FAQS

 

  • The primary purpose of the proposed Clear Branch Dam Remedial Project (Remedial Project) is to continue to provide a clean, dependable water supply for the Upper Hood River valley in Hood River County, Oregon, as authorized in the 1962 Middle Fork Hood River Watershed Work Plan. An assessment of Clear Branch Dam was performed by Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Project Sponsor in 2015 to evaluate its condition. Results of the assessment indicated that remediation of Clear Branch Dam is needed to extend its service life and enable it to continue to meet the purpose of providing a clean, dependable water supply and also to ensure it meets current dam safety and environmental compliance standards for NRCS, the Forest Service, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), and other regulatory agencies. More specifically, NRCS concluded that action to remediate the dam is necessary because of a design defect as it was originally approved in the 1962 Work Plan and that various structural modifications are therefore required to extend its service life another 75 years and to allow it to continue to meet the primary purpose for its construction while improving water quality and fish habitat conditions.

  • An initial public scoping meeting to present the Remedial Project to the public and solicit feedback to assist in developing the scope of the Draft Watershed Plan-Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was held on October 4th, 2022, in Parkdale, Oregon. NRCS and the Forest Service decided to issue a revised Notice of Intent (NOI) to provide updates to the Remedial Project timeline, preliminary descriptions of the No Action alternatives, Proposed Action and other alternatives, and the broad summary of their expected impacts.  In light of these updates, and in an effort to keep the public apprised and enhance its ability to participate in the ongoing Revised Work Plan-EIS process, the action agencies further decided to schedule another public scoping meeting for the purpose of summarizing and explaining this new information.  Toward these same ends, the revised NOI will provide an additional 30-day Scoping period for Tribes, agencies, other stakeholders, and the general public to comment on the updated information.

  • In 2016, NRCS, the Forest Service, and the Middle Fork Irrigation District (MFID, Project Sponsor) initiated scoping for an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the rehabilitation of Clear Branch Dam. A public scoping meeting was conducted on August 15, 2016, in Parkdale, Oregon. Since scoping for the EA was completed in 2016, NRCS, the Forest Service, and Project Sponsor have completed additional investigations and studies to evaluate the condition of the dam. As a result of the new information obtained during the EA process, the remediation needed is more extensive than anticipated during scoping in 2016. Estimated federal funds required for the construction of the Proposed Action may exceed $25 million and the Proposed Action would therefore require congressional approval per the 2018 Agriculture Appropriations Act amended funding threshold and an EIS is required for projects requiring congressional approval.

  • The Draft Plan-EIS is expected to be issued in winter of 2025/2026, and the Final EIS is expected in fall 2026.  The action agencies expect to issue Records of Decision (RODs) approximately two months after the Final EIS, and the Forest Service would then issue  the final version of its ROD approximately 6-8 weeks thereafter, pending resolution of any objections that might be submitted to its original draft ROD as discussed below.   

  • Following completion of the Draft Plan-EIS, a 45-day comment period will commence. Following the completion of the Final EIS, a 30-day comment period will commence. Note that the -Forest Service, one of the two action agencies for the Remedial Project, holds a 45--90-day objection period between draft and final RODs that during which individuals or entities who have timely commented on the EIS may file objections within the scope of their comments.

  • There are three Principals with primary responsibility for preparation of the Watershed Plan-EIS.  These include the lead federal agency, NRCS; the cooperating action agency, the Forest Service (Mt. Hood National Forest); and the Project Sponsor, MFID.  The action agencies are ultimately responsible for the content of the  Plan-EIS and have decision-making authority for the Proposed Action.  In addition, the three Principals are working collaboratively with a group of individuals from various federal and state agencies with regulatory or consultative responsibilities related to the Remedial Project.

  • NRCS is proposing to fund the project with congressionally-approved appropriations pursuant to Pub. L. 83-566, the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act.

  • During the public comment periods, individuals or entities may provide comments via the project website, via U.S. mail, or via email to info@clearbranchdam.com.  Instructions for submitting comments during the public comment periods can be found here. Individuals may also provide additional scoping comments during the upcoming supplemental public scoping meeting.

  • Anticipated permits/authorizations are anticipated to include some or all of the following:

    • Clean Water Act Permits. Implementation of this project may require a permit and/or supporting certification under Sections 401, 402 and 404 of the Clean Water Act

    • Hood River County Permits. A permit may be needed and authorization regarding land use compatibility.

    •Oregon Department of State Lands Permits. Implementation of this project may require permits associated with working in waters of the State

    • Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries Permit. A permit may be required for areas lacking an existing permit

    • Consultation. Consultation will be completed with the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office, National Marine Fisheries Service, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

    Tribal/Agency Consultation is anticipated to include:

    • National Historic Preservation Act Section 106

    —   Tribal Consultation (Executive Order 13175)

    —   Oregon State Historic Preservation Officer

    • Endangered Species Action Section 7

    —   U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

    —   National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration- National Marine Fisheries Service