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Officials say Cove/Jackson Flat EIS on track; county seeking federal match for reservoir
Summary
Committee heard that the Jackson Flat reservoir is 90% full and that the EIS is under cooperating-agency review. County officials said legislative matching funds (~$9–10M) are secured and they are pursuing about $30M in federal NRCS funds; final EIS target is October with construction next year.
County officials updated the Resource Development Committee on the Cove/Jackson Flat reservoir project and related water-right issues.
Officials reported Jackson Flat is approximately 90% full and that the environmental impact statement (EIS) is currently with cooperating agencies for review. The next step is review by the NRCS national office; officials said they expect a public release of a draft EIS followed by comment and a final document, with a target of completing the process by October and beginning work the following year.
Officials said the County has legislative matching funds of approximately $9–10 million and is pursuing roughly $30 million in federal NRCS funding to complete the project. Two long-time NRCS consultants have been hired to review final plans and identify issues prior to submission to the national office. Officials also noted House Bill 157, under consideration in the legislature's resources committee, would make certain Lower Basin decisions non-appealable when filed by public entities, a change the speaker said could affect downstream processes.
The speakers described the project's longstanding timeline and emphasized the need to secure federal support before coming elections to ensure continuity of funding and approvals.
Next steps: continue consultant review, move the EIS through national review, and pursue federal funding.
