Conn Receives Recovery Funding for Floodplain Easements

Woodbury will receive $888,270 in recovery funding to restore 65 acres of floodplain to its natural state through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. This is part of the USDA's effort to restore floodplains to ensure they work properly while helping maintain jobs in rural America.

The Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program's floodplain easement component allows USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) to acquire permanent easements on private land, or certain land owned by units of state and local governments, that have been damaged by flooding at least once in the last 12 months or twice in the past 10 years. Once the easements have been established, NRCS will fund conservation work necessary to restore the land to its natural state.

Restoring floodplains to a natural state ensures they function properly --conserving and improving fish and wildlife habitat, water quality, flood water retention, ground water recharge, and open space; reducing long-term federal disaster assistance; and safeguarding lives and property from floods, drought, and erosion. Landowners retain several rights to the property, including quiet enjoyment, control of public access, and undeveloped recreational use such as hunting and fishing.

During this ARRA floodplain easement sign-up, USDA received more than 4,200 applications, totaling over $1.4 billion and representing 479,000 acres of flood-prone land in 47 states and territories.

All applications were submitted voluntarily and were rigorously screened to ensure they met specific criteria before selection, such as the impact and connectivity of streams and floodplains, their proximity to wetlands and wildlife habitat, and the likelihood of generating jobs through restoration activities. These activities include, but are not limited to, removal of structures that impede or alter water flow; re-establishing natural vegetation; and restoring fish migration routes.