Understanding the EMERGENCY WATERSHED PROTECTION Program
EWP Program Overview Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) administers the EWP Program EWP responds to emergencies created by natural disasters, such as wildfires & floods
EWP Program Overview (con t) EWP recovery consists of installation of emergency measures designed to: Reduce threats to lives & property from a watershed impairment Provide protection from additional flooding or erosion Restore the hydraulic capacity to the natural environment (based upon pre-event conditions)
EWP Program Overview (con t) EWP recovery measures must be: Acceptable to affected individuals & communities Effective in protecting property & natural resources Economically & environmentally defensible & technically sound
Eligibility Owners of private, public or tribal lands may be eligible for EWP assistance if: The watershed area has been damaged by a natural disaster There is a threat to life or property
Eligibility (con t) Property owners may be eligible for EWP assistance if: The threat to life & property exceeds that which existed before the impairment They are represented by a project Sponsor who applies for assistance
Sponsorship A sponsor can be any legal subdivision of tribal, state, county or local government Sponsors are required to provide legal authority to: Perform recovery work Obtain necessary permits & land rights Contribute funds or in-kind services Maintain completed emergency measures
Cost-Sharing EWP funds can be used for up to 75% of the eligible construction costs of the project Sponsor is responsible for the remaining 25% non-federal share (can be cash and/or in-kind contributions) Federal 75% Local 25%
Cost-Sharing (con t) Examples of in-kind contributions include: Materials Labor Equipment Acquisition of land rights, permits & utility relocation do not qualify as in-kind contributions
Typical EWP Measures (Flood) Restore Stream Capacity Clearing and Snagging; debris removal Stabilize & Protect Streams & Streambanks Structural Jacks strings, Riprap, Stream barbs, gabions, Post & Wire, Pipe Revetment, etc. Vegetative Willow or Cottonwood Plantings, turf mat reinforcement, Brush Mattress, etc. Flood Protection Structural Dikes, Flood Wall (repair only) Non-Structural K-rails, Straw Wattles
Typical EWP Measures (Fire) Land Treatment Mulching, Seeding, Straw Wattles, Check Dams, Silt Fences, Contour Felling or Log Erosion Barriers, etc. Flood Protection Structural (repairs only) Dikes, Flood Walls Non-Structural Straw Bales &/or Wattles, K-rails
Step 1: Rapid Survey Immediately following a natural disaster event that may result in a watershed impairment: NRCS conducts a rapid survey to assess extent of damages & determine initial eligibility
Step 2: Request for Assistance If EWP eligibility/assistance is anticipated: Sponsor submits a letter of request for EWP assistance to the NRCS State Conservationist Sponsor must indicate ability and willingness to fulfill all Sponsor s responsibilities Request for assistance must be submitted within 60-days of the natural disaster
Step 3: Damage Survey Report Once a Sponsor has requested assistance: NRCS establishes an interdisciplinary team to further evaluate the site NRCS completes a Damage Survey Report (DSR) to document the site assessment, including economic, environmental, social & technical considerations
Step 4: Funding Request If the DSR demonstrates EWP eligibility: NRCS requests funding from Nat l HQ Funding provided through emergency congressional appropriations Funding priority (listed in order of importance) Exigency situations Non-Exigencies - Sites with a serious, but not immediate threat to human life Non-Exigencies - Sites where buildings, utilities, or infrastructure are threatened
Step 5: Design & Construction If funding is authorized for the project: Complete final engineering designs Award construction contract (either through Sponsor s agreement or federal contract) For exigencies all work to be completed within 10 days of receipt of funding For non-exigencies all work to be completed within 220 days of receipt of funding
Example EWP Project Beaver Dam Wash Flood Non-Exigency Mohave County, AZ Damage Assessment
Example EWP Project Beaver Dam Wash Flood Non-Exigency Mohave County, AZ Construction Completed
Example EWP Project Schultz Fire/Flood Exigency Coconino County, AZ Damage Assessment
Example EWP Project Schultz Fire/Flood Exigency Coconino County, AZ Construction Completed
EWP Program THANK YOU! QUESTIONS?