Reclamation Releases Final Environmental Documents for Cottonwood Creek Daylighting Project

Boise, Idaho — The Bureau of Reclamation issued the final Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Cottonwood Creek Daylighting Project in Boise, Idaho. The EA follows the WaterSMART grant awarded in 2017 to the Boise River Enhancement Network, who proposed to restore the natural function of the last 440 feet of Cottonwood Creek. Cottonwood Creek drains an 8,000-acre watershed in the Boise front, which enters the Boise River at Julia Davis Park.

New, instream habitat created by the proposed project would support additional spawning, rearing, and overwintering fish habitat, all of which are currently limited in the Boise River fishery. Completion of this project will create 0.35 acres of riparian and wetland habitat, providing new habitat for native wildlife and improving water quality through the capture, filter, and removal of pollutants.

The EA analyzed two actions: No Action Alternative and the Proposed Action, implementing the project as described above. A No Action Alternative was evaluated to provide an appropriate basis by which the other alternative can be compared. Based on the analysis, the Proposed Action was selected.

The final EA and FONSI were prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act and are available online at https://www.usbr.gov/pn/programs/ea/idaho/bren/index.html. For more information or to request a copy of the final EA and FONSI, contact Rochelle Ochoa, Natural Resource Specialist, Bureau of Reclamation, Snake River Area Office, 230 Collins Road, Boise, ID 83702 or by email at rochoa@usbr.gov.

For information about the WaterSMART program, go to https://www.usbr.gov/watersmart/cwmp/.