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OVERVIEW

OVERVIEW. The “New” Emergency Watershed Protection Program. EWP Program Description. EWP Program Overview When EWP is activated Presidential Declaration State Conservationist Declaration Secretary Drought Declaration. Why are we all gathered?.

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OVERVIEW

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  1. OVERVIEW The “New” Emergency Watershed Protection Program

  2. EWP Program Description • EWP Program Overview • When EWP is activated • Presidential Declaration • State Conservationist Declaration • Secretary Drought Declaration

  3. Why are we all gathered? • Make the program work more effectively and efficiently and effectively • Help each other • Help our clients restore natural resources to pre-event conditions • Protect life and property

  4. Eligible Impairments • Floods

  5. Eligible Impairments • Fires

  6. Eligible Impairments • Hurricanes • Tornadoes • Typhoons

  7. Eligible Impairments Other Impairments • Earthquakes • Volcanic Activity • Drought • Ice Storms

  8. Eligible Sponsors • Local Units or Subdivisions of State Government • State Government • Other Government Entities • Indian Tribes and Tribal Organizations

  9. EWP Funding - Sponsor • Ability to provide Local Share of Construction Costs • Responsible for Operation & Maintenance • Ability to Obtain Land Rights • Ability to Acquire Permits

  10. History • Began in 1970’s • Have spent $1.6 billion • 1993 Midwest Floods to isolated occurrences in Vermont • Have learned to deal with numerous natural disasters • What’s our name? “Mr. & Ms. Potato Head”

  11. EWP Events Funded

  12. EWP Funding - Federal • Typically Funded via Supplemental Appropriations

  13. Authority • Statute • Authorized in 1950 • Drought added in 1978 • Floodplain Easements added in 1996

  14. Eligibility Criteria • Reduce Threat to Life and Property • Economically, Environmentally, and Socially Defensible, and Technically Sound • Alleviate a Sudden Watershed Impairment

  15. Eligible Measures • Debris Removal

  16. Eligible Measures • Streambank Stabilization

  17. Eligible Measures • Critical Area Treatment

  18. Eligible Measures • Levee Repair

  19. Eligible Measures • PL 78-534 & 83-566 Structure Repair

  20. Solutions • Debris Removal

  21. Solutions • Bioengineering

  22. Solutions • Floodplain Easement

  23. Oversight and Evaluation • Findings highlighted three key points • Ensure accurate eligibility determinations • Reduce overuse of exigent classification • Reduce/eliminate incidence of ineligible road repair work

  24. Oversight and Evaluation (con’t) • What have we done? • Kansas City Workshop—1997 • Regional Workshops—2000 • Revised-- • Rule • Manual • PEIS • “New” EWP Program

  25. IneligibleMeasures • Restore Agricultural Productivity to Farmland

  26. IneligibleMeasures • Replacement of Infrastructure

  27. IneligibleMeasures • Flood Fighting/Rescue

  28. IneligibleMeasures • Correcting Pre-existing Problems

  29. “Challenges for the Future” • Five Key Areas • Disaster Declarations • Eligibility of Sites • Documentation of Findings • Environmental Justice • Sense of Urgency

  30. 1. Disaster Declarations • Presidentially Declared • State Conservationist Declared -Establish Criteria -Be Logical and Use Defensible Common Sense -Not Every Rainstorm is an Event

  31. 2. Eligibility of Sites • More opportunities with the expanded program • Number of eligibility challenges will increase • Follow the logical process in determining eligibility

  32. 3. Documentation • This is the “Public Record” -Must demonstrate we meet requirements of various laws -Quality documentation squashes criticism

  33. 4. Environmental Justice • Making sure under represented groups are aware of and can participate in the program • Limited resource communities • Individuals and groups • Have a plan for ensuring compliance

  34. 5. Urgency • Must develop a sense of urgency • How long is something an emergency? • Extensions will not be routinely granted • Provide your basis • Sponsors must understand “urgency” • Funds will be withdrawn from account

  35. What Does This All Mean? • Beginning of the “New” EWP Program • Participatory Process with Your Involvement • Work In Progress • New Reg—Talk to us, to find a way • Takes Time to Perform Quality Work

  36. A Word of Caution……. • Eligible Work vs. $$$ “needed” • Consistent numbers • Estimates of your “best professional judgment” • The same song book

  37. Questions/Discussion

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