VERNAL, UTAH - The Bureau of Reclamation will hold a public meeting in Vernal, Utah, on Sept. 26 to solicit comments regarding the environmental impacts of the Green River Block water exchange contract. This contract, between Reclamation and the State of Utah, would facilitate the development of the Green River Block portion of the state’s Ultimate Phase water right. The state would forbear the right to deplete water from Green River tributaries in exchange they would be entitled to an equal amount of water from Flaming Gorge Dam.
Releases from Flaming Gorge Dam could be altered to meet annual water demands under the exchange contract. However, operations of Flaming Gorge Dam would remain within the parameters analyzed in the 2005 Operations of Flaming Gorge Dam Final Environmental Impact Statement and established in the 2006 Record of Decision. The ROD can be found at https://www.usbr.gov/uc/envdocs/rod/fgFEIS/final-ROD-15feb06.pdf.
Reclamation has developed an environmental assessment that considers the possible impacts of the contract on the human and natural environment. Multiple resources were considered in the assessment, including the hydrology of the Green River, recreational opportunities, floodplains, endangered species, fish and wildlife habitats, among others. A draft version of the EA can be found at https://www.usbr.gov/uc/envdocs/index.html. (Internet Explorer may be best for viewing documents).
Stakeholder input is essential to the environmental review process - members of the public are invited and encouraged to provide comment. Comments can be submitted to greenriverblock@usbr.gov by Oct. 19 or in-person at a public meeting held on Sept. 26 from 6-8 p.m. at the Vernal City Hall located at 374 E. Main St., Vernal, Utah 84078.
Source: Bureau of Reclamation
