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Emergency Watershed Protection Program

This program contains Recovery Act funding.
Emergency Watershed Protection EWP Program
Number: 10.923
Agency: Department of Agriculture
Office: Natural Resources Conservation Service

Program Information 

Program Number/Title (010):
10.923 Emergency Watershed Protection Program
Popular Name (020):
(Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program )
Federal Agency (030):
Natural Resources Conservation Service, Department of Agriculture
Authorization (040):
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Public Law 111-5, 123 Stat. 117; Section 216 of the Flood Control Act of 1950, Section 216, Public Law 81-516, 33 U.S.C 701b; the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978, Section 403, Public Law 95-334, 33 U.S.C 701B-1; Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996
, Title III, Part Subtitle H, Section 382, Public Law 104-127, 110 Stat. 1016, 16 U.S.C 2203.
Objectives (050):
The objective of the EWP Program is to assist sponsors, landowners, and operators in implementing emergency recovery measures for runoff retardation and erosion prevention to relieve imminent hazards to life and property created by a natural disaster that causes a sudden impairment of a watershed.
Types of Assistance (060):
PROJECT GRANTS
Uses and Use Restrictions (070):
All EWP work must reduce threats to life and property and must be economically, environmentally, and socially defensible and sound from a technical standpoint. NRCS may bear up to 75 percent (90 percent within limited resource areas as identified by the U.S. Census data) of the construction cost of emergency measures. The remaining 25 percent (10 percent within limited resource areas) must come from local sources as cash or in-kind services. EWP funds have restrictions. EWP cannot solve problems that existed before the disaster or to improve the level of protection above that which existed before a disaster. It cannot fund operation and maintenance work or repair private or public transportation facilities or utilities. The work cannot adversely affect downstream water rights and funds cannot be used to install measures not essential to the reduction of hazards. In addition, funds cannot be used to perform work on measures installed by another federal agency.
Eligibility Requirements (080)
Applicant Eligibility (081):
Public and private landowners are eligible for assistance but must be represented by a project sponsor. Project sponsor means a State government or a State agency or a legal subdivision thereof, local unit of government, or any Native American tribe or tribal organization as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b), with a legal interest in or responsibility for the values threatened by a watershed emergency; is capable of obtaining necessary land rights, and permits; and is capable of carrying out any operation and maintenance responsibilities that may be required. Sponsors are also responsible for furnishing the local cost share and for accomplishing the installation of work. Work can be done either through Federal or local contracts. Emergency watershed protection is authorized in the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa.
Beneficiary Eligibility (082):
None.
Credentials/Documentation (083):
Sponsors must submit a formal request to the State Conservationist for assistance within 60 days of the natural disaster occurrence, or 60 days from the date when access to the sites becomes available. Requests must include a statement that the sponsors understand their responsibilities and are willing to pay its cost-shared percentage as well as information pertaining to the natural disaster, including the nature, location, and scope of the problems and the assistance needed. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.
Application and Award Process (090)
Preapplication Coordination (091):
Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application Procedures (092):
This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. Potential sponsors submit formal requests for assistance to the NRCS state conservationist.
Award Procedure (093):
Project sponsors seeking EWP assistance must apply to the STC in writing within 60 days of the natural disaster occurrence. Project sponsors may use SF 424 Application for Federal Assistance but must ensure that following information is provided: (1) A description of the problems encountered; (2) Assistance needed, including the following: Nature of the problem; Location; Scope of the problem; Commitment by the sponsor to assume the following responsibilities: local cost-share; Land rights; acquisition; Permits; Operations and Maintenance (O and M), A statement indicating that funds have either been exhausted or are insufficient to provide adequate recovery measures from the applicable hazards; A statement identifying any other State or Federal funding received or application submitted. On receipt of a formal request for EWP assistance, the State Conservationist or designee shall immediately investigate the emergency situation to determine whether EWP is applicable and to prepare an initial cost estimation for submission to the NRCS Chief or designee. The cost estimation will be submitted no later than 60 days from receipt of the formal request from the sponsor. NRCS may not commit funds until notified by the Chief, or designee, of the availability of funds. Before the release of financial assistance, NRCS will enter into a Cooperative Agreement with a sponsor that specifies the responsibilities of the sponsor under this part, including any required operation and maintenance responsibilities. NRCS will not provide funding for activities undertaken by a sponsor prior to the signing of the agreement between NRCS and the sponsor.
Deadlines (094):
Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time (095):
Timeline is dependent upon when funding is appropriated. The EWP program is not a line-item funded program and is reliant upon emergency supplemental appropriations.
Appeals (096):
Only NRCS decisions relating to eligibility for the EWP Program can be appealed. These decisions may be appealed in accordance with 7 CFR Part 614 and 7 CFR 11, as applicable.
Renewals (097):
Not Applicable.
Assistance Consideration (100)
Formula and Matching Requirements (101):
Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program.
Matching Requirements: Percent: 75.%. NRCS may bear up to 75 percent (90 percent within limited resource areas as identified by the US Census data) of the construction cost of emergency measures. The remaining 25 percent (10 percent within limited resource areas) must come from local sources as cash or in-kind services.
MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance (102):
Continues until all EWP Program recovery measures are installed or their installation is terminated by mutual agreement. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: lump sum.
Post Assistance Requirements (110)
Reports (111):
Program reports are not applicable. Cash reports are not applicable. Final reports are prepared for each project within 90 days of completion. A benefit and accomplishment report is prepared for the fiscal year based upon final reports. Expenditure reports are not applicable. No performance monitoring is required.
Audits (112):
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.
Records (113):
Records of operation are maintained for the life of the project.
Financial Information (120)
Obligations (122):
(Salaries) FY 11 $0; FY 12 est $0; and FY 13 est $0. (Salaries) FY 11 $16,523,435; FY 12 est $60,539,800; and FY 13 Estimate Not Available. (Cooperative Agreements (Discretionary Grants)) FY 11 $0; FY 12 est $0; and FY 13 est $0. (Cooperative Agreements (Discretionary Grants)) FY 11 $53,774,042; FY 12 est $247,306,000; and FY 13 Estimate Not Available
Range and Average of Financial Assistance (123):
Disaster Events Funded: FY 06 range $22,211 to $6,047,723, average $955,410.
Program Accomplishments (130):
Not Applicable.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature (140):
7 CFR Part 624; National Emergency Watershed Protection Program Manual.
Information Contacts (150)
Regional or Local Office (151) :
See Regional Agency Offices. For the list of NRCS state offices with telephone numbers and addresses, see the web site: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/contact/.
Headquarters Office (152):
Fred Reaves, USDA, NRCS
Conservation Technical Assistance Division
14th and Independence Ave., SW.
Room 6015-S
P.O. Box 2890

, Washington, District of Columbia 20250 Email: fred.reaves@wdc.usda.gov Phone: (202) 690-0793.
Website Address (153):
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/ewp/.
Related Programs (160):
10.904 Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention
Examples of Funded Projects (170):
Not Applicable.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals (180):
EWP projects are eligible when it is determined that the current condition of the land or watershed impairment poses a threat to health, life, and property. Assistance includes EWP practices that provide runoff retardation and soil erosion prevention, safeguard lives and property, and relieve an imminent threat that is a result of a sudden impairment of a watershed due to a natural disaster.