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 Louisiana
- American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act)
Staff Contact:
Britt Paul,
Assistant State Conservationist/Water Resources and Rural
Development
Phone:(318) 473-7756
Fax: (318) 473-7747
The Recovery Act was signed into law by President Obama on February 17th,
2009. It is an unprecedented effort to jumpstart our economy, create or save
millions of jobs, and put a down payment on addressing long-neglected
challenges so our country can thrive in the 21st century. The Act is an
extraordinary response to a crisis unlike any since the Great Depression,
and includes measures to modernize our nation's infrastructure, enhance
energy independence, expand educational opportunities, preserve and improve
affordable health care, provide tax relief, and protect those in greatest
need. Learn more on
recovery.gov
NRCS Recovery Act programs provide the greatest public and environmental
benefits through floodplain easements and investments in watershed
infrastructure improvements. Watershed rehabilitation projects will mitigate the
risks of failure and threats to public safety posed by aging flood control
infrastructure. Potential projects are being evaluated and specific information
will be posted as implementation proceeds.
Economic and Environmental Benefits (PDF; 224 KB)
* These items require
Adobe Acrobat.
NRCS RECOVERY ACT PROGRAMS:
The Recovery Act funding for NRCS is located under the following three
programs:
Watershed Rehabilitation
Funding Provided: $50,000,000
The authority for rehabilitation of aging watershed dams is included in section
14 of the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act (PL 83-566). Any of the
over 11,000 dams in 47 states that were constructed under the four watershed
programs (PL-534, PL-566, Pilot, or RC&D) are eligible for assistance under this
authority. Many of these dams are nearing the end of their 50-year design life.
Rehabilitation of these dams is needed to address critical public health and
safety issues in these communities. Priority for funding of projects is based on
a priority ranking system that considers the condition of the dam and number of
people at risk if the dam should fail. NRCS may provide technical assistance and
65% of the total rehabilitation project cost.
(Additional Louisiana
Watershed Rehabilitation Information)
Watershed Operations
Funding Provided: $145,000,000
This voluntary program provides assistance to sponsoring local organizations of
authorized watershed projects, planned and approved under the authority of the
Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act of 1954 (P.L. 83-566), and
designated watersheds authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1944 (P.L. 78-534).
NRCS provides technical and financial assistance to States, local governments
and Tribes (as project sponsors) to implement authorized watershed project plans
for the purpose of watershed protection; flood mitigation; water quality
improvements; soil erosion reduction; rural, municipal and industrial water
supply; irrigation water management; sediment control; fish and wildlife
enhancement; and wetlands and wetland function creation and restoration. There
are over 1,500 active or completed watershed projects.
(Additional Louisiana Watershed Operations Information)
Floodplain Easements
Funding Provided: $30,000,000 maximum for any one state
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. NRCS may purchase easements
on floodplain lands that meet program criteria. Purchases are based upon
established priorities. The easement provides NRCS with the authority to restore
and enhance the floodplain’s functions and values. Landowners retain several
rights to the property, including quiet enjoyment, the right to control public
access, and the right to undeveloped recreational use such as hunting and
fishing. (Additional Louisiana Floodplain
Easements Information (EWP))
NEWS...Floodplain
Easements Announced for Louisiana
United States Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that two
Louisiana floodplain easement applications have been selected for
funding under the Recovery Act of 2009. The easements will cover 710
acres in Tensas Parish and 341 acres in Richland Parish. As a result of
this $1,798,528 investment, about 300,000 hardwood trees will be
planted. These trees will reduce the loss of future commodity crops by
removing the land from crop production, and will help restore the
habitat of the threatened Louisiana black bear.
Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu stated, "Our farmers suffered a
devastating loss when Hurricanes Gustav and Ike ripped through the state
last year. This investment in North Louisiana will help protect our
agricultural communities from the risks of future flooding. This funding
will also help restore our natural habitat in Tensas and Richland."
"Louisiana's two floodplain easement projects will provide a valuable
tool for restoring floodplain functions and values as well as native
habitat," said Louisiana Natural Resources Conservation Service State
Conservationist Kevin Norton. "These projects will provide a voluntary
option for landowners to remove cropland from production on lands that
have suffered from historic and recent floods."
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Recovery Act Funding In Louisiana
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$4,470,000 from Recovery Act for Implementation of Two
Louisiana Watershed Projects
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced on April 16, 2009, that the USDA
will be sending $4,470,000 to Louisiana state and local governments to improve
water quality, increase water supply, decrease soil erosion, and improve fish
and wildlife habitat in rural communities as part of the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009.
Major benefits include improved community safety and health, sediment control, and enhanced fish and wildlife habitat. ARRA funds
will be used in Red Bayou and Bayou Duralde-Lower Nezpique Watersheds in
Louisiana to develop conservation measures such as planting vegetative cover and
creating shallow water ponds to improve wildlife habitat, improving irrigation
efficiency and conserving water, installing filter strips and soil erosion
control practices, and enhancing stream corridor and floodplain function.
NRCS has worked closely with sponsors to identify projects that are ready for
immediate implementation. Projects to be funded are the Red Bayou and Bayou
Duralde-Lower Nezpique Watersheds.
NRCS Louisiana State Conservationist Kevin Norton said “Louisiana’s Red Bayou
project funding will reduce soil erosion and sedimentation; improve water
quality in Red Bayou and its tributaries; improve fish and wildlife habitat, and
increase efficiency of existing irrigation systems. The project will lead to a
reduction of 6,200 tons per year of sediment delivered to water supplies.”
“Funding for the Bayou Duralde-Lower Nezpique Project will treat 33,300 acres of
critically eroding cropland by installing 1,451 grade stabilization structures,
60 filter strips, 32 miles of irrigation pipeline, and 21,250 acres of
irrigation land leveling in the three parishes of the watershed,” said Norton.
“Nearly 45,450 tons of soil will be saved from offsite deposition which will
improve water quality for 135 miles of drainage canals and 200 acres of lakes,
36,600 acre/feet of water will be saved annually which equates to a 19%
reduction in the demand for groundwater, Improved wildlife habitat on 14,800
acres of bottomland hardwoods, and 15,000 acres will receive 54% less soil
deposition and retain its function and values for a longer time period.”
Watershed Project Information
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