Wendell News Outlet

Floodplain Easement Sign Up Underway

Partnership seeks Recovery Act Funds for Wake County citizens

Through the partnership of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Wake Soil and Water Conservation District, applications are currently being accepted for the floodplain easement component of the Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWPP). Up to $145 million will be available to eligible landowners nationwide as part of President Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act). Funding will create jobs and restore an estimated 60,000 acres of frequently flooded land to its natural state. Public benefits include increased flood protection, enhanced fish and wildlife habitat, improved water quality, reduced future public disaster assistance, reduced energy consumption, and increased carbon sequestration.

“We are excited about the opportunity to bring federal funds directly into the county through our partnership. We know that the additional workload on our already reduced District staff numbers will be an organizational challenge. But if the funds are available for our citizens we want to dedicate every extra effort possible” states District Director Dale Threatt-Taylor. “This is a win-win-win if we are successful; citizens benefit, our local economy benefits, and very important for us, the environment and watersheds benefit.”

Interested citizens and local governments should act quickly to sign up. The application deadline for the program ends March 27, 2009. The amount allocated to North Carolina is undetermined but interested landowners will not be eligible if they do not sign up by the deadline. Contact the District office at 919-250-1050 for an application.

Land Eligibility: NRCS may purchase EWPP easements on any floodplain lands that have been impaired within the last 12 months or that have a history of repeated flooding (i.e. flooded at least two times during the past 10 years). The program major focus is for the restoration of floodplains.

Find more details and eligibility information about the restoration program online at:

http://www.nc.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/ewp-fp-easement.html

Contacts:

Dale Threatt-Taylor, District Director 919-250-1068

Matthew Kinane, District Conservationist 919-250-1055

Advocate l Educate l Protect

posted by Administrator  # 8:39 AM