NRCS Colorado PL-566 Small Watershed Program

The Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act of 1954, Public Law 86-566 (Small Watershed Program) authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to provide technical and financial assistance to local sponsors for planning and carrying out watershed projects. These watershed projects are for flood protection of agricultural lands and rural infrastructure, watershed land treatment, water quality, and agricultural water management.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Colorado has provided technical and financial assistance to Watershed projects throughout the state. NRCS in cooperation with local Conservation Districts, landowners, and other partners has installed many structures for flood control and improved millions of acres of agricultural land. NRCS has invested significant funds within the state to complete the flood protection and land treatment goals of PL-566 projects in Colorado. Questions or comments may be directed to you local USDA Field Service Center or the NRCS Colorado State Office.

Colorado Small Watershed Program - 2002 Annual Report

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Colorado Small Watershed Program 2003 Annual Report

Additional Information

NRCS Watershed Protection, Watershed Surveys, and Flood Prevention National Web Site

Section 3 of Public Law 83-566
Provides for assisting sponsoring local organizations to develop a plan on watersheds not exceeding 250,000 acres. During planning, problems such as water quality, flooding, water and land management, and sedimentation are evaluated and works of improvement are proposed to alleviate problems. The resulting watershed plans estimate benefits, costs, cost- sharing rates, and arrange for operation and maintenance necessary to justify Federal assistance to install works of improvement.

Section 6 of Public Law 83-566
Provides for cooperation with Federal, State, and local agencies in making investigations and surveys of river basins as a basis for the development of coordinated water resource programs. Reports of the investigations and surveys serve as guides for the development of water, land, and related resources in agricultural, rural, and urban areas within upstream watershed settings. They also serve as a basis for coordination with major river systems and other phases of water resource management and development.