Biden-Harris Administration Invests in Watershed Infrastructure in Colorado to Help Communities Recover from Natural Disasters

DENVER, CO, May 30, 2023 - The Biden-Harris Administration recently announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is making investments, including from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, in watershed infrastructure to help communities recover from and prepare for natural disasters.  

USDA is investing $265 million through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in 28 Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) infrastructure projects in 16 states impacted by extreme weather events. This includes an EWP project in Colorado. Treatment for these impacted areas include streambank stabilization, flood prevention and watershed restoration projects. This effort is part of the $925 million investment through the 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act.   

NRCS is also announcing the availability of up to $135 million in financial assistance through EWP buyouts for property within Limited Resource Areas (LRAs) that have been impacted by constant flooding. These buyouts are part of the broader Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) investment in watershed infrastructure and will assist communities with climate resiliency.  

These investments reflect the goals of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, which is growing the American economy from the bottom up and middle-out – from rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure to driving over $470 billion in private sector manufacturing and clean energy investments in the United States, to creating good paying jobs and building a clean-energy economy that will combat climate change and make our communities more resilient.

EWP Projects in State

EWP offers vital recovery options for local communities to help reduce hazards to life and property caused by floodwaters, droughts, wildfires, earthquakes, windstorms and other natural disasters. The EWP project funded Colorado for fiscal year 2023 includes: 

• Marshall Fire - Damages sustained in Boulder County by the Marshall Fire on December 30, 2021, requires EWP funds to protect infrastructure to safeguard lives and property from an imminent hazard in the event of infrastructure failure. The Marshall Fire has been allocated $390k of financial and technical assistance based on cost estimates of proposed practices.

A full list of fiscal year 2023 projects is available here. EWP projects are funded in response to a local community requesting assistance following a natural disaster.  

EWP Buyout Option in Limited Resource Areas 

In addition to the EWP projects announced, NRCS is highlighting the availability of funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for EWP buyouts in Limited Resource Areas, which can help communities impacted by constant flooding or severe erosion due to a natural disaster.  

With these buyouts, property rights are held locally with local sponsors, which is different from USDA’s EWP floodplain easement option.  

Through these easements, a local sponsor restores the land to its natural condition, preserves wildlife habitat and provides flood storage for a community. Eligible local sponsors include cities, counties, towns, conservation districts or any federally recognized Native American tribe or tribal organization in a Limited Resource Area.  

Compensation is based on land and easement value as determined by an appraisal or market analysis. These buyouts may be purchased on public or private lands, including residential properties damaged by flooding at least once during the previous year, or twice within the previous 10 years. EWP covers 90% of project costs in areas considered Limited Resource Areas.  

How Communities Can Get Help 

NRCS encourages communities to engage with their local project sponsors, participate in developing a sound conservation plan that serves to protect and preserve local watersheds and connect with their local NRCS office to learn more about Watershed Program assistance. 

NRCS will continue to review additional requests and compile another round of watershed funding as funds are available. Fact sheets, trainings and other resources are available on the NRCS website.   

More Information    

For more information, please contact Todd D. Boldt, Assistant State Conservationist-Water Resources at todd.boldt@usda.gov.

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit usda.gov.   

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