Emergency Watershed Program Repairing 4 Storm-Damaged Sites in Northern California

Contact:
Anita Brown (530) 792-5644
Charles Davis (530) 792-5622

DAVIS, Calif., Feb. 10, 2006—The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and partners are repairing storm-eroded stream banks supporting homes and businesses in the four northern California counties of Contra Costa, Napa, Sonoma and Yolo. The current projects total $425,000; eight additional projects with an estimated construction cost of $2 million are on a waiting list for federal funding, and sites in six more counties are being assessed for program eligibility.

"In the face of sudden disasters, these local communities need extra help to put the stream banks back in functioning order and protect the homes and businesses that have been put in danger," said Lincoln "Ed" Burton, NRCS State Conservationist. "These emergency efforts will help respond to the communities' needs and help restore critical watersheds recovering from the storms."

Northern California communities sustained damage from strong Pacific storms that began December 19, 2005, and continued through New Year’s weekend. The series of winter storms brought heavy rains, mudslides and flooding to communities that in some areas saw an average of four inches of rain within a 24-hour period. Moderate to severe soil erosion in the form of landslides, mass soil movement, and stream bank/levee scour were common throughout several northern California counties during the storm events; Napa County alone experienced over 13,000 acres of land inundated during the storms. As a result, homes and other infrastructures need immediate protective measures.

The NRCS-administered Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP) provides technical and cost share assistance for the needed restoration. Through EWP, the agency and its sponsors assess the storm-induced threats and identify potential remedies to the damaged watershed to protect life and property. Remedies typically include erosion control measures, removing sediment and debris to restore stream capacity, reshaping and protecting eroding banks, repairing levees, and reseeding damaged areas.

Currently, however, due to limited national funds, only projects classified as "exigencies"—where an imminent threat to life and property exists—have been funded.

NRCS and partners continue to prepare damage survey reports detailing damages and proposed restoration activities on sites in Butte, Colusa, Humboldt, Marin, Plumas and Sacramento.

Eligible EWP projects require a local sponsor which is typically a unit of county or state government who is responsible for providing 25 percent of the project cost as well as acquiring all needed permits and landrights required to construct the project. They also are responsible for operation and maintenance if required.

Current project sponsors include the Southern Sonoma County Resource Conservation District, Napa County Flood Control District, Yolo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, and Contra Costa County.

To view photos of emergency watershed work being done in Contra Costa, Napa, Sonoma and Yolo counties, go to www.ca.nrcs.usda.gov/news/releases/2006/EWP_news21006_photos.html.

Information on NRCS natural disaster assistance in California can be found on the Web at www.ca.nrcs.usda.gov/ and for EWP at www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/EWP/.

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