NRCS Watershed Programs provide technical and financial assistance to address flood control, erosion, water quality, and infrastructure needs.
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) watershed programs aim to help communities, farmers, ranchers, and local governments manage, protect, and restore watersheds. By partnering with local government agencies, tribal organizations and other eligible sponsors, NRCS works to address watershed resource concerns and strengthen community resilience through dam design and construction, water storage structures, flood management systems, streambank stabilization, wildlife habitat re-establishment, and more.
Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Program
The Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention (WFPO) program provides technical and financial assistance to states, local governments and Tribal organizations to help plan and implement authorized watershed projects for the purpose of flood prevention, watershed protection, public recreation, fish and wildlife, agricultural water management, municipal and industrial water supply, and water quality management.
Watershed conservation projects are planned and carried out jointly by local, state, and federal agencies with the support of community landowners and citizens in the watershed. Communities identify resource problems to be addressed, practices to be installed, and carry out major portions of a watershed plan, such as obtaining easements, rights of ways, permits and local cost-share funding.
All Watershed Program projects must have a local sponsor that can act as the fiscal agent, provide project management and oversight throughout the different phases of construction, implementation, and project lifespan.
Explore an interactive map to find current project information.
Visit the national program page for more information.
Current WFPO Projects
Projects in Planning Phase
Below are NRCS Utah’s PL-566 watershed infrastructure projects in the planning phase. The planning phase looks at potential impacts from the project and may include an Environmental Analysis (EA) or Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) depending upon assessments and other conservation planning analyses.
- American Fork Supplemental Watershed
- Blue Creek – Howell Supplemental Watershed
- Cottonwood Creek Watershed – Joes Valley
- Glenwood Watershed Supplemental Plan No. 4
- Enoch City East Bench Watershed
- Hobble Creek Watershed
- Kanab Creek Watershed
- Lower Coal Creek Watershed
- Price River – Upper EIS
- Lower Price River Watershed Plan
- Lower San Pitch River Watershed
- Lower Sevier River Watershed
- North Fork Ogden River Watershed
- Richfield – West Sevier Watershed
- Santa Clara Watershed
- Saratoga Springs Watershed
- Skull Valley Watershed
- Spanish Fork Watershed
- Tri Valley Watershed
- Upper Sevier Watershed
- Upper Weber Basin Watershed Plan
- Woodruff Creek Watershed
- Lower Bear River Watershed
- Cove – East Fork Virgin River Watershed
- Gould Wash Flood Protection
- Logan River Watershed Project
- Mt. Pleasant Watershed
- Parowan Valley Watershed
- Wellsville Canyon Watershed
- Corn Creek Watershed and Flood Prevention Project
- Spring City Watershed
Projects in Design Phase
Below are NRCS Utah’s PL-566 watershed infrastructure projects in the design phase. During this phase, the projects are authorized for funding and project sponsors draft designs for construction.
Projects in Construction Phase
Below are NRCS Utah’s PL-566 watershed infrastructure projects in the construction phase. During construction, project sponsors and contractors break ground to complete work that fulfills the purpose and need of the project.
Preliminary Investigation Findings Report (PIFR)
Eligible project sponsors initiate a request for assistance thru the NRCS Utah State Office to develop a PIFR, which helps communities consider sustainable solutions to address watershed resource concerns.
The purpose of the Preliminary Investigation Findings Report (PIFR) is to provide reasonable assurance that a feasible plan can be developed that addresses resource concerns in a watershed under one or more Public Law 83-566 authorized purpose, and that there are no apparent insurmountable obstacles. The PIFR is the justification document for the State Conservationist (STC) to request Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations (WFPO) funding.
Upcoming Deadlines:
Due to funding constraints, NRCS Utah will not be accepting PIFR applications in 2026. Please check this page in early 2027 for updates.
Learn more about the PIFR process.
View current WFPO projects in Utah.
Updated: June 2026
Watershed Rehabilitation
The Watershed REHAB program provides assistance to local project sponsors to rehabilitate aging dams that are reaching the end of their design lives and/or build or augment existing water supplies based on current and future water supply demands.
These rehabilitation efforts, authorized by Public Law 83-566 and 78-534, address critical public health and safety concerns should a dam failure occur.
Current projects:
- Utaba Dam Rehabilitation Plan-EA (partially funded through WFPO)
Visit the national program page for more information.
Emergency Watershed Protection
The Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program is focused on reduction of hazards to life and property caused by sudden natural disasters and can involve technical and/or financial assistance. Threats that the EWP addresses are called watershed impairments. These include, but are not limited to debris-clogged waterways, unstable streambanks, severe erosion jeopardizing public infrastructure, wind-borne debris removal, and damaged upland sites stripped of protective vegetation by fire or drought.
Project funds address erosion and flooding related watershed impairments by supporting activities such as removing debris from stream channels, reshaping and protecting eroded banks, and reseeding damaged areas.
Learn more about the EWP program by visiting the national program page.
Ready to get started?
Contact your local service center to start your application.