1. Natural Resources Conservation Service
Emergency Watershed Protection Program
Florida Public Works Expo
July 9, 2014

2. EWP
 Authority and Activation of EWP
 Eligible Impairments
 Eligible / Non-eligible Measures
 Eligible Sponsors
 EWP Process
 Sponsor’s Responsibility
 NRCS Role
 Example Projects

3. Program Authority
“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 the watershed.”
7 CFR 624 EWP Final Rule, published April 4, 2005
Public Law 81–516, Section 216, 33 U.S.C. 701b, as
amended:

4. NRCS EWP Policy
 7 CFR Part 624
 National Emergency Watershed
Protection Program Manual – Title 390

5. Major Federal Laws & Presidential
Executive Orders
 National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
 Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended
 Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972
 Executive Order 12898 “Environmental Justice”
 National Historic Preservation Act, 16 U.S.C.
470f, as amended
 Executive Order 11990, “Protection of Wetlands”
 Executive Order 11988, “Floodplain
Management”

6. Activation of the EWP Program
 Presidential Declaration
 NRCS State Conservationist Declaration
 Letter of request from Sponsor

7. Eligible Sponsors
 Local Units or Subdivisions of State
Government
 State Government (water management
districts, drainage districts, etc.)
 Other Governmental Entities
 Indian Tribes and Tribal Organizations

8. EWP Funding
 There is no annual
appropriation.
 Funded by Congressional
Supplemental.
 Provides Financial (FA) &
Technical Assistance (TA)
Funds.

9. Eligibility Criteria
 Was damage a result of a natural disaster?
 Is recovery measures for runoff retardation or soil
erosion prevention?
 Is there a threat to life and/or property?
 Did the event caused a sudden impairment in the
watershed?
 Was an imminent threat created by this event?
 Were structural repairs made twice within ten years?
 Is the site economically defensible?
Must answer “Yes” to all these questions!

10. Eligible Watershed Impairments

11. Eligible Watershed Impairments
Flood
s

12. Eligible Watershed Impairments (Cont’d)
Fires

13. Eligible Watershed Impairments (Cont’d)
Excessive rainfall

14. Eligible Watershed Impairments (Cont’d)
Tornadoes

15. Eligible Watershed Impairments (Cont’d)
Hurricanes

16. Eligible Measures (Cont’d)
Debris Removal

17. Eligible Measures (Cont’d)
Stabilization of stream,
canal, and channel
banks

18. Eligible Measures (Cont’d)
Levee Repair

19. Ineligible Measures

20. Ineligible Measures
Restore
agricultural
productivity
to farmland

21. Repair coastal
erosion to
beaches and
shorelines
Ineligible Measures (Cont.)

22. Ineligible Measures (Cont.)
Flood fighting/rescue

23. Ineligible Measures (Cont.)
Replacement/Repair of
Infrastructure

24. Ineligible Measures (Cont.)
Repairing
roads

25. Ineligible Measures (Cont.)
Dredging for
boat traffic

26. Ineligible Measures (Cont.)
Correcting Pre-existing Problems

27. EWP Process

28. Disaster
occurs
Sponsor
requests EWP
assistance
NRCS
Completes
DSR
NRCS
receives
funding
NRCS/Sponsor
enters into an
agreement
Sponsor obtains
land rights,
permits, etc.
Develop plans
&
specifications
Complete
construction O&M
Solicits
bids &
awards
contract

29.  Sponsor requests assistance within 60 days of
event or when access can be made to effected
area.
 NRCS completes Damage Survey Report (DSR)
within 60 days of Sponsor’s request.
 Sponsor completes project within 220 days of
NRCS’ receipt of funding (10 days for
exigency).
EWP Time Frame

30. Sponsor Responsibilities
 Administer project agreements.
 Obtain landrights.
 Acquire permits.
 Develop engineering plans and specifications.
 Let and administer contracts (construction and
technical services).
 Provide construction inspection.

31. Sponsor Responsibilities (Cont’d)
 Certify completed work.
 Pay share of costs.
 Provide O&M for structural measures.

32. Sponsor Responsibilities (Cont’d)
 Share of eligible construction costs –
25% Local 25%
Federal 75%
 Limited resource area:
Share of eligible construction costs –
10%
Federal 90% Local 10%

33. Reimbursement for Technical Services
Non-Technical Services - 100% sponsor
costs
 Obtain landrights.
 Acquire permits.
Technical Services - reimbursable
 Survey.
 Design and prepare plans and specifications.
 Let and administer contracts.
 Construction inspection.

34. Sponsor - Share of Construction Costs
 Cash
 “In-Kind” Goods or Services
 Combination of Above

35. In-Kind Construction Goods and Services
 Examples of In-kind “Goods or Services”
 Materials
 Labor
 Equipment

36. NRCS’s Responsibilities
 Work with Sponsor to determine EWP recovery
needs.
 Complete DSR with assistance from Sponsor.

37.  Prepares Damage Survey Report
(DSR)
 Completed for each site.
 Describes impairment and threats to life
and property.
 Describes scope, cost, and nature of
work.
 Documents effects.
NRCS’ Responsibilities (Con’t)

38. NRCS’ Responsibilities (Cont’d)
 Provide technical assistance to sponsor.
 Reimburse sponsor for eligible costs.
 Monitor construction progress.

39. DSR

40. 80’County Road (1100 cars/day)
$200,000 House
Indian Site
(Potential Cultural
Site)
Power Line
Eroded Bridge Approach
500 Home Subdivision
Log Jam & Debris Pile
Cole’s Bayou
Jamestown Road
Cransville, USA
Site Plan
(no scale)

41. DSR (Con’t)
 Provides a documentation for determining
eligibility
 Documents policy compliance (i.e., NEPA)
 Supports funding request
 Used to set priorities

42. Project Close Out
Sponsor:
 Certifies final construction.
 Submits as-built drawings.
 Submits documentation of all eligible costs
(technical services and construction
services).
 Provides O&M for all structural measures.

43. Example Projects

44. Before
After
44City of Lauderhill

45. Before
After
45City of Doral

46. APWA Award

47. Before
After
47Santa Rosa County

48. Before
After
48Santa Rosa County

49. Before
After
49City of Miami Gardens

50. City of Ft. Pierce

51. Miami-Dade County

52. Miami-Dade County

53. St. Lucie County

54. St. Lucie County

55. Sponsor’s EWP Guide

57. FL NRCS EWP Contacts
Jesse Wilson, Program Manager, 352-338-9557
Jason Strenth, Agricultural Engineer, 352-338-9559
Tony Harvey, Agricultural Engineer, 352-338-9562

58. Equal Opportunity
“The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination against its customers,
employees, and applicants for employment on the bases of race, color, national origin, age, disability,
sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or
parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public
assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity
conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or
employment activities.) ”
If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program
Discrimination Complaint Form (PDF), found online at
http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to
request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form.
Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by
fax (202) 690-7442 or email at program.intake@usda.gov.
Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities and you wish to file either an
EEO or program complaint please contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-
8339 or (800) 845-6136 (in Spanish).
Persons with disabilities who wish to file a program complaint, please see information above on how
to contact us by mail directly or by email. If you require alternative means of communication for
program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) please contact USDA's TARGET
Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).