Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP)

The purpose of the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) program is to undertake emergency measures, including the purchase of flood plain easements, for runoff retardation and soil erosion prevention to safeguard lives and property from floods, drought, and the products of erosion on any watershed whenever fire, flood or any other natural occurrence is causing or has caused a sudden impairment of the watershed.

It is not necessary for a national emergency to be declared for an area to be eligible for assistance. Program objective is to assist sponsors and individuals in implementing emergency measures to relieve imminent hazards to life and property created by a natural disaster. Activities include providing financial and technical assistance to remove debris from streams, protect destabilized streambanks, establish cover on critically eroding lands, repairing conservation practices, and the purchase of flood plain easements. The program is designed for installation of recovery measures.

Work is authorized by section 216, P.L. 81-516, (33 U.S.C. 701b1) and Sections 403-405, P.L. 95-334, (16 U.S.C. 2203-2205).

The following is an excerpt from Section 216, P.L.81-516 (as amended) that pertains to NRCS EWP Program.

"The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to undertake emergency measures, including the purchase of floodplain easements, for runoff retardation and soil erosion prevention, in cooperation with landowners and land users, as the Secretary deems necessary to safeguard lives and property from floods, drought, and the products of erosion on any watershed whenever fire, flood, or any other natural occurrence is causing or has caused a sudden impairment of that watershed."

Emergency Watershed Protection - Floodplain Easement

Section 382 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996, Public Law 104-127, amended the Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWPP) to provide for the purchase of floodplain easements as an emergency measure. Since 1996, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has purchased floodplain easements on lands that qualify for EWPP assistance. Floodplain easements restore, protect, maintain, and enhance the functions of the floodplain; conserve natural values including fish and wildlife habitat, water quality, flood water retention, ground water recharge, and open space; reduce long-term federal disaster assistance; and safeguard lives and property from floods, drought, and the products of erosion. For more information please select the link below.

EWP Floodplain Easement Facts | NRCS

The sign-up period for floodplain easements through the Recovery Act ends Friday, April 10. Up to $145 million is available nationwide to create jobs and restore an estimated 60,000 acres of frequently flooded land to its natural state. For more information on the Recovery Act, please visit the link below.

NRCS - Recovery Act 2009
 

News

• EWP Public Assistance For Hurricane Gustav Clean-Up

EWP Information

• EWP Fact Sheet Traditional Program
• EWP Facts, Floodplain Easement Program
• Questions and Answers

The following document requires Adobe Acrobat.

EWP Brochure (PDF; 68 KB)

Last Modified: 03/26/2009

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