Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program Recovery
Dec 28, 2015
Emergency Watershed Protection
(EWP) Program
Recovery
Emergency Watershed Protection
(EWP) Program
Recovery
Emergency Watershed Protection Program
Introduction
Emergency Watershed Protection Program
IntroductionJeff Gross
Assistant State Conservationist for Water ResourcesNRCS,
Salina, Kansas
Jeff GrossAssistant State Conservationist for Water Resources
NRCS,Salina, Kansas
EWP ProgramPurpose
To assist project sponsors in implementing emergency recovery
measures to relieve imminent hazards to life or property created by a natural
disaster that caused a sudden impairment of a watershed.
EWP ProgramPurpose
6 Key Points: • Project sponsor
– Local/state government or tribal organization • Emergency
– The recovery measure has to be installed now• Imminent hazard to life or property
– In the next event, life or property (e.g., road, bridge, or house) will be impacted
• Natural Disaster– A single event (e.g., flood or tornado) – Disaster declaration by President, Governor, or State
Conservationist (STC)• Sudden Watershed Impairment
– The disaster caused the impairment • Statutes & Regulations
– 7 CFR 624, Emergency Watershed Protection Program Regulations, Final Rule, Published April 4, 2005
EWP ProgramProject Sponsor
• Project sponsor:– Legal subdivision of a State government; Native American tribe/
tribal organization – Has legal interest in the values threatened by the watershed
impairment – Does not have sufficient funds to address the emergency and
will• Provide 25% cost share (cash or in-kind)• Acquire necessary land rights• Acquire all necessary permits• Be capable of carrying out operation and maintenance (O&M)
responsibilities (if necessary)– County Commission, City, Watershed District, Conservation
Districts, Drainage District
EWP ProgramEligible Projects
• Kinds of eligible projects:– Debris removal from stream channels to restore
stream-flow capacity• Blockages above bridges• Debris clean out along a stretch of stream channel
caused by tornado
– Streambank stabilization– Drainage ditch repair (including sediment
removal) – Watershed dam repair (NRCS assisted dams only)– Damaged levee/dike repair
EWP ProgramFunding
• EWP Program funds available through supplemental appropriation from Congress─ Not an annual appropriation ─ Wait list
• If the project is on the wait list, it may be a while for funding to arrive
• But if it is not on the wait list, it will never get funded
• There is an exception to this…
EWP ProgramTwo Categories of Projects
• Traditional Project:– Impairment poses a threat to life or property– Funding not likely to be immediately available (wait list)– 75/25 cost share (unless limited resource area)– DSR to be completed– Permits obtained– 220 days to install recovery measures (from time funding is available)
• Exigent Project – Situations that demand immediate action to save life or property
• Can include temporary solutions until permanent recovery measures can be designed and installed
– Funding available upon request to National Headquarters (NHQ)– 75/25 cost share (unless limited resource area)– DSR to be completed– Permits obtained– 10 days to install recovery measures
EWP Program Kansas Activity
Disasters:• May 2007 floods and tornadoes• June/July 2007 floods• Spring 2008 floods and tornadoes
Projects:• 3 projects completed in fiscal year (FY) 2008• 47 projects completed in FY 2009• 39 active projects as of May 15, 2009
Funding:• Kansas NRCS received over $4.7 million to address the
damages from the 2007/2008 tornadoes and floods
Emergency Watershed Protection Program
Kansas Projects
Emergency Watershed Protection Program
Kansas Projects
Paul GallagherEWP Program Coordinator
NRCS,Salina, Kansas
Paul GallagherEWP Program Coordinator
NRCS,Salina, Kansas
EWP ProgramTimeline - Traditional
Example - Traditional EWP Program
Day Step
1 DSR - 20 days
21 Design - 40 days
62 Project Agreement (PA) - 10 days
73 Permits - 45 days
119 Contracting - 50 days
170 Construction - 50 days
220
EWP ProgramTimeline - Exigent
Cowley County (Co.) – House• Late June/early July: 20”+ rains • July 24: Site visit - NRCS/Grouse-Silver
(sponsor)• July 25: NRCS determines eligible - exigent• July 25: Sponsor provides assurances• July 25: Kansas NRCS request funds from
NHQ• July 26: Site visit - EWP Team, sponsor• July 27: NHQ provides funding (10-day clock)• July 27: Sponsor signs PA• July 27: Site showing• July 27: DSR completed• July 30: Contractor hired• July 31: Notice to proceed issued• Aug 1: Work starts• Aug 3: Work completed – Final inspection
EWP ProgramExigent Example –Cowley Co.
