The Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program is a program administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service to respond to floods, fires,[1] windstorms and other types of natural disasters. Types of work this program funds include: removing debris; reshaping and protecting eroded banks; correcting damaged drainage facilities; repairing levees and other water conveyance structures; and purchasing flood plain easements.[2] For construction activities, it provides up to 75% of the project cost. It is almost always funded in supplemental appropriations that provide federal assistance to deal with a natural disaster. The EWP's activities are sponsored by a city, county, town, conservation district, or any federally-recognized Native American tribe or tribal organization before EWP can come in with their expertise to assist a region that has experienced an emergency.[3]
Over 430 sites in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands had to be immediately addressed by EWP after Hurricane Maria struck on September 20, 2017.[4] While EWP normally funds 75% of project costs, President Donald Trump authorized EWP to cover 100% of the costs for debris removal and other watershed protection costs, from the time Hurricane Maria occurred through May, 2018.[5]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Bennett, Matthew (1970-01-01). "Glenwood finishes emergency watershed protection project". Aspen Daily News.
- ^ "Fees kick in for New Hanover County's Stormwater Services program, but at a discount". WHQR. 2021-06-14.
- ^ "Webinar - EWP in the Caribbean Area (1/2019)". YouTube. NRCS NSSC. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
- ^ "USDA-NRCS to hold state technical committee meetings for Puerto Rico/USVI". News is My Business. 2020-12-08. Retrieved 2021-06-20.
- ^ "Otorgan fondos federales para reclutar personal de ley y orden". El Nuevo Día (in Spanish). 2017-11-27. Retrieved 2021-06-20.
This article incorporates public domain material from Jasper Womach. Report for Congress: Agriculture: A Glossary of Terms, Programs, and Laws, 2005 Edition (PDF). Congressional Research Service.