Conconully Safety of Dams Modification Project Draft Environmental Assessment

Primary Resources and Issues

 

Photo credit: Bureau of Reclamation

Primary Resources and Issues

In the draft EA, Reclamation evaluated the potential impacts of the project on the natural and human environment. Major resources and issues of concern include, but are not limited to:

Vegetation

  • Would the alternatives result in the loss, degradation, or modification of vegetation communities?

  • What is the risk of introducing, establishing, or spreading noxious weeds and nonnative invasive plant species?

  • How would the alternatives affect wetlands and other waters of the U.S.?

Fisheries and Other Aquatic Species

  • Would the alternatives result in take of Endangered Species Act-listed fish species or adverse modification of critical habitat?

  • Would the alternatives result in the injury, mortality, or displacement of fish that results in population effects or that occurs during a critical or sensitive period?

  • Would the alternatives result in permanent loss, degradation, or modification of aquatic habitat or essential fish habitats?

Cultural Resources

  • What is the risk of adverse effects to historic properties eligible for the National Register of Historic Places?

Recreation

  • How would the alternatives affect recreational opportunities, access, and experience?

Tribal Interests

  • What is the risk of adverse effects to sites, resources and values of interest to Tribes, including Traditional Cultural Places, sacred sites, and Indian Trust Assets?

Visual Resources

  • How would the alternatives comply with visual resource class objectives from key observation points?

Water Resources

  • How would the alternatives affect flows with respect to authorized deliveries and current agreements?

  • How would the alternatives affect water quality?

Noise

  • How would the alternatives affect noise levels?

Photo of recreation at Conconully Reservoir depicting a boat on the reservoir.

Recreation at Conconully Reservoir.

Photo credit: Bureau of Reclamation

Photo of the Salmon Creek wetlands and aquatic resources.

Salmon Creek wetlands and aquatic resources.

Photo credit: Bureau of Reclamation

Photo of a male and female steelhead trout.

Male and female steelhead trout.

Photo credit: National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration Fisheries

Photo of Okanogan Irrigation District irrigation ditch.

Okanogan Irrigation District irrigation ditch.

Photo credit: Bureau of Reclamation

 
Photo of the Conconully Dam historical 1908 outlet works.

Conconully Dam historical 1908 outlet works.

Photo credit: Bureau of Reclamation

 
 

The draft EA is available at https://www.usbr.gov/pn/programs/sod/conconully/nepa/nepa_docs/ConSOD_DraftEA_20250605_508.pdf.

Visit the Providing Comments page to see the various ways to submit comments. When providing comments, consider the following:

  • Identify any new information that could affect the analysis.

  • Point out any inaccuracies or discrepancies in how we represent the resources and uses of the program area.

  • Highlight any new impacts, alternatives, or potential mitigation measures.

Photo of Conconully Reservoir

Conconully Reservoir

Photo credit: Bureau of Reclamation

 
 

For more information on the Conconully Safety of Dams Modification project EA, please visit the project website or contact Jason Sutter, Bureau of Reclamation NEPA lead at bor-sha-consod@usbr.gov.

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