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- Sponsoring local organizations can request that watershed project plans be
authorized for Federal Watershed Operations funding assistance.
- Watershed
plans involving Federal contributions in excess of $5,000,000 for contribution,
or construction of any single structure having a capacity in excess of 2,500
acre feet, require Congressional approval.
- Other plans can be authorized
for Federal funding by the Chief of NRCS.
- After approval, technical and financial assistance can be provided for
installation of works of improvement specified in the plans, subject to annual
appropriations, through Watershed Operations.
Watershed Operations assistance may be provided in authorized watershed projects
to install conservation practices and project measures (works of improvement)
throughout the watershed project area. The planned works of improvement are
described in watershed project plans and are normally scheduled to be installed
over multiple years. All works of improvement, including floodwater
retarding dams and reservoirs, are owned and operated by the sponsoring local
organizations and participating individuals.
Eligibility criteria for authorized watershed projects include:
- Public sponsorship
- Watershed projects up to 250,000 acres
- Benefits that are directly related to agriculture, including rural
communities, that are at least 20 percent of the total benefits of the project
Watershed Operations provides technical and financial assistance in
authorized watershed projects which have public sponsors who:
- Conduct public meetings to assure local involvement
- Obtain all land and water rights and permits required for the installation
of works of improvement
- Provide local share of funds to install works of improvement
- Operate and maintain works of improvement
Watershed Operations funds that may be available for watershed projects are
subject to the following:
- Annual Congressional appropriations
- State and national resource priorities
- Acquisition of land and water rights, permits
- Local funding established for specific project measures
- Completion of structural, agronomic, and vegetative designs for project
measures
- NRCS and the project sponsor approval of an Operation and Maintenance
Agreement involving the measures to be installed
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