Leading Innovative Engineering Solutions to Natural Resource Conservation.
NRCS applies sound engineering tools and principles to plan, design, and implement conservation practices and systems through delegated approval authority. Engineering assistance can be obtained from NRCS field offices, area offices, state offices, national centers, and the Conservation Engineering Division in Washington, DC.
The Conservation Engineering Division advises on agency technical activities, policy development and emerging key engineering issues: Farm Bill Technical Support, Field Office Technical Guide, Snow Survey/ Water Supply Forecasting, Aging Watershed Infrastructure, Animal Manure Management, Air Quality/ Water Quality, Dam Safety and Security, Disaster Recovery.
Watershed Programs
Emergency Watershed Protection Program and Flood Prevention Program
Under the Watershed Program, NRCS joined with local people to help plan and install projects that increase flood protection, control erosion and enhance water quality, water supply and water-related recreation. The law was used to supplement and bridge the gap between ongoing soil and water conservation programs to develop and protect watersheds.
A floodwater retarding structure will reduce downstream flooding.
Monitoring of NRCS Dams
Learn more about DamWatch, an online tool that provides real-time monitoring of rainfall, snowmelt, stream flow and seismic events that could pose potential threats to dam safety.
Watershed Rehabilitation
Many dams today are in a far different setting than when they were constructed. Population has grown, residential and commercial development has occurred upstream and downstream from the dams. Land uses have changed, sediment pools have filled, and concrete and metal components have deteriorated.
Many dams do not meet current state dam safety regulations that have been enacted and revised with more stringent requirements than when the dams were built. Many of these dams are also nearing the end of their planned life span of 50 years and some need rehabilitating to ensure they remain safe, continue to function as designed and to continue providing benefits.
The purpose of rehabilitation is to extend the service life of the dams and bring them into compliance with applicable safety and performance standards or to decommission the dams, so they no longer pose a threat to life and property.
Watershed Operations
Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations (WFPO) is a voluntary program which provides assistance to sponsoring local organizations of authorized watershed projects, planned and approved under the authority of the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act of 1954 (P. L. 83-566), and 11 designated watersheds authorized by the Flood control Act of 1944 (P. L. 78-534). NRCS provides technical and financial assistance to States, local governments and Tribes (project sponsors) to implement authorized watershed project plans for the purpose of watershed protection, flood mitigation, water quality improvements, soil erosion reduction, rural, municipal, industrial water supply, irrigation water management, sediment control, fish, wildlife enhancement, wetlands, wetland function creation, and restoration.