News - Arizona
News - National
|
| |
Apache County Receives Additional Funds from NRCS for Wallow Fire Recovery
SPRINGERVILLE,
Ariz. July 26, 2011 – Severe flooding and erosion are serious threats to the
communities impacted by the Wallow fire. To help reduce flooding and erosion
damages, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is providing $90,300
of additional financial help to Apache County through its Emergency Watershed
Protection Program (EWP).
Total project funds are $120,400. Seventy-five percent of the financial
assistance is provided through EWP, and Apache County is providing the remaining
25 percent. NRCS administers the EWP Program, which responds to emergencies
created by natural disasters, such as wildfires and floods. Funding for the
program is provided through emergency congressional appropriations.
Earlier in July, NRCS and Apache County funded recovery projects in the northern
Wallow fire area totaling approximately $400,000. Apache County requested and
was provided further assistance to implement additional flood and erosion
protection to the Alpine and adjacent areas. The county began installing these
treatments on July 25. Some of the most common measures for flood mitigation are
sandbags, concrete barriers and ditch clearing/widening to assist in flood
control.
Sandbags are a simple yet highly effective way to prevent or reduce flood water
damage around your home. Properly filled and placed sandbags act as a barrier to
divert moving water, surface drainage and sediment around, instead of through,
buildings. Through this method does not guarantee a water-tight seal, it does
provide effective protection in most situations. Consult the Apache County Flood
Preparedness Guide to locate staging areas of sandbags
http://www.co.apache.az.us/PDFs/HealthDp/FloodGuide.pdf .
Fire recovery workshops, hosted by the Forest Service will be held on July 28,
2011. Information will be available on topics such as rehabilitation efforts;
grazing; livestock and agriculture; watershed and forest restoration; community
infrastructure; small business assistance; and housing and insurance. There will
be an identical afternoon (2:00 – 4:30 p.m.) and evening session (6:00 – 8:30
p.m.) at Round Valley High School. Among the representatives at the workshops
will be the Forest Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Rural
Development, Farm Service Agency, FEMA, AZ State Forestry, AZ Division of
Emergency Management, AZ Department of Agriculture and AZ Department of
Insurance, and other county and local agency partners.
NRCS is also providing conservation planning to farmers and ranchers who have
been impacted or are in close proximity to areas that were affected by the
wildfire. Conservation planning is a fundamental starting point for maintaining
and improving the natural resources that support a productive and profitable
agricultural operation. Following a natural disaster, such as a wildfire,
conservation planning can help restore the production of the land.
Apache County determines the sites receiving EWP assistance for the northern
wallow fire area, due to their role as program sponsor. For more information
about participating in EWP please contact Apache County Engineer, Ferrin Crosby,
at (928) 337-7528. Contact your local field office in Springerville at
928-333-4941 for more information in receiving technical assistance on your
property or visit www.az.nrcs.usda.gov.
#
|