NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING AND OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT

Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Nebraska within the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has prepared a draft Watershed Plan titled "Turkey Creek Watershed Plan, Furnas and Gosper Counties, Nebraska" in partnership with the Lower Republican Natural Resources District. The watershed plan and associated environmental assessment analyze alternative approaches to NRCS involvement through the Public Law (PL)83-566 Small Watershed Program's authorized purpose of Agricultural Water Management.

The proposed action includes construction of an augmentation wellfield, a diversion dam, and a pump station. Groundwater pumped by the wellfield would be piped to Turkey Creek and allowed to flow downstream to a diversion dam. At the diversion dam, a pump station would pump water from the creek to the Cambridge Canal and make the water available to irrigators during years when there is limited irrigation water. Comments on the watershed plan will be accepted from March 17-April 16, 2026.

A public meeting will be held virtually on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, from 2:00pm-4:00pm, on Zoom. A meeting link and call in information is provided below. Staff from NRCS, Lower Republican NRD, and Olsson will be available to discuss the watershed plan and answer questions.

Public Meeting Details

Date: Tuesday, March 24, 2026

Time: 2:00pm-4:00pm.

Location: Virtual via Zoom

Join Online:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85047302857

Meeting ID: 850 4730 2857

Join by Phone:
(719) 359 4580
Meeting ID: 850 4730 2857#

Interested parties may view the watershed plan at https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/state-offices/nebraska/projects-ready-for-public-comment-and-review. To receive full consideration, comments on the watershed plan and environmental assessment must be submitted to [email protected] or received in writing at the address below by the end of the day on Thursday, April 16, 2026.

Melissa Baier,
Assistant State Conservationist-Water Resources and Easements

USDA/NRCS
1121 Lincoln Mall, Room 360
Lincoln, NE 68508

All comments received, including the names and addresses of those people who comment, will be part of the public record and will be released for public review as required and allowed by law. Comments, information, and analyses provided should be as specific as possible and should include an explanation of why the information is important to the analysis.