NRCS Offers Programs to Deal with Emergencies and Disasters

Much of the West saw wildfires or other disasters over the summer and that Natural Resources Conservation Service is reminding landowners that they might be able to help.

NRCS’ Aston Boozer said one such program is Environmental Quality Incentives Program which is being used by California residents to receive funding to recover from wildfires.

“We have also our EWP, Emergency Watershed Protection Program. Through those two programs, and then our conservation technical assistance, those three give us an opportunity to work with landowners, assess the landscape and provide an opportunity for a contract to really address what needs we might find.”

The EWP is program where a group of landowners, with the backing of a local sponsor like a government agency, to address larger projects such as preventing flooding after a wildfire.

Boozer said they have a wide variety of the practices they can utilize to help landowners recover or protect their lands after a disaster.

“We’ll utitlize that landscape, tailor it within where it meets that particular need to address an issue, but also that works for that landowner.”

For more information, contact your local NRCS office.