Before After
Impairment: destabilized streambankImminent Threat: $125,000 house
EWP ProgramDisaster Assistance - Other
AgenciesFederal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)• Lead in Presidentially declared disasters• Typically assists with damaged infrastructure only• Direct local government to NRCS/EWP Program• Has provided assistance on damaged levees, but policy unclear • NRCS can provide FEMA technical assistance for FEMA work, but with Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU)
Farm Service Agency (FSA)• Emergency Conservation Program (ECP)• If eligible for ECP, not eligible for EWP Program• NRCS has provided FSA technical assistance
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)• Levee repair work, but only on levees currently in USACE program• Has provided FEMA technical assistance
Kansas Department of Emergency Management (KDEM)• Works on Governor declared disasters and with FEMA on Presidential disasters • Each county has a Emergency Management Coordinator
EWP ProgramExigent Situations – Norton Co.
Before After
Impairment: scour hole; debris blockage Under Imminent Threat: $100,000 county bridge
EWP ProgramExigent Example – Harper Co.
Before After
Impairment: debris blockage Imminent Threat: $750,000 county bridge
EWP ProgramTraditional Example – Geary Co.
Before After
Impairment: debris blockage Imminent Threat: $750,000 county bridge
EWP ProgramTraditional Example – Saline Co.
Before After
Impairment: destabilized streambankImminent Threat: $100,000 county road
EWP ProgramExigent Example – Cowley Co.
Before After
Impairment: debris blockageImminent Threat: $1 million historic bridge
EWP ProgramTraditional Example – Edwards
Co.
Area Benefits
Impairment: debris clogged stream channel Imminent Threat: three $350,000 county bridges
EWP ProgramTraditional Example – Pottawatomie
Co.
Before After
Impairment: destabilized streambank Imminent Threat: 17 houses
EWP ProgramDamaged Levees
• Eligible for EWP Program repairs if: – Damaged by a natural disaster– Eligible sponsor available– Stream drainage area (DA) less than
400 square miles (Sq M)– O&M is current
EWP ProgramDamaged Levees
Kansas Interagency Task Force:• NRCS, FEMA, USACE, KDEM
– Primary purpose: Ensure that all levee related issues are brought to the attention of each agency
– Secondary purpose: Bring to the attention
other non-levee related issues with each agency
• e.g., FEMA and damaged watershed dams
Ineligible for EWP Program repairs because:
• Absence of an eligible sponsor
• On a river with DA > 400 Sq M
• O&M not currentDickinson County
Neosho County Morris County
EWP ProgramDamaged Levees
EWP ProgramWatershed Dam Repairs
63 PL 566 and RC&D Watershed Dams Damaged (June/July 2007)•Upper Verdigris•Big Caney•Middle Caney•Twin Caney•Bee Creek•Elk River•Duck Creek•Little Walnut Hickory•Rock Creek•Timber Creek
Emergency Watershed Protection Program
Watershed Dam Repairs
Emergency Watershed Protection Program
Watershed Dam Repairs
Arvil BassState Conservation Engineer
NRCS,Salina, Kansas
Arvil BassState Conservation Engineer
NRCS,Salina, Kansas
• Divided into 3 groups– Group A
• Repair options needed to be evaluated further
– Group B• Restore to as-built condition, significant
soil displaced
– Group C• Restore to as-built condition, minimal to
moderate soil displaced
EWP ProgramAuxiliary Spillway Repairs
Equal Opportunity
"The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age,
disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs,
reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all
programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.)
should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an
equal opportunity provider and employer."