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Osceola Council backs Clarke County reservoir Draft EIS, supports proposed Site 4B
Summary
The Osceola City Council unanimously approved a joint resolution with the Osceola Water Works Board expressing formal support for the NRCS Draft Watershed Plan–Environmental Impact Statement and its preferred alternative to construct a new reservoir at Site 4B to secure long-term regional water supply.
At its Dec. 16 meeting, the Osceola City Council adopted a joint resolution with the Osceola Water Works Board formally supporting the NRCS Draft Watershed Plan–Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Clarke County Water Supply Project and the preferred alternative to construct a new reservoir at Site 4B.
The resolution (listed in the meeting record as Resolution 2025-49) notes that Osceola relies on West Lake as the community’s sole surface-water supply, that the community has faced multiple periods of drought and degraded lake levels, and that current and projected needs for municipal, agricultural and industrial uses indicate an insufficient existing supply. The Draft EIS, prepared by the Natural Resources Conservation Service in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Clarke County Reservoir Commission, identifies Site 4B in the Upper West Creek Watershed as the preferred alternative and assesses environmental and social impacts, mitigation measures and associated infrastructure needs.
The resolution says the preferred alternative would provide a sustainable long-term raw water supply for Osceola, SIRWA, rural communities and agricultural users; improve public health and safety by ensuring water availability for domestic use and fire protection; and promote regional economic stability and resilience against drought. The council authorized city and water works officials to communicate this joint support to NRCS, state and federal agencies, the Clarke County Reservoir Commission and other entities during the public review and comment process.
The council approved the resolution by a roll-call vote recorded in the meeting minutes; the motion to approve was made by George Fotiadis and seconded by Thomas Bahls, and all members voted aye. The resolution text in the record lists conservation, mitigation and stewardship measures as part of the preferred alternative.
Next steps identified in the resolution include participation in the public review and comment process for the Draft EIS; the council did not set any additional local action deadlines at the meeting.
