U.S. Department of Agriculture is investing in watershed infrastructure to increase natural disaster preparedness and recovery.
USDA is spending $265 million through the Natural Resources Conservation Service for 28 Emergency Watershed Protection infrastructure projects in 16 states that have sustained extreme weather events, according to a May 22 news release. The funds are part of President Joe Biden's administration's Investing in America agenda.
"The Biden-Harris administration is focused on ensuring that flood prone communities have every tool possible to prepare and to recover from the next extreme weather emergency," Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in the news release. "Programs like Emergency Watershed Protection can help communities with recovery efforts, and this historic investment, in tandem with the floodplain buyouts opportunity through Bipartisan Infrastructure Law investments, provides relief to communities impacted by natural disasters."
Targeted projects, including stream bank stabilization, flood prevention and watershed restoration projects, are part of $925 million earmarked in the 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act, the release reported.
The Natural Resources Conservation Service also announced the availability of up to $135 million through Emergency Watershed Protection buyouts for property in limited resource areas impacted by constant flooding, according to the release. The buyouts are part of the broader Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding for watershed infrastructure and aim to support communities in enhancing their climate resiliency.
This announcement reflects the goals of Biden's Investing in America agenda, growing the U.S. economy from the bottom up and middle-out, rebuilding the nation’s infrastructure and providing $470 billion in private sector manufacturing and clean energy investments, the release said. The goal is also to create good-paying jobs and build a clean-energy economy along the way.
Funded projects this fiscal year include recovery efforts from the Arizona Pipeline Fire, New Mexico Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak Fire, Southeast Kentucky flooding and Florida's Hurricane Ian, the release reported.
