United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service		 West Virginia Go to Accessibility Information
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Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Programs (PL-566 and PL-534)

Overview

The purpose of the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Programs (PL-566 and PL-534) are to assist state and local governments plan and carry out works of improvement for watershed protection and restoration. They provide for technical and financial assistance by the NRCS to local organizations representing the people living in small watersheds. The PL-534 authority applies to the Upper Potomac drainage (Grant, Morgan, Mineral, Hardy, Pendleton, and Hampshire Counties), while PL-566 applies to the balance of the State. Resource concerns addressed by these programs include:

  • Flooding
  • Water supply
  • Water quality
  • Soil erosion
  • Fish and wildlife habitat development
  • Water-based recreation

The NRCS provides technical assistance in watershed planning, design, project installation, operation and maintenance of installed measures. NRCS also works with sponsoring local organizations as well as other local, state, and federal entities to obtain all necessary land rights and non-federal matching funds.

These programs match local, state, and federal funds and technical resources to provide a seamless delivery system to local sponsoring organizations. West Virginia places a strong emphasis on developing locally led plans that address all relevant resource issues. The NRCS has assisted local sponsors and watershed organizations install 170 dams and over 50 miles of stream channel improvement in West Virginia.

Project Benefits

In 2006, these projects provided the following benefits to West Virginia:

  • $38.1 million annually in flood damage reduction
  • $19.9 million annually of other benefits (recreation, water supply, etc.)
  • 1.1 million people (63 percent of the State of West Virginia) benefited
  • 832,000 recreational visitor days
  • 355 bridges and 248 miles of road protected
  • 11,800 homes and 926 businesses protected
  • 1,800 farms benefited
  • 2.5 million acres benefited

The combination of water supply and flood-free land can draw new businesses to a community and help broaden and stabilize the economic base. The Mill Creek Project in Jackson County generated $30 million worth of growth.

Watershed Rehabilitation

The Watershed Rehabilitation Program enables West Virginia to address concerns associated with dams constructed through NRCS assistance. Some of these dams are reaching the end of their economic life and could pose a threat to public safety. This is becoming a major concern nationwide.

Current Activities

The NRCS is currently providing planning assistance to local sponsors on the following:

  • Lost River Watershed (Hardy County)
  • Dunloup Creek Watershed (Fayette and Raleigh Counties)
  • New Creek Watershed Dam Rehabilitation (Grant County)
  • Big Sandy Watershed (Mingo, McDowell, Wayne Counties in WV)
  • Morgan County Water Resources Assessment
  • Horseshoe Run Natural Stream Restoration Project

The NRCS has completed plans for the following projects, which are now in the design phase:

  • Upper Deckers Creek Watershed (5 sites in Monongalia and Preston Counties)

The following projects are in the construction or implementation phase:

  • Upper Tygart Valley Watershed Project (Randolph County)
  • Little Whitestick Creek Project Phase III (Raleigh County)
  • Upper Deckers Creek Watershed (2 sites in Monongalia and Preston Counties)
  • North Fork Hughes River Watershed Project (Ritchie County)
  • Potomac Headwaters Land Treatment Watershed Project (Hardy, Mineral, Pendleton, Hampshire, and Grant Counties)
  • Knapps Creek Natural Stream Restoration Project (Pocahontas County)

< Back to 2006 Annual Report