DENVER--The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is seeking public comment on a draft Environmental Assessment (DEA) for the State of Utah's proposed Red Creek Dam Reinforcement and Spillway Replacement Project. The Service's Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program (WSFR) is reviewing a grant by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resource (UDWR) to allow an easement to the Red Creek Irrigation Company (RCIC) for the work. A portion of the Red Creek Reservoir and Dam is part of the Tabby Mountain Wildlife Management Area managed by UDWR and acquired in part with WSFR grant funds. Public comments will be accepted for a 15-day period, which ends on September 12, 2014.

Red Creek Dam suffers from leakage issues near the existing spillway, which is unstable. The Dam Safety Board, which is the regulatory agency for non-federal dams in the State of Utah, has characterized Red Creek Dam as a "High Hazard" dam based upon the potential threat to lives and property should the dam suffer a catastrophic failure due to a seismic event, extremely high precipitation, or other such event. The dam has been formally condemned and the reservoir level is required to be maintained at a level below the spillway until such time as repairs can be made to the spillway to stop the seepage and to stabilize the dam against seismic disturbance.

UDWR proposes an easement to RCIC to allow RCIC and the Utah Division of Water Resources to rebuild part of the Red Creek Dam, to include:

- Relocation of the spillway to the east end of the dam.

- Construction of a soil-bentonite cutoff wall to decrease seepage through the porous gravelly formations in the west abutment.

- Construction of a drainage collection system to address leaking areas in the dam near the old spillway location.

- Construction of an earthen berm at the downstream toe at foot of the dam to improve the stability of the dam to meet seismic standards.

- Raising the crest of the dam to address the loss of volume due to sedimentation and settlement by placing fill on the downstream face of the dam.

- Realignment of a county road to curve around the new spillway.

- Enhancement of the soils in the upstream face of the dam and in the foundation using in-situ soil-mixing technology (to be included in future phasing of the project dependent upon funding).

The proposed easement and subsequent improvements constitute a federal action subject to the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended. The Service is required to prepare a DEA to analyze the effects on the human environment and document the findings. The DEA will assist in determining if the proposed action is likely to result in significant impacts to the human environment. If it is determined that there are no significant adverse impacts, the Service will issue a Final EA and a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) and issue the grant amendment for an easement. If it is determined that significant impacts might occur, the Service would be required to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) prior to any action.

The Service agrees with the UDWR determination that there are no impacts on flood plains or wetlands. WSFR will complete "intra-service" consultation with the Service's Ecological Services Program regarding any effect on threatened, endangered or candidate species prior to grant amendment approval.

Greater sage-grouse, a candidate species under the ESA, has been documented west of the reservoir in the past, and the general area of the reservoir is classified as "habitat" within the Strawberry Sage-grouse Management Area, as established under Utah's Conservation Plan for Greater Sage-grouse (Plan). The DEA identifies that the project will occur in approximately the same location as the original dam and spillway and is six miles away from the nearest known lek. Also, UDWR will implement appropriate management and mitigation protocols found within the Plan should additional Greater Sage-grouse habitat be impacted by activities associated with project implementation,

Red Creek is a tributary to the Strawberry River, which in turn flows to the Duchesne River, then to the Green River, and eventually to the Colorado River. Considering the potential for water depletion in the Upper Colorado River Drainage due to the project, the project has the potential to impact the endangered bonytail chub, Colorado pikeminnow, humpback chub, and razorback sucker. UDWR has stated that water usage during construction would not exceed the water rights currently owned by the RCIC in the reservoir and that Best Management Practices would be implemented during construction to prevent sediment from entering Red Creek.

The Red Creek Dam has been determined eligible for the National Register of Historic Places and there is concurrence that the project is an undertaking that will have an adverse effect on the Red Creek Dam. To comply with the National Historic Preservation Act process, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was entered into between the Service, UDWR, and the Utah State Historic Preservation Officer to resolve the adverse effect and determine the mitigation measures to be implemented. The MOA, dated July 11, 2014 is in the DEA as Appendix E.

Copies of the DEA are available online by clicking on the title of the document at http://mountain-prairie.fws.gov/federalassistance. Those without internet access may request copies by calling the Services' Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program at

303-236-4430. Comments should be sent to: Chief, Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 134 Union Boulevard, Lakewood, CO 80228.

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals, and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/. Connect with our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/USFWSMountainPrairie, follow our tweets at http://twitter.com/USFWSMtnPrairie, watch our YouTube Channel at http://www.youtube.com/usfws and download photos from our Flickr page at http://www.flickr.com/photos/usfwsmtnprairie/


Contacts: Anna Schmidt, 303-236-4375 David McGillivary, 303-236-4411