Emergency Watershed Assistance Available

MORGANTOWN, WV, May. 14, 2009 —The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), in partnership with the West Virginia Conservation Agency and Conservation Districts, is accepting requests for assistance from private landowners to address stream impairments in response to flooding that occurred on May 9 and 10, 2009 in southern West Virginia. The Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program, administered by NRCS, is a program to alleviate threats to life and property that result from natural disasters such as the May 9 and 10, 2009 flooding. Emergency assistance to address stream channel obstructions or severely eroding stream banks for eligible sites in Boone, Logan, Mingo, McDowell, Raleigh, and Wyoming Counties may be available through the EWP Program.

The EWP Program’s floodplain easement component allows NRCS to acquire permanent easements on private land or land owned by units of state and local governments that have been damaged by flooding. The restored floodplain will generate many public benefits, such as increased flood protection, enhanced fish and wildlife habitat, improved water quality, and a reduced need for future public disaster assistance.

Interested landowners in Boone, Logan, Mingo, McDowell, Raleigh, and Wyoming Counties, whose homes, businesses or other improved property are threatened by severe streambank erosion or stream channel obstructions may request assistance by contacting their local USDA Service Center for more information about the EWP Program floodplain easements during the May 18 to June 5, 2009 signup.

Assistance is limited to sites affected by the May 9 and 10, 2009 flooding. Long term or ongoing streambank erosion or sites that do not pose an imminent threat to life or property are not eligible for assistance through the EWP Program. For information about EWP Program floodplain easements, please visit http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/ewp/Floodplain/index.html.

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