Help for Landowners Hard-hit by Recent Flooding

WASHINGTON, March 26, 2009

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA is extending the sign-up period - until April 10, 2009 - for floodplain easement assistance, a component of the department's Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP). Nationwide, up to $145 million has been made available to eligible landowners through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and includes both technical and financial assistance.

"President Obama wants to make sure that landowners in states impacted by the recent flooding are given ample opportunity to apply for this assistance," said Vilsack. "This extension is part of USDA's plan to mitigate the impact of future flooding by restoring the landscape to its natural hydrology and native vegetation."

Floodplains generate many public benefits, such as increased flood protection, enhanced fish and wildlife habitat, improved water quality and a reduced need for future public disaster assistance. Other benefits include reduced energy consumption when certain agricultural activities and practices are eliminated and increased carbon sequestration as permanent native vegetative cover is re-established. In addition, easements are a great way to preserve your land and establish a legacy while maintaining ownership of the land.

"NRCS will be working with landowners who voluntarily agree to restore the floodplains to their natural condition by placing their land into easements," said NRCS State Conservationist Gary Kobylski. "These easements will convert environmentally sensitive land into riparian corridors and wooded bottomlands that are so vital for fish and wildlife habitat and to mitigate downstream flooding."

Lands located within floodplains that have had damages to crops or soil erosion associated with flood events may be eligible. All interested landowners are encouraged to sign-up for the funding by visiting their local NRCS office. The sign-up period will close April 10, 2009. For eligibility requirements, landowners should refer to the Emergency Watershed Protection - Floodplain Easement fact sheet on the web at: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/ewp/Floodplain/index.html

More information about NRCS and other conservation programs is available on the NRCS Web site at www.nrcs.usda.gov  or contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service office.