UPDATED: NRCS Announces $31.5 Million Available in Disaster Assistance to Communities in New York

Erosion behind a bridge wingwall caused by flooding during hurricane Irene Full screen view

An aerial photograph identifying locations of stream damage caused by hurricane Irene

Local units of government interested in applying for the funding are encouraged to submit a letter of request by February 28, 2012.

Syracuse, NY, January 19, 2012 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced an important package of disaster assistance to help farmers, landowners, communities and others recover and rebuild after the natural disasters of Irene and Lee. Funding is provided by the Natural Resources Conservation Service's Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP) as well as the Farm Service Agency's Emergency Conservation Program (ECP).

In New York, the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) program has $31.5 million available to local units of government for addressing public safety and restoration efforts on public, private and Tribal lands. When funding is allocated to a project, NRCS works with a project sponsor to contract the heavy construction work, spurring creation of jobs. Typical projects funded under EWP include the protection of threatened infrastructure from continued streambank erosion and stream down-cutting.

“We look forward to working with the local sponsors to restore these critical natural resource systems and help make these communities whole again,” said Peter Wright, EWP Program Manger. He gave the assurance that NRCS’s interdisciplinary teams would follow Federal law in evaluating the possible impacts the work might have on natural resources, cultural resources and the socioeconomic effects associated with the possible alternatives.

Local sponsors, such as a city, town, county, or Tribe may apply for assistance. EWP funding bears up to 75 percent of the construction costs. The remaining 25 percent must be obtained by the local sponsor and can be in the form of cash or in-kind services.

To apply, a project sponsor must submit a formal letter to the NRCS State Conservationist requesting EWP assistance. You can view an example request letter below. Once the letter has been received, NRCS will visit the damaged site to make an eligibility determination and to complete a Damage Survey Report. All projects undertaken through EWP must have a project sponsor. Project sponsors are encouraged to review the New York EWP Sponsors Guide, available below, and become familiar with the EWP program requirements.

The following documents require Abobe Reader.

Application for Emergency Watershed Protection Program Assistance - Sample letter (PDF; 22 KB)
Emergency Watershed Protection Program Sponsor's Guide (PDF; 351 KB)

For more information about the EWP program, local units of government can contact the local NRCS office or visit the New York NRCS Emergency Watershed Protection Web site.