NRCS California Awards Federal Funding for Emergency Levee Repairs
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in California has awarded $1.5 million in federal funding to Reclamation District 800 to repair sections of levees in and around Wilton, California.
DAVIS, Calif., February 23, 2023 – The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in California has awarded $1.5 million in federal funding to Reclamation District 800 to repair sections of levees in and around Wilton, California. The levees were damaged during this winter’s historical rainfall in Northern California.
"We are very grateful for NRCS's collaboration and support,” said Brain Takemori, president of RD800. “While there is still extensive work to be done in recovering from the recent storm event, this is an important first step in protecting and rehabilitating the Cosumnes River flood system."
The funding is made available through the NRCS Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP). This is not the first time that NRCS in California has assisted RD800 with emergency watershed repairs. In 2017, NRCS awarded $750,000 for similar levee repairs due to heavy rainfall. Those repairs were successful and held up during the recent storms.
“NRCS is committed to helping our partners stabilize and recover from emergency conditions, including from flooding and fires, and we are having conversations with government entities along California’s coastal counties to assist as needed,” said Carlos Suarez, NRCS California state conservationist.
RD800 covers the southern part of Sacramento County in California and maintains levees along a portion of the Cosumnes River. During January 2023, the Cosumnes River experienced high flows causing damage to the levees within RD800’s district. RD800 requested assistance from NRCS California to help repair specific sections of the levees.
EWP pays for 75 percent of the construction cost and requires a local sponsor, such as a district or a Tribe, to pay for 25 percent of the cost and obtain any needed permits or land rights. An agreement between NRCS and RD800 was signed on February 14, 2023, and obligated approximately $1.5 million in funds to help repair the levees.
For more information on EWP, please visit https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-initiatives/ewp-emergency-watershed-protection.
Since its inception in 1935, NRCS has worked in partnership with private landowners and a variety of local, state, and federal conservation partners to deliver conservation based on specific, local needs. Please visit www.ca.nrcs.usda.gov for more information about NRCS.
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