Watershed and Flood Prevention Plan
Box Butte Creek Watershed Plan
Introduction
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Upper Niobrara White Natural Resources District (UNWNRD) are seeking comments on the Draft Watershed Plan (and associated environmental assessment document) for the Box Butte Creek Watershed.
The UNWNRD has been managing groundwater levels in the Box Butte Creek watershed for many years. In addition, flooding in the Box Butte Watershed has been a growing issue in recent years. The Draft Watershed Plan identifies and evaluates structural and non-structural alternatives to provide groundwater recharge and flood damage reduction. Based on the environmental and economic evaluation of alternatives, a preferred alternative is presented.
Project Objective
Develop a plan to address:
- Groundwater declines
- Flooding and related flood damages
Additional Considerations and Opportunities
- Fish and wildlife habitat enhancements
- Stream stabilization
- Water quality improvements
- Erosion and sediment control
Note: This project is being evaluated in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The NEPA process includes a written record of the analysis of potential impacts on the environment resulting from the proposed project. Impacts on both the natural and socioeconomic environment are evaluated.
Natural Resources Conservation Service Program and Process
Natural Resources Conservation Service Watershed Program Mission
The mission of the NRCS is to further watershed conservation, protection, and rehabilitation programs through project cooperation of federal and local governments across the nation.
Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations
The purpose of Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations (WFPO) is to provide state, local, and American Indian tribal governments vital options to protect watersheds and vital infrastructure, benefiting communities in every state and territory in the nation.
Highlights
- NRCS cooperates with local sponsors (public sponsorship)
- NRCS provides technical, financial, and credit assistance for planning, design, and construction
- Sponsors carry out, operate, and maintain projects
- Up to 100% funding for engineering and construction (pending designated project purpose)
Watershed Plan Development Process
The following figures show the planning and development process for a Watershed Plan.
NEPA, Watershed, and NRCS Planning Process
Project Purpose and Need
Project goal: Promote groundwater recharge and provide flood damage relief.
Significant declines in groundwater levels over the past 25 years have resulted in:
- Lost agricultural production
- Limits on groundwater uses
- Well modifications
- Base stream flow reduction (impacting fish and wildlife, as well as surface water quality)
Groundwater level Changes in the Project Study Area
Past major flooding events in the last 10 years (including 2018 and 2019) have resulted in:
- Crop damage
- Loss of land productivity
- Stream bank and topsoil erosion
- Private property damage
- County road damage
- Water quality degradation
Alternatives Evaluated in the Draft Watershed Plan
- Alternative 1: No-Action
- This alternative is the most likely course of action if the sponsor does not receive federal funding for the project.
- Alternative 2: Dam Diversion to Off-Channel Storage
- This alternative would involve constructing a dam diversion structure to off-channel storage that would promote ponding, infiltration, and passive groundwater recharge.
- Based on locations of groundwater declines, suitable geology that would support recharge, and adequate surface water, eight locations for dam diversion to off-channel storage sites were evaluated.
- This alternative would provide opportunities for groundwater recharge to occur when surface water flows allow.
Alternative 2: Dam Diversion to Off-Channel Storage
- Alternative 3: Channel/Infrastructure Improvements
- This alternative was evaluated for nine locations throughout the project area where routine county road damage was identified by the Box Butte County Highway Department.
- Infrastructure improvements for each site would consist of raising the roadway by a maximum of two feet (within County right-of-way) and increasing the flow capacity by adding and/or enlarging culverts under the roadway.
- This alternative would reduce roadway flooding during smaller, more frequent runoff events.
Alternative 3: Channel/Infrastructure Improvements
Alternative Evaluation
All three alternatives were evaluated for a range of environmental impacts. An economic analysis was also performed. The following is a summary of this analysis:
Table 1: Alternatives Evaluation Summary
Please see Section 5 of the Draft Watershed Plan, Environmental Consequences, for more details.
Preferred Alternative
Based on the average annual costs and benefits, three of the eight dam diversion to off-channel storage locations and three of the nine channel/infrastructure improvement sites are economically justified.
Table 3: Channel/Infrastructure Improvement Site Summary
Please see Section 6 of the Draft Watershed Plan, Preferred Alternative, for more details.
Commenting on the Draft Watershed Plan
Please provide your comments using the comment form below or submit them to the following contact:
Pat O’Brien, General Manager
Upper Niobrara White Natural Resources District
430 East Second Street
Chadron, NE 69337
obrien@unwnrd.org
308-432-6190
Next Steps
- Comments will be received through Monday, December 22, 2025.
- The NRCS and UNWRD will review and address comments accordingly and finalize the Watershed Plan.
- The final Watershed Plan will be made available on the Nebraska NRCS website or UNWRD website.
Once the Watershed Plan is final, the UNWRD and NRCS will coordinate on seeking funding for the design of the preferred alternative.