Hurricane Katrina Aftermath Reports

Wednesday, September 28, 2005

• Conecuh County, AL - Recent rains from Hurricane Katrina and remnants of Hurricane Rita caused erosion that threatened a county road that is a main bus route and access for a rural community in Conecuh County. Water, gas and phone service are also threatened by continued erosion at this site. Conecuh County Engineer Winston Foshee has learned the value of the Emergency Watershed Program to the county infrastructure and has identified several sites. District Conservationist Walker Williams and his staff have been investigating the sites for possible EWP assistance.

• Farm Service Agency advised that the State Committee could allow Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) plantations with severe damage to be clear-cut and replanted with cost-share. Normally, when a stand of CRP trees is required to be cut or thinned, the applicant must forgo their annual CRP payment for that year. For Hurricane Katrina damage only, a waiver has been authorized with no reduction in the annual CRP payment. If the entire stand is not damaged to the extent that it needs to be clear-cut, Alabama Forestry Commission can recommend thinning and salvaging the damaged trees, again without a reduction in payment (only from Hurricane Katrina damage). Thinning requests which will fall below 200 trees per acre (TPA) will require a waiver from the State Conservationist.
  
   

Jerry Davidson, Washington County landowner, surveys the  Hurricane Katrina damage to trees on land that is enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). NRCS continues to work with Farm Service Agency to stay abreast of regulations that will affect CRP land.

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