calling (530) 792-5632 (Attn: Small Watershed Program Black Rascal Creek).
No administrative action on implementation of the proposal will be taken until 30 days after the date of this publication. Publication Date: May 14, 2025

5 - Upper Llagas Creek Flood Protection Project

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) California State Office announces it adopted the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Upper Llagas Creek Flood Protection Project. The EIS, Proposed Upper Llagas Creek Flood Protection Project in Santa Clara County, California, was prepared by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) as the lead federal agency and published in the Federal Register on December 7, 2018, (83FR63161). NRCS was not a cooperating agency to the EIS but has been requested to provide financial assistance to implement some of the actions evaluated in the USACE’s FEIS. The same reaches asked for financial assistance also fall under the NRCS Llagas Creek Watershed Project (LCWP), initially authorized in 1968, with an EIS completed by NRCS in 1982. The proposed federal action is the same as the selected alternative in the USACE FEIS, including only minimal changes to construction materials. The adoption of the USACE EIS reaffirms the feasibility that the original 1968 LCWP has not changed in scope within the benefited areas, and economic considerations remain the same. 

NRCS has determined that circumstances in the federal action area have stayed the same since the publication of the FEIS. A copy of the Record of Decision (ROD) to Adopt the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Upper Llagas Creek Flood Protection Project, Santa Clara County, California, is available for comments from all interested individuals, Federal and State Agencies, and Tribes.  
DEADLINE: NRCS will consider public comments that we receive up until Sunday, February 11, 2024.
ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit comments in response to this notice. You may submit your comments through one of the methods below:
Mail or Hand Delivery: Mr. Ernesto De La Riva, USDA-NRCS, 430 G Street, Davis, CA 95616 or Email: . For written comments, specify the comments are for the Record of Decision Upper Llagas Notification. A copy of the ROD can be sent if requested via mail or email  commentsCAwatersheds@usda.gov.

6 - Palo Verde Valley Sub Watershed, Imperial Reservoir Watershed, Riverside and Imperial Counties, California

AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service
ACTION: Scoping Meeting Notice – Watershed Plan and Environmental Document
SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969; the Council on Environmental Quality Guidelines (40CFR Part 1500); and the Natural Resources Conservation Service Guidelines (7 CFR Part 650); the Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, gives notice that an environmental document is being prepared for the City of Blythe – Palo Verde Valley Sub Watershed, located within the Imperial Reservoir Watershed, Riverside and Imperial Counties, California.
DATE: The meeting will take place on Wednesday, November 1, 2023, from 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM, Pacific Time.
ADDRESS: The meeting will be held at the Palo Verde Irrigation District (PVID) Board Room, 180 W 14th Ave, Blythe, CA.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) representatives at the following address: NRCS Office, 200 E Murphy Street, Rm 102, Re: C28 Canal Improvement Project, Blythe, CA  92225; or (530) 792-5642 (Attn: C28 Canal Improvement Project).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: It is anticipated that the preparation and review of an environmental assessment is needed for this project.  The environmental assessment of this federally-assisted action will determine if the project may cause significant local, regional, or national impacts on the environment.

The project concerns infrastructure improvements along the existing C28 irrigation canal system to improve agricultural water use and management, improve drought resilience, increase water accounting, and conserve water in support of water conservation efforts in the Colorado River Basin and Lower Basin Drought Contingency Plan.  Alternatives under consideration to reach these objectives include the “no action” scenario, in which the infrastructure improvements are not made.

The NRCS invites participation and consultation of agencies and individuals that have special expertise, legal jurisdiction, or interest in the preparation of the draft environmental assessment. Comments received within 30 days of the scoping meeting at the above Blythe NRCS address or emailed to commentsCAwatersheds@usda.gov or by phone and voicemail to (530) 792-5642 (Attn: C28 Canal Improvement Project);  will be considered as part of the public record on this proposed action.  Further information on the proposed action and the scoping meeting may be obtained from NRCS representatives at the above address, email address or phone number.

Donald Veverka, Acting District Conservationist, Donald.veverka@usda.gov
National Resources Conservation Service, Blythe Field Office, September 20, 2023
(This activity is listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance under No. 10.904, - Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention – and is subject to the provisions of Executive Order 12372, which requires intergovernmental consultation with State and local officials.)

7 - Notice of Availability of an Environmental Assessment, Black Rascal Creek Watershed Flood Control and Flood Safety Project Merced County, California

• The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) California State Office has prepared an Environmental Assessment for the Black Rascal Creek Watershed Flood Control and Flood Safety Project, which is located approximately 120 miles southeast of Sacramento in the proximity of Merced, California. NRCS is requesting comments to identify significant issues and alternatives to be addressed in the EA from all interested individuals, Tribes, and Federal, State and local Agencies and jurisdictions. Dates: We will consider comments that we receive within 30 days after date of publication of this notice in the Merced Sun Star newspaper, and on the Merced County Public Works Department website. Comments received after 30 days will be considered to the extent possible. Publication Date: 06/28/2023. 

