DC Talking Points July 2008

Flood Guide Sheets

While the floods have receded, NRCS continues to work with communities and landowners to provide guidance and resources to aid in the clean up. NRCS is providing technical assistance to farmers affected by the floods. Two great resources are available to assist producers tying to rehabilitate damaged fields. One is “Soil Quality Reclamation for Spring Flood Damaged Fields”, and the other is “Cover Crops to Reclaim Soil Quality in Flood Damaged Fields”. Both are available on the web at http://www.in.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/EWP/EWPhomepage.html.

Flood Funding

NRCS’ Emergency Watershed Program (EWP) is providing assistance to communities where lives and property are threatened. EWP can fund debris removal from streams, protect destabilized stream banks, establish cover on critically eroding lands, and repair conservation practices. All EWP projects must have a sponsor that is a legal subdivision of state government, such as an SWCD, that is able to provide 25% of the project cost.

To date Indiana has requested $2.5 million for urgent, or ‘exigency’ EWP projects, and $15 million for longer term ‘non-exigency’ projects. Indiana has also requested $6 million for the Floodplain Easement Program (FEP), and is waiting to hear if funding is approved for this program. In addition $1 million is available through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), and $15,000 is available through the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) to repair conservation practices damaged by the floods that were originally installed through these programs.

Indiana State Fair

The Indiana State Fair will run from Wednesday August 6 through Sunday August 17. The Indiana Conservation Partnership’s Pathway to Water Quality has several improvements this year, including a new and improved “What Can I Do At Home?” area. Pathway will once again feature the Chicago Field Museum’s “Soil Adventure Mobile,” with special programs offered Saturday August 16 and Sunday August 17. To volunteer for a shift at Pathway, please sign up on-line at http://www.iaswcd.org/pwqsignup/PWQ_2008_list.php.