Dunloup Creek Voluntary Floodplain Buyout Receives More Funding

MORGANTOWN, WV, July 27, 2012 —The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will provide an additional $2.8 million for the Dunloup Creek Watershed Project in Fayette County, West Virginia. This assistance is provided through its Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Program administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The Dunloup Creek Voluntary Floodplain Buyout targets threatened properties within the 100-year floodplain of Dunloup Creek.

“Flood damages will be reduced 100 percent for those property owners that participate in the voluntary buyout and relocate outside of the floodplain,” said Kevin Wickey, West Virginia State Conservationist. “A total of 255 parcels were evaluated for the program with at least 128 applications for primary residences which are susceptible to repeated flooding from Dunloup Creek.” Applications have also been received for rental properties, commercial buildings, churches, businesses, vacant residences and lots.

State and local sponsors are providing 10 percent of the funding for the project. Properties acquired through the buyout are placed in public ownership with the Fayette County Commission and the City of Mount Hope. USDA maintains a floodplain easement on each tract. The Fayette County Commission, the City of Mount Hope, the West Virginia Conservation Committee, and the Southern Conservation District are the local sponsors for the project. The Dunloup Creek Watershed Association is the driving force behind the project and provides coordination between the residents and project sponsors.

Planning for the Dunloup Creek Watershed was reinitiated in 1995 in response to repeated flooding to the communities along Dunloup Creek. The project was planned under the authority of the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act. It was later supplemented with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds as part of a federal economic stimulus program. Approximately 290 properties and associated infrastructure have suffered repeated flooding—with two devastating floods in 2001 and 2004. The most cost-effective and feasible option for the communities is a voluntary floodplain buyout.

An updated Dunloup Creek Fact Sheet may be found at http://www.wv.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/watershed/dunloup/12july17wvDunloup.pdf.

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