News Release Archive

Bureau of Reclamation Issues Draft Environmental Assessment for Proposed Victory Ranch River Restoration Project

Media Contact: Beverley Heffernan, (801) 379-1161, 11/05/2003 10:08
Don Merrill, dmerrill@uc.usbr.gov

For Release: November 05, 2003

Horizons Unlimited, L.C. (Horizons), owner of Victory Ranch in Utah's Wasatch and Summit counties, is proposing the rehabilitation of a 5 mile section of the Provo River and associated habitat, from the bridge on State Road 32 east of the Jordanelle Reservoir to 1000 East in Francis, Utah. Horizons owns or control most of the land along the river with the exception of two small areas known locally as Lemon's Grove and Trout River Ranch.

In the 1940's, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) obtained easements along the Provo River to flood certain land and to construct dikes to contain high flows that came from additional water added to the Provo River from trans-basin diversions of the upper Weber and Duchesne Rivers. Consequently, the proposed river restoration project cannot proceed without authorization by Reclamation.

Before such authorization can occur, Reclamation must prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Council on Environmental Quality's and Department of Interior's regulations implementing NEPA.

Earlier this year, Reclamation conducted public scoping in preparation of the development of this draft EA, and all scoping comments received were considered in preparing the draft EA.

The public is invited to submit comments on this draft EA until December 10, 2003. Requests for copies of the draft EA may be made to Beverley Heffernan, Chief, Environmental Group, in care of the Bureau of Reclamation, Provo Area Office, 302 East, 1860 South, Provo Utah, 84606. All comments received will be considered in preparing the final EA.

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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.