We deliver conservation solutions so agricultural producers can protect natural resources and feed a growing world.
The Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP) in Michigan, administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), offers technical and financial assistance to local communities for the relief of imminent threats to life and property caused by natural disasters such as floods, fires, windstorms, and other events impacting watersheds. EWP support does not require a disaster declaration by federal or state government officials, allowing quicker response to emergencies. The program also features a Floodplain Easement option designed for emergency recovery efforts, including the purchase of floodplain easements, to protect against flooding or soil erosion. This option supports communities frequently impacted by flooding, where easements serve as a mechanism for reducing or eliminating property damage and restoring and protecting floodplains. Through this program, NRCS may purchase easements on a voluntary basis from landowners, providing them with full fair market value and up to 100 percent of restoration and enhancement costs.
Available funds are prioritized for Low-Resource Areas (LRAs). These areas are characterized by housing values and incomes that fall below the state average, combined with unemployment rates that are at least double the national average.