8 - Public Notice Announcing Scoping Meeting Tulelake Irrigation District Infrastructure Improvements

• The United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) in California, with assistance from Farmers Conservation Alliance and in cooperation with the Tulelake Irrigation District as the project sponsor, is considering improvements to aging irrigation, drainage, conveyance, and control infrastructure utilized or operated by Tulelake Irrigation District to manage water. Improvements under consideration may be partially funded through the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act of 1954 (PL 83-566) and will address improving Agricultural Water Management by improving water management operations, increasing energy efficiency on District infrastructure, and conserving water along District infrastructure. 
  
  The proposed project is in Modoc and Siskiyou counties, California and Klamath County, Oregon. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Council on Environmental Quality’s regulations at 40 CFR Parts 1500-1508 require an evaluation of potential environmental impacts associated with federal projects and actions with input from the public. You are invited to attend a public scoping open house where your input is requested. The range of resource issues and conceptual alternatives addressing system improvements to Tulelake Irrigation District will be presented and discussed.

  Public Scoping Open House, Date: February 8, 2023, Time: 1:00 P.M. Location: UC Davis Intermountain Research and Extension Center (2816 Havlina Rd., Tulelake, CA 96134)f. The meeting will be recorded and posted to https://tulelakewatershedplan.com afterward. The meeting location is accessible to persons with disabilities. A request for an interpreter for the hearing impaired or for other accommodations for persons with disabilities should be made at least 48 hours before the meeting to Aliza McHugh, (541) 716-6085 or aliza.mchugh@fcasolutions.org. 

  Comments may be submitted during the public scoping period starting January 24, 2023 and ending on March 8, 2023. Comments may be emailed to tulelakewatershed@gmail.com, submitted online at https://tulelakewatershedplan.com, voicemail at Farmers Conservation Alliance’s office number (541) 716-6085 or mailed to: Farmers Conservation Alliance, Tulelake Watershed Plan, 102 State Street, Hood River, OR 97031. Additional information is available online at https://tulelakewatershedplan.com.

9 - Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the McGriff Lakes-Sutter Basin Watershed Flood Control and Flood Safety Project Sutter County, California

• The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) California State Office announces its intent to prepare an EIS for the McGriff Lakes—Sutter Basin Watershed Flood Control and Flood Safety Project, which is located approximately 30 miles northwest of Sacramento in the proximity of Knights Landing, California. NRCS is requesting comments to identify significant issues and alternatives to be addressed in the EIS from all interested individuals, Tribes, and Federal, State and local Agencies and jurisdictions. Dates: We will consider comments that we receive within 30 days after date of publication of this notice in the Federal Register. Comments received after 30 days will be considered to the extent possible. Publication Date: 12/14/2022. Listing on the Federal Register.

10 - Request for Permission to Alter a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Project Under Section 408

• Merced County Black Rascal Creek Basin Detention Basin (19643) Public Notice Comment Period: Begins: December 6, 2022, Ends: January 4, 2023.
  In compliance with U.S.C, Title 33, Chapter 9, Subchapter 1, Section 408, Merced County (requester) has requested permission through the Central Valley Flood Protection Board (CVFPB; non-federal sponsor of the federally authorized project) from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to alter the Merced County Stream Group, an existing federal flood risk management project, authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1917.
  John Schoonover  |  Jacobs  |  Manager of Projects 
  (530) 229-3305 or (530) 921-0742, John.Schoonover@jacobs.com

11 - Nov. 18, 2022 - Easement Boundary Modification, Ochoa Property Conservation Easement Yolo County for a Habitat Improvement Project

12 - July 7, 2022 - Public Comments Meeting for the Draft Environmental Assessment for the Salton Sea Management Program 10-Year Plan   

• The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has prepared the Draft Environmental Assessment to analyze and disclose the effects of implementing the Salton Sea Management Program. Stakeholders are invited to provide official comments that will help shape which projects are implemented, what community amenities are included, how potential environmental effects are addressed, and proposed alternatives. Join Zoom for the Public comments meeting for the Draft Environmental Assessment for the Salton Sea Management Program 10-Year Plan. Start: Thu 7 Jul 2022, 1:00 PM End: Thu 7 Jul 2022, 3:00 PM

13 - July 2, 2020 – Tulare County Public Scoping Meeting, Lower Deer Creek Watershed Plan

• Lower Deer Creek Public Meeting Announcement
  Explanation: Thursday, July 16, 2020 - Pixley Irrigation District to host public meeting regarding the watershed plan, environmental assessment and Initial Study for the Lower Deer Creek Watershed.  Opportunity to participate in-person as well as a livestream online via Microsoft Zoom.

14 - Oct. 4, 2018 - Kings County Easement Boundary Modification, Nederend Property Wetland Reserve Program (WRP)

15 - Feb. 24, 2017 - San Joaquin County Easement Boundary Modification, Empire Island Farming Company, LLC

 
Updated: 07/23/2026