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Emergency Watershed Protection

The purpose of the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) program is to undertake emergency measures, including the purchase of flood plain easements, for runoff retardation and soil erosion prevention 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.

It is not necessary for a national emergency to be declared for an area to be eligible for assistance. Program objective is to assist sponsors and individuals in implementing emergency measures to relieve imminent hazards to life and property created by a natural disaster. Activities include providing financial and technical assistance to remove debris from streams, protect destabilized streambanks, establish cover on critically eroding lands, repairing conservation practices, and the purchase of flood plain easements. The program is designed for installation of recovery measures.

Work is authorized by section 216, P.L. 81-516, (33 U.S.C. 701b1) and Sections 403-405, P.L. 95-334, (16 U.S.C. 2203-2205).

Excerpt from Section 216, P.L.81-516 (as amended) that pertains to NRCS EWP Program

"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 that watershed."

Additional Information

EWP-Floodplain Easement Sign Up Information is Now On-Line!

EWP Floodplain Easement Sign-up information is now available online.  The links below provide access to the forms and information needed to signup for EWP Floodplain Easements.

These documents require Adobe Acrobat.

Adobe Acrobat DocumentForm AD-1153, Application for Long-Term Contracted Assistance
Adobe Acrobat Document Form AD-1154, Conservation Contract or Agreement
Adobe Acrobat Document Form AD-1155, Conservation Plan and Schedule of Operations
Adobe Acrobat Document Form AD-1155A, Conservation Plan and Schedule of Operations, Signatures
Adobe Acrobat Document Form AD-1156, Conservation Plan and Schedule of Operations Modification
Adobe Acrobat Document Form AD-1161, Application for Payment

USDA Service Center EForms Web Site - for instructions and information

Easement Forms Available Online:

Adobe Acrobat DocumentForm AD-1157, Option Agreement to Purchase
Adobe Acrobat DocumentForm AD-1157A, Option Agreement to Purchase, Amendment 1
Adobe Acrobat DocumentForm AD-1158, Subordination Agreement and Limited Lien Waiver
Adobe Acrobat DocumentForm AD-1159, Notification of Intent to Continue
Adobe Acrobat DocumentForm NRCS-CPA38, Request for a Certified Wetland Determination
Adobe Acrobat DocumentForm NRCS-LTP13, Conservation Program Status Review

EWP Forms

These documents require Microsoft Word.

Microsoft Word DocumentDisaster Survey Report Form
Microsoft Word DocumentElectronic Disaster Report Form
Microsoft Word DocumentDrawing Account
Microsoft Word DocumentFinal Report

EWP Draft Environmental Impact Statement

These documents require Adobe Acrobat.

Adobe Acrobat DocumentDraft Environmental Impact Statement
Adobe Acrobat DocumentAppendix A - Scoping
Adobe Acrobat DocumentAppendix B - Methods
Adobe Acrobat DocumentAppendix C - Example DSR and NRCS Enviromental Data
Adobe Acrobat DocumentAppendix D - Detailed Affected Environmental Data
Adobe Acrobat DocumentAppendix E - Literature Review
Adobe Acrobat DocumentAquatic Impacts Flow Chart
Adobe Acrobat DocumentAquatic Impact Questions
Adobe Acrobat DocumentWetland Flood Plain Impact Flow Chart
Adobe Acrobat DocumentWetland Flood Plain Impact Questions
Adobe Acrobat DocumentWetland Upland Impact Flow Chart
Adobe Acrobat DocumentWetland Upland Impact Questions
Adobe Acrobat DocumentHuman Impact Flow Chart
Adobe Acrobat DocumentHuman Impact Questions

Program Contact

William Bowers, State Conservation Engineer, 717-237-2206

 

 

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