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Watershed Programs

Emergency Watershed Protection

OVERVIEW

The EWP Program offers technical and financial assistance to help local communities relieve imminent threats to life and property caused by floods, fires, windstorms and other natural disasters that impair a watershed. EWP does not require a disaster declaration by federal or state government officials for program assistance to begin. The NRCS State Conservationist can declare a local watershed emergency and initiate EWP program assistance in cooperation with an eligible sponsor (see the Eligibility section below). NRCS will not provide funding for activities undertaken by a sponsor prior to the signing of a cooperative agreement between NRCS and the sponsor.

NRCS offers financial and technical assistance for various activities under the EWP Program, including: 

  • Remove debris from stream channels, road culverts and bridges;
  • reshape and protect eroded streambanks;
  • correct damaged or destroyed drainage facilities;
  • establish vegetative cover on critically eroding lands;
  • repair levees and structures;       
  • repair certain conservation practices, and
  • purchase of EWP Buyouts.

For more information, visit NRCS National's EWP Webpage.

Success Story

Emergency Watershed Protection Program Successes

In June of 2008, a major storm system moved across Illinois, triggering extensive flooding in several counties. The damages left behind were a perfect fit for the NRCS Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) projects.

Aerial photos of the Missouri river flooding in Sioux City, Iowa, South Sioux City, Nebraska, and Dakota Dunes, South Dakota, on June 8, 2011. Levees were built near homes to prevent the Missouri river from flooding properties. Air Force Photo by: Tech. Sgt. Oscar Sanchez

Watershed Rehabilitation

The Watershed Rehabilitation Program (REHAB) helps project sponsors rehabilitate aging dams that are reaching the end of their design life and/or no longer meet federal or state safety criteria or performance standards. Since 1948, NRCS has assisted local sponsors in constructing over 11,850 dams.

For more information, visit the NRCS webpage for the Watershed Rehabilitation Program.

Current Projects

  • Mill Creek Structure #3 Assessment

Watershed and Flood Prevention Operation

The Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Operations (WFPO) Program helps units of federal, state, local and federally recognized tribal governments (project sponsors) protect and restore watersheds.

For more information, visit the NRCS webpage for the Watershed and Flood Prevention Operation Program.

Documents

Current Projects

  • Pond Creek-Little Wabash Watershed Plan and Environmental Assessment
Pond Creek-Little Wabash WS Plan-Environmental Assessment (689.41 KB)
  • West Branch Panther Creek Watershed Plan and Environmental Assessment