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County approves letter backing White River Conservation District’s watershed planning and NEPA funding request
Summary
The Rio Blanco BOCC approved a letter of support for the White River Conservation District to pursue congressional directed spending for NEPA and watershed planning on three priority ditches; staff outlined potential NEPA costs and how Farmers Conservation Alliance could assist the districts.
Rio Blanco County commissioners voted March 24 to approve a letter supporting the White River Conservation District’s application for congressional directed spending (CDS) to fund watershed planning and NEPA work for three large irrigation ditches.
County staff described the projects: engineers have developed alternatives for the Miller Creek, Highland and Oakidge ditches; landowners have selected preferred designs; NEPA is the next step. County staff (Ree) told the board that NEPA costs could ‘‘potentially be upwards of $800,000’’ and that Farmers Conservation Alliance (FCA), a non-profit that assists with watershed projects, could help the districts apply for funds and manage subsequent NEPA work.
Why it matters: The affected ditches have significant seepage and washout risks that have historically prevented full irrigation seasons in some years. Staff said improvements could be multi-million-dollar efforts but that producing NEPA-ready, shovel-ready projects would help leverage federal and private funding for construction.
Board action and conditions: Commissioners approved the letter. Staff said the districts would act as fiscal agents and FCA could carry out application work if the county’s letter of support is provided within the next few days. A commissioner asked for more specifics on exact project segments and costs; staff committed to follow up with details.
Next steps: Staff will provide additional information on project scopes and return updates about application status and any grant timelines.
