Adding Water Storage to NRCS Watershed

Rehabilitation Projects to Boost Resiliency to

Climate ChangeJan Marie Surface

Watershed Planning SpecialistUSDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

National Water Management Center

The Watershed Program: Providing Multiple Benefits to Communities for Over 65 Years

• Congress established the Watershed Program by enacting the Flood Control Act of 1944 (Public Law 78-534) and the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act of 1954 (Public Law 83-566).

• Under these authorizations, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has assisted watershed project sponsors in the construction of more than 11,800 flood control dams in 1,300 watersheds in 47 States since 1948.

• These projects provide an estimated $2.2 billion in annual benefits in reduced flooding and erosion damages, recreation, water supplies and wildlife habitat.

Time Has Taken Its Toll on Dams

• Many dams today are in a far different setting than when they were constructed.

o Population has increased; o Residential and commercial development has

occurred upstream and downstream from the dams; o Land uses have changed; o Sediment pools have filled; and o Concrete and metal components have deteriorated.

Watershed Rehabilitation Amendments of 2000

• The Watershed Rehabilitation Amendments of 2000 which amended the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act (Public Law 83-566) authorized NRCS to provide technical and financial assistance to watershed project sponsors in rehabilitating their aging dams.

• The purpose of rehabilitation is to extend the service life of the dams and bring them into compliance with applicable safety and performance standards or to decommission the dams so they no longer pose a threat to life and property.

• NRCS provides technical assistance and 65 percent cost share on approved rehabilitation projects. Funding for projects comes from Congressional appropriations.

• The 2014 Farm Bill authorized $250 million for watershed rehabilitation and Congress appropriated an additional $12 million for FY2015 and $10.4 million for FY2016.

New to Watershed Rehabilitation Program Starting in FY 2014*

• NRCS may use funds to cost share a new water storage purpose or to expand the current water storage purpose

• Cost share rate will be the same 65% Federal 35% Sponsor (up to 100% of the construction costs)

• Must justify need for additional water storage purpose

*Note: This new policy was established through a memorandum dated July 15, 2014.

Eligible Water Storage Purposes

• Flood Prevention (Flood Damage Reduction)

• Watershed Protection

• Public Recreation

• Public Fish and Wildlife

• Agricultural Water Management

• Municipal and Industrial Water Supply

• Water Quality Management

Example Scenarios to Address Climate Change Resiliency

• Adding storage to capture additional spring runoff

• Release water throughout the drier summer months to maintain required baseflow for healthy fisheries habitat

Example Scenarios to Address Climate Change Resiliency

• Adding additional storage for water supply (municipal or industrial)

• In areas where ground water supply is being depleted or current water supply does not meet the current or anticipated water supply needs

Example Scenarios to Address Climate Change Resiliency

• Adding storage to capture additional spring runoff

• Release water throughout the drier summer months for irrigation

• Coupled with on-farm irrigation efficiency improvements

Watershed Rehabilitation Planning Process is the Opportunity to Discuss Options to Address Climate Change Resiliency

• Scoping Meetings

• Public Participation Meetings

• Alternatives Formulation

• Consultation and Coordination with other Federal, State, and Tribal Agencies

• Locally led process • Great opportunity to discuss climate change resiliency and

potential options for adding additional water storage or new water storage purpose

Other Opportunities outside of Watershed Rehabilitation

• Regional Conservation Partnership Program

• PL-566 authority is available in critical conservation areas for newprojects (watershed rehabilitation projects are not eligible)

• Announcement of Program Funding preproposals have already been submitted for this year• Another APF will occur in FY2017

Search for “Regional Conservation Partnership Program” for additional information

Factsheets on RCPP PL-566 Authority• Use of Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act

Authority in the Regional Conservation Partnership Program• RCPP PL-566 Planning Requirements Fact Sheet

NRCS Contacts

Jesse WilsonNRCS National Watershed Rehabilitation Program Manager

Jesse.Wilson@wdc.usda.gov(202) 720-0189

Jan Marie SurfaceWatershed Planning Specialist

NRCS National Water Management CenterJan.Surface@ar.usda.gov

(501)210-8902

Maggie RhodesNRCS RCPP Team Leader

rcpp@wdc.usda.gov (shared team email)

Questions?