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United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service
1221 College Park Drive, Suite 100
Dover, Delaware 19904
 
For More Information:

Paul Petrichenko, 302/678-4180
Dastina Johnson, 302/678-4179

USDA offers sign-up to RESTORE AND PROTECT FLOOD-PRONE LANDS IN Delaware WITH ECONOMIC RECOVERY FUNDING

    DOVER, Del., March 17, 2009 – The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will provide funding to eligible landowners in Delaware through the floodplain easement component of its Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program.

    State Conservationist Russell Morgan recently announced that sign-up is now underway and eligible landowners can sign up until March 27, 2009 at their local USDA Service Center.  Funding comes from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009, part of the economic stimulus, and will cover both technical and financial assistance to restore the floodplains.  Funds will be used to restore acres of frequently flooded land to its natural state and create jobs.

    To be eligible, land must meet the following criteria: 1) must be located in a floodplain, 2) must have been damaged by flooding once in the past twelve months or twice in the past ten years, and 3) the floodplain functions and values, including hydrology and vegetation, must be restorable back to natural conditions.  In addition, the landowner should ensure the land is free of hazardous materials and has a clean deed.

     Under the floodplain easement option, a landowner voluntarily offers to sell NRCS a permanent conservation easement. In exchange, a landowner receives the lowest of the three values established for the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) as an easement payment: 1) a market analysis by the NRCS, 2) a landowner's offer, or 3) the geographic rate caps established by the WRP.  Landowners will maintain ownership of the land but give up surface rights—including growing crops or building permanent structures.

    The goal is to have all floodplain easements acquired and restored within 12-18 months.  USDA is providing up to $145 million nationwide.  No more than $30 million can be spent in any one state.

    Restored floodplains will 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.    

    To learn more about the EWP floodplain easement sign-up, contact: Jayme Arthurs, Program Specialist, (302) 678-4191, jayme.arthurs@de.usda.gov or Paul Petrichenko, ASTC Programs, (302) 678-4180, paul.petrichenko@de.usda.gov . Or visit http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/ewp/Floodplain/index.html for more information.

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Last Modified:  04/30/2007 11:06:32 AM