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Sign-Up Extended for NRCS Emergency Watershed Funding

Web image: Photo ogf an NRCS representative compiling a report for a bridge damaged by a stormLetter to request assistance must be received by March 31

Syracuse, February 10, 2012 - NRCS in New York has $31.5 million available to local units of government and communities to restore streams after the natural disasters of Irene and Lee. Funding is provided by the NRCS's Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP). Typical projects funded under EWP include the protection of threatened buildings, bridges or roads from continued streambank erosion and stream down-cutting.

Communities interested in applying for funding must submit a letter of request by March 31, 2012. Funding requests need to be processed in time for summer construction season - you are encouraged to submit your funding requests as soon as possible.

To apply, a project sponsor should check with their local NRCS District Conservationist and then submit a letter to the NRCS State Conservationist requesting EWP assistance. You can view an example request letter online. 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.

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.

New York State has announced a new Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee Flood Mitigation Grant Program and project sponsors can use this funding as the 25 percent match needed to participate in the EWP program. The Empire State Development Corporation (ESD) will administer this program in collaboration with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC). The total amount of funding available is $9 million. Grants will range from a minimum of $300,000 to a maximum of $500,000 per county for eligible projects.

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

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