NRCS in Kansas Receives EWP Funding for May Flooding and Tornadoes

Salina, Kansas, August 30, 2007--Harold L. Klaege, State Conservationist, for the NRCS, announced today that $3.66 million in Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program funds are available to assist Kansans impacted by the May floods and tornadoes. NRCS is an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The following counties are eligible for these funds: Barton, Brown, Chase, Cherokee, Clay, Cloud, Comanche, Cowley, Dickinson, Doniphan, Douglas, Edwards, Ellsworth, Harper, Harvey, Jackson, Kingman, Kiowa, Leavenworth, Lincoln, Lyon, Marshall, McPherson, Morris, Nemaha, Osage, Osborne, Ottawa, Pawnee, Phillips, Pottawatomie, Pratt, Reno, Rice, Riley, Saline, Shawnee, Smith, Stafford, Sumner, Wabaunsee, and Washington.

"Kansas NRCS has already received requests from eligible sponsors in Clay, Edwards, Morris, Pottawatomie, Riley, and Saline counties," said Klaege

NRCS administers the EWP Program, which responds to emergencies created by natural disasters. The Program is a recovery effort aimed at relieving imminent hazards to life and property caused by floods, tornadoes, and other natural occurrences. Recovery efforts include clearing debris-clogged stream channels, stabilizing streambanks, or other measures that will restore an impaired watershed to its pre-disaster condition. The measures that are taken must be environmentally and economically sound and generally benefit more than one property owner.

Federal funds may cover up to 75 percent of the construction costs of eligible recovery measures. Public and private landowners are eligible for assistance, but must be represented by a project sponsor. Sponsors must be a legal subdivision of state government, the state itself, a local unit of government, a levee or drainage district, a conservation district, or a county commission. Sponsors may provide their share of construction costs in the form of cash, in-kind services such as labor or equipment, or a combination of cash and in-kind services.

"I would encourage those interested in the program to contact their local NRCS office and visit with staff about determining eligibility and applying for the EWP Program," he said. "Once a potential project has been identified, NRCS will work with the project sponsor and conduct a site visit."

Apply at Local NRCS Office

To request EWP assistance or to get more information about the program, contact the USDA Service Center serving your county. A brochure and EWP Program information is also available on the Kansas NRCS Web site.

Last Modified: 06/27/2008