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Updated
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Watershed Protection, Watershed Surveys, and Flood Prevention
Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Program
The Watershed Protection and
Flood Prevention Act, P.L. 83-566, August 4, 1954, (16 U.S.C. 1001-1008)
authorized this program. Prior to fiscal year 1996, watershed planning
activities and the cooperative river basin surveys and investigations authorized
by Section 6 of the Act were operated as separate programs. The 1996
appropriations act combined the activities into a single program entitled the
Watershed Surveys and Planning program. Activities under both programs are
continuing under this authority.
The purpose of the Watershed Program, including River Basin operations,
is to assist Federal, State, local agencies, local government sponsors, tribal
governments, and program participants to protect and restore watersheds from damage caused
by erosion, floodwater, and sediment, to conserve and develop water and land
resources, and solve natural resource and related economic problems on a
watershed basis. The program provides technical and financial
assistance to local people or project sponsors, builds partnerships, and requires local and state funding contribution.
Resource concerns addressed by the program include watershed protection,
flood prevention, erosion and sediment control, water supply, water quality,
opportunities for water conservation, wetland and water storage capacity,
agricultural drought problems, rural development, municipal and industrial water
needs, upstream flood damages, water needs for fish, wildlife, and forest-based
industries, fish and wildlife habitat enhancement, wetland creation and
restoration, and public recreation in watersheds of 250,000 or fewer acres.
Both technical and financial assistance are available.
Types of surveys and plans include watershed plans, river basin surveys and
studies, flood hazard analyses, and flood plain management assistance. The focus
of these plans is to identify solutions that use conservation practice and
nonstructural measures to solve resource problems.
Watershed plans involving
contribution in excess of $5,000,000 for construction, or construction
of any single structure having a capacity in excess of 2,500 acre feet,
require Congressional approval. Other plans are
administratively authorized. After approval, technical and financial assistance can
be provided for installation of works of improvement specified in the
plans.
Project sponsors are provided assistance in installing
planned land treatment measures when plans are approved. Surveys and
investigations are made and detailed designs, specifications, and
engineering cost estimates are prepared for construction of structural
measures. Areas where sponsors need to obtain land rights, easements,
and rights-of-way are delineated. Technical assistance is also furnished
to landowners and operators to accelerate planning and application of
needed conservation measures on their individual land units. There are presently over
1600 projects in operation.
Program Information
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Reinvesting in America's Watersheds
Watershed Surveys and Planning
Section 3 of Public Law 83-566
Provides for assisting
sponsoring local organizations to develop a plan on
watersheds not exceeding 250,000 acres. During planning,
problems such as water quality, flooding, water and land
management, and sedimentation are evaluated and works of
improvement are proposed to alleviate problems. The
resulting watershed plans estimate benefits, costs, cost-
sharing rates, and arrange for operation and maintenance
necessary to justify Federal assistance to install works of
improvement.
Section 6 of Public Law 83-566
Provides for cooperation with Federal, State, and local agencies in making
investigations and surveys of river basins as a basis for the development of
coordinated water resource programs. Reports of the investigations and
surveys serve as guides for the development of water, land, and related
resources in agricultural, rural, and urban areas within upstream watershed
settings. They also serve as a basis for coordination with major river
systems and other phases of water resource management and development.
Program Contact
Hosea Latshaw
State Conservation Engineer
717-237-2212
John Metrick
Natural Resource Specialist
717-237-2214
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