BILLINGS, Mont. (NMB) – The Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) has announced the opening of the 30-day public comment period on the Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Fresno Dam – Safety of Dams Modification Project.
A press release says that the draft EA analyzes the environmental effects of the Proposed Federal Action and is required for compliance with the National Environmental Polciy Act.
The BOR has identified dam failure risks at Fresno Dam that are above their public protection guidelines.
Final design of the proposed modification was initiated back in late 2019. This project includes a “state-of-the-practice embankment overlay with a vertical sand filter and new drainage system.”
The goal of the project is to reduce dam safety risks and maintain the Milk River Project.
The public comment period will end on September 2nd.
Fresno Dam was completed in 1939 and is operated and maintained by BOR. It supplies water to irrigation districts, individual irrigators, Fort Belknap, and municipalities.
The Environmental Assessment can be viewed at https://www.usbr.gov/gp/mtao/fresno.
Comments can be submitted electronically to BOR-sha-MTA-FEACOMMENTS@usbr.gov or by mail to:
Bureau of Reclamation Montana Area Office
PO Box 30137
Billings, MT 59107-0137
Questions regarding the EA can be directed to Jack Conner of the BOR’s Montana Area Office at 247-7300.
