SALT LAKE CITY, June 9, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) announce the renewal of a critical partnership focused on infrastructure projects and natural resources planning.
 
The partnership renewal continues joint efforts to combat ongoing threats to our natural resources and promotes inter-agency strategic planning — coordinating mission-driven assistance that best serves local resource concerns and communities. Renewing the partnership solidifies a legacy of watershed conservation.

“Partnering with other federal agencies like NRCS is extremely important to the USACE Civil Works program,” said Al Lee, USACE Director of Civil Works. “Through effective partnerships, we can combine resources and expertise to support all communities — to include rural and disadvantaged communities — across the country. It’s just a smart way to get things done for the Nation.”

“This partnership works extremely well for critical infrastructure projects that benefit local communities,” adds NRCS Chief Terry Cosby. “By strengthening collaboration and communication between our two agencies, we will be better positioned to deliver quality and timely solutions to address major water resource concerns in watersheds across the landscape. The scope of our partnership allows both agencies to have a much broader reach and enable more projects to be completed with the best expertise in the Nation.”   
 
The partnership is especially important now as both agencies work to implement Bipartisan Infrastructure Law-funded projects to address watershed infrastructure needs.

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he NRCS and USACE have formed collaborative agreements since 1986, revising as needed to reflect the most pressing shared priorities. While USACE is widely known for constructing monumental feats of engineering (civil and military), it also takes care of waterways and is often among the first to respond in the event of a natural disaster. The core mission of NRCS is conservation, providing technical and financial assistance to protect and improve natural resources.

USACE traces its history to 1775 when the Continental Congress appointed the first Chief of Engineers and has adapted over time to include worldwide support to our military, disaster relief, humanitarian missions, modernizing waterways, reducing risks from flood and storm damage, and ecosystem restoration and protection.
 
NRCS, originally called the Soil Conservation Service, was created in 1935 as a direct response to the Dust Bowl. NRCS helps private landowners improve the health of their operations while protecting natural resources for the future. NRCS also supports water infrastructure projects like those offered through its watershed programs. Learn more about NRCS watershed programs.

To renew the partnership, the two agencies signed a memorandum of understanding April 5, 2022. Working together enables both agencies to improve the management and protection of natural resources and improve public services and recreational opportunities throughout the United States and its territories.

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The USACE mission is to deliver vital engineering solutions for the toughest challenges, in collaboration with its partners, to secure the Nation, energize the economy and reduce disaster risk.

The USACE Civil Works program works with other federal agencies and with state, Tribal, and local agencies and others to develop, manage, restore, and protect water resources primarily through the construction, operation and maintenance, and study of water-related infrastructure projects, as well as by regulating development in waters of the United States. USACE also works with other federal agencies to help communities respond to, and recover from, floods and other natural disasters; is the Nation’s leading producer of hydropower; and is one of the leading federal providers of outdoor recreation opportunities.  
Since 1948, NRCS’ watershed programs have designed and built 11,850 dams, constructed water storage structures and flood management systems, stabilized streambanks, relocated residences, redirected stream flows, re-established wildlife habitat and more to save lives and protect watersheds.