Marmaton Watershed Public Meeting Date Set

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Kansas State Office, announces its intention to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) to evaluate the impacts of resource protection measures that would be employed under potential alternatives within a watershed plan in the Marmaton Watershed (located in Allen County, Bourbon County and Crawford County, all in Kansas).  A plan would be developed to reduce risks to life and property caused by frequent flooding of communities and agricultural lands, improve water quality, and address watershed protection needs.  The EIS will analyze the potential environmental and socioeconomic impacts of alternatives in a watershed plan, as identified in the watershed planning National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process, including any structural and non-structural measures that would address resource concerns in the Marmaton Watershed.

The public and any agencies with interest are invited to participate at a meeting to be held at the Uniontown Community Center, Uniontown, Kansas.  This meeting will be Thursday, November 4, 2004, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.  The purpose of this notice is to request participation and invite comments from all those individuals and organizations interested in the development of the EIS.

Under a watershed plan, the NRCS would provide financial and technical assistance to sponsoring local organizations, including the Allen County Conservation District, the Bourbon County Conservation District, the Crawford County Conservation District, and the Marmaton Watershed District, for installation of structural and/or non-structural measures to prevent flooding, improve water quality, and protect the watershed throughout the described area.  The EIS analysis will incorporate mitigation measures the NRCS would use to minimize, to the greatest extent practicable, any potential adverse environmental or socioeconomic impacts.  Such measures are authorized under the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act of 1954, Public Law 83-566 (P.L.-566).

For more information, please contact, Dean Krehbiel, Resource Conservationist, NRCS, Salina, Kansas, at 785-823-4551.

Additional information on the Marmaton Watershed

The following document requires Acrobat Reader.

Marmaton Watershed Map (PDF; 278 KB) (Text version)