Learn more about NRCS’ Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Program and USFWS’ Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program, and funding opportunities through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Hear from Puerto Rico and North Carolina about their experiences with the Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWPP) following recent devastating hurricanes.

1. Breakout Session: “Watershed
and Habitat Protection
Opportunities and Southeast
Region Experiences”
2022 NACD Summer Meeting
Yilia Baucage, Caribbean Lead Engineer
USDA-NRCS

2. USDA NRCS
Watershed Programs

3. Program Potential 2022 Funding
(US$)
Means
EWPP 300M Infrastructure Bill
WFPO
500M Infrastructure Bill
185M FY 22 Appropriation
WFPO/REHAB 50M Farm Bill
REHAB
118M Infrastructure Bill
10M FY 22 Appropriation
TOTAL 1.163B
USDA-NRCS
Watershed
Programs
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, also known as the Infrastructure Investment
and Jobs Act (IIJA) – $918M for NRCS Watershed Programs
To address new, ongoing, emergent, and relief to all communities to
address watershed resource concerns.

4. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service is funding projects in
rounds including rehabilitating dams, flood prevention, and watershed
preservation.
1. In the first wave of funding (March)
• 108 projects - 23 states/jurisdictions
2. The second round of funding (April)
• 132 watershed protection projects in 31 states/jurisdictions
NRCS will continue to review and fund requests as funds are available.
Caribbean Area:
• Isabela Channel Restoration
• St Thomas Bordeaux Water Quality and Quantity improvement
• Dam Rehabilitation Ajíes
• Dam Rehabilitation Dagüey
Infrastructure Bill Funding 2022

5. Watershed Programs Requirements
Eligible Sponsors
• State
• Political Subdivision of State
• Qualified Indian Tribe or Tribal Organization
• Unit of local government
• All sponsors must have a legal interest in or responsibility for the areas
threatened and have the means to Operate and Maintain
Sponsor Responsibilities
• Assist in leading locally led planning effort
• Share of project costs as determined by NRCS as cash or in-kind services
• Real property rights, water rights, and regulatory permits
• Provide for required O&M as determined necessary by NRCS

6. Watershed and Flood Prevention Program ($2.686B since 2000)
4 Phases
• PIFR
• Planning
(Environmental)
• Design
• Construction
• 25% cost share by
sponsor
Purpose
To provide state, local and
American Indian tribal
governments options to
protect watersheds and
vital infrastructure,
benefiting communities in
every state and territory in
the nation
Program Benefits
• Flood Prevention
• Watershed Protection
• Public Recreation
• Fish and Wildlife
• Agricultural Water
Management
• Municipal and Industrial
Water Supply
• Water Quality
Management
• Watershed Structure
Rehabilitation
Eligibility
• Public Sponsorship
• Projects up to 250,000
acres
• Total capacity up to
25,000 acre-feet
• 20% of benefits are
agriculture related
• Authorized NRCS
watershed plan EA/EIS
• Congressional approval
for federal funding over
$25 million for
construction

7. Watershed Rehabilitation Program ($900M since 2000)
4 Phases
• Dam Assessment
• Planning
(Environmental)
• Design
• Construction
•NRCS 65% percent of the
total costs of the
rehabilitation project, but
must not exceed 100% of
the actual construction
costs
Purpose
Provides technical and
financial assistance to
rehabilitate and extend
service life of dams
originally constructed
with assistance of
NRCS Watershed
Programs
Program Benefits
• 47 Million people
protected
• Water Supply
• Sediment and
Erosion control
• Public Safety
• Flood Protection
• Recreation
• Wildlife Habitat
Eligibility
• Public Sponsorship
• High Risk Dam originally
constructed through a
NRCS Watershed
Program
• PL 83-566
• PL 78-534
• Pilot Watershed Program
• Resource Conservation
and Development (RC&D)

8. Emergency Watershed Protection Program ($3.147B since 2006)
4 Phases
• Disaster
Declaration
• Request by
Sponsor
• DSR
• Construction
(75%-90% )
Purpose
To provide emergency
repair and restoration
recovery assistance
when sudden
watershed impairments
occur that create an
imminent threat to life
or property
Eligibility
• Public Sponsorship
• Erosion related impairment
from a natural disaster
• Imminent threat to life and
property
• Projects are economically,
socially, and environmentally
defensible and technically
sound.
• Eligible Lands
• Private land
• Non-Federal public land
• Federal lands on Non-
Federal right-of-way
Program Benefits
• Helps communities
relieve watershed
impairment caused
by natural disasters

9. • Watershed Projects Provide Thousands of Acres of Fish
and Wildlife Habitat
• Over 300,000 Acres of Surface Water Have Been Created
by the Construction of 11,845 Flood Control Dams
• Over Nine Million Acres of Upland Wildlife Habitat Have
Been Created or Enhanced by Watershed Projects
• Enhancing Habitat and Public Access
• Creating and Enhancing Wetland
• Protecting Water Quality and Fish Habitat
Watershed and Wildlife

10. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
Yilia Baucage-Bou
State Conservation Engineer
yilia.baucage-bou@usda.gov
(787) 342-6916
E n g i n e e r i n g D i v i s i o n
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/landscape/)

11. In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights
regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating
in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national
origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age,
marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political
beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or
funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by
program or incident.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information
(e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible
Agency or USDA's TARGET Center at (202)720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the
Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in
languages other than English.
To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint
Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA
office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in
the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866)632-9992. Submit your completed form or
letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil
Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202)690-7442; or (3)
email: program.intake@usda.gov.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.