United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service
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EMERGENCY WATERSHED PROTECTION PROGRAM
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What is the Emergency Watershed Protection
Program?
The Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP)
was set up by Congress to respond to emergencies
created by natural disasters. It is designed to relieve
imminent hazards to life and property caused by floods,
fires, windstorms, and other natural occurrences. All
projects undertaken must be sponsored by a political
subdivision of the State such as a city or town, general
improvement district, or conservation district. The United
State Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources
Conservation Service (NRCS) is responsible for administering the program.
Is Financial Assistance Available?
NRCS may bear up to 75 percent of the construction
costs of emergency measures. The remaining 25 percent
must come from local sources and can be in the form of
cash or in-kind services. Municipalities may apply for their
25 percent of construction costs from the State of
Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection’s
Inland Water Resources Division.
What Are the Criteria for Assistance?
All EWP Work must reduce threats to life and property. Furthermore, it must be economically
and environmentally defensible and sound from an engineering standpoint. EWP work must
yield benefits to more than one person. All work must represent the least expensive alternative.
Who is Eligible?
Public and private landowners are eligible for assistance, but must be represented by a project
sponsor. The project sponsor must be a public agency of state, mu