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Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP)

Natural Resources Conservation Service www.co.nrcs.usda.gov. Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP). Helping People Help the Land. Program Authority. Public Law 81–516, Section 216 , 33 U.S.C. 701b, as amended:.

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Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP)

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  1. Natural Resources Conservation Service www.co.nrcs.usda.gov Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP) Helping People Help the Land

  2. Program Authority Public Law 81–516, Section 216, 33 U.S.C. 701b, as amended: “The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to undertake emergency measures, including the purchase of floodplain easements, for runoff retardation and soil-erosion prevention, in cooperation with landowners and land users, as the Secretary deems necessary to safeguard lives and property from floods, drought, and the products of erosion on any watershed whenever fire, flood, or any other natural occurrence is causing or has caused a sudden impairment of the watershed.” 7 CFR 624 EWP Final Rule, published April 4, 2005

  3. EWP is a Recovery Program • Relieve hazards to life and property resulting from a natural disaster. • NRCS funds 75 percent of cost • Congressional appropriation • Local sponsor funds 25 percent • Cash • In-kind services

  4. EWP . . . • Is not for flood fighting/rescue • Does not restore lost values • Cannot restore to a “better” condition • Has “two in ten” limitation on same site • Cannot be used on federal lands

  5. EWP Applies When: • Natural disaster creates a “watershed; impairment” that threatens life and property • State/local government sponsor; and • Recovery measures are defensible • Technically and economically • Environmentally and socially

  6. Disaster Declarations • EWP is activated with a: • Presidential declaration • State Conservationist declaration • Secretary drought declaration

  7. Disaster Declarations State Conservationist declared disasters: • Uses logical and defensible criteria • Does not classify every rainstorm as an event

  8. “Natural Watershed Impairments” • Floods • Wildland Fires • Tornadoes • Landslides • Drought • Ice/Snow Storms • Earthquakes • Volcanic Activity • Hurricanes/Typhoons

  9. Eligibility Eligible Sponsors are: • State government agencies • Local units of government • Other government entities • Indian tribes and tribal organizations

  10. Eligibility A “sponsor” must be able to: • Provide the local share of costs • Carryout operation and maintenance • Obtain land rights • Acquire permits

  11. Eligible Measures • Debris Removal • Bank Stabilization • Levee Repair • Erosion and Sediment Control • Structure Removal • Floodplain Easement

  12. Ineligible Measures • Restore lost values • Ag land productivity • Reforestation • Replace infrastructure • Public or private roads • Flood fighting/rescue • Fix pre-existing problems

  13. EWP Time Frame • Electronic disaster report within five days • Sponsors requests help within 60 days • Damage Survey Report (DSR) within 60 days of request • Project complete within 220 days of funding (10 days for exigency)

  14. EWP Events Funded

  15. EWP Funds Allocated (pre-Katrina)

  16. 5 11 5 2 4 4 5 2 2 1 Colorado EWP Events Funded

  17. Pre-Disaster Planning Intra-agency coordination • Who do I call and when? • Who does what? • Program Manager, Contracting Officer • Area EWP Coordinator, Project Manager • Technical Specialists • Eng, Soils, Plants, Bio, CR, GIS, PAS, HR, FNM, • Where do I find them? • Program Manager, Contracting Officer • Area EWP Coordinator, Project Manager

  18. Pre-Disaster Planning Inter-agency coordination • Who are potential sponsors? • Local units of government, conservation districts, etc. • Who are our partners? • City and county resources, watershed associations, etc. • CD, FSA, CSFS, CDOW, CDOA, etc.

  19. Pre-Disaster Planning Inter-agency coordination (cont’d) • How do we handle Permit/NEPA issues? • USACOE, USFWS, CDOW, SHPO, etc. • How do we get the word out about EWP? • Local media, government and NGO, etc. • Under represented groups • Limited resource individuals

  20. The EWP Process

  21. NRCS Offices in Coloradohttp://www.co.nrcs.usda.gov

  22. Event Occurs Initial Assessment • Local Agencies • Potential Sponsors • Other responders Initial Contacts EWP Manager Response Team Mobilized Sponsor Request Within 60 days GoNo-Go Response Team Evaluation The EWP Process

  23. Prepare DSR within 60 days of request GoNo-Go STOP NRCS Requests Funds Wait The EWP Process

  24. Sponsor Willing & Able Technically Sound Solution STOP Economically Defensible Environmentally & Socially Defensible GO EWP Go / No Go Criteria

  25. Congress Provides Funds Sponsor obtains permits, land rights, and funds Develop Project Agreement Complete in 220 days Develop Plans and Specifications Contracting Construction Final Report The EWP Process

  26. Questions/Discussion

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