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LAS VEGAS – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Las Vegas Field Office is planning a restoration project for a portion of the Muddy River floodplain, approximately five miles northwest of the town of Moapa and is seeking feedback. The project includes removing an old earthen levee that has degraded habitat for rare and protected species and the construction of a new berm further from the stream to improve flood protection for the adjacent and downstream communities. The scoping period opens today and will close March 27, 2024. During this comment period, the BLM will gather information and identify public concerns. This feedback will be incorporated in the Draft Environmental Assessment which is anticipated in the summer of 2024.

“We look forward to the public’s valuable feedback to help develop the Muddy River Floodplain Restoration Project and Environmental Assessment,” said BLM Las Vegas Field Office Manager Bruce Sillitoe.  “The most helpful comments at this time will be those that provide information, data or analysis that has not yet been considered or that provide a different way of meeting the project need.”

Two meetings are planned as part of the scoping period:

• March 13, 6 to 8 p.m. - in-person meeting at Moapa Community Center (Marley P. Robinson Justice Court & Community Center, 1340 East Hwy. 168, Moapa)
  • Format:
    • 6 to 6:30 p.m. - open house with specialists available to answer questions; 6:30 to 7 p.m.  – presentation; 7 to 8 p.m. - public comment
    • Individuals who need special assistance, such as sign language interpretation and other reasonable accommodations, should contact the BLM at BLM_NV_SNDO_NEPA_Comments@blm.gov.
• March 19, 6 to 8 p.m. - virtual meeting – (preregister at https://www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_0pURj-CRTuerQEKQK9cJrw#/registration
  • Format:
    • 6 p.m. – presentation; followed by a question-and-answer portion and finally a comment period.  The meeting will be recorded and posted on BLM Nevada’s YouTube channel.

The BLM is working with experts from local, state and federal agencies to study the effects of the levee relocation on the rare and unique wildlife that inhabit the stream and floodplain. Those studies also inform how placement of a new, smaller levee located further from the stream could improve flood protection for human communities.

A map of the project area can be found at https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2031056/510.

Comments submitted by March 27, 2024, will be most helpful in development of the Draft Environmental Assessment.  All comments received will be considered and evaluated for preparation of this document.

Comments can be submitted in the following ways:

• Email: BLM_NV_SNDO_NEPA_Comments@blm.gov
• Online at: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2031056/510
• Mail to BLM Las Vegas Field Office, Attn: JJ Smith, Project Manager, 4701 N. Torrey Pines Drive, Las Vegas, Nevada 89130.

-BLM-