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Commission approves modification to PL-566 Cottonwood Creek watershed study to finish environmental review
Summary
Engineers told the commission the watershed study — covering about 24 projects to protect reservoirs and provide flood prevention — needs additional county-sponsored modification so NRCS can complete reviews and consider funding design and construction phases.
Commissioners approved a modification to professional services (change order 4-4-2025) for the PL-566 Cottonwood Creek Watershed Project after an update from the consultant team.
Jonathan Johansen of Johansen and Tuttle Engineering told the commission the effort began in 2019 and includes roughly 24 projects above Joels Valley Reservoir, two detention basins southwest of Orangeville that protect about half of Orangeville, and various erosion-control and sedimentation measures.
Johansen said the total package of the 24 projects is now estimated at about $18,000,000. He described a negotiation over cost-share for two large structures that account for roughly half of that total (about $9,000,000). With federal cost-share assumptions and recent classification of two structures as flood-prevention eligible, his updated rough accounting indicated approximately $12,700,000 could be funded by NRCS, leaving $5,800,000. Of that remaining amount, about 75% (roughly $4,400,000) would be covered by cost-share partners, leaving an estimated sponsor portion near $1,500,000; the consultant said the conservancy district plans to cover the sponsor portion if the program approvals hold.
Johansen said the study phase had exhausted the current county-funded budget and that the requested modification is to finish the draft plan/EA and get it through the multi-agency review needed for NRCS approval and potential funding of design and construction. He added that NRCS may not have the funding immediately but is likely to in the next federal fiscal year.
Commissioners asked clarifying questions about whether the $18 million total reflected inflation and program changes since 2019; Johansen said the figure is updated to current expectations and that the project scope has changed over time. Commissioners approved the modification and asked staff to submit the change to NRCS and continue coordinating with the conservancy district and other partners.
The modification authorizes additional study-phase work only; construction funding would be a later step contingent on NRCS and partner approvals.
