Historic State Park Receives Funding for Flood Damage Cleanup

By Dee Ann Littlefield

Good things are in store in the near future for Mother Neff State Park.  Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) officials received word in early April that their application for funding through Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWPP) had been approved. The funding will go towards debris clean up and removal of a log jam caused by extensive flooding.

Since 1921, this historical park has grown to be a popular destination for generations of families and friends to relax, have fun and make memories. Located in central Texas southwest of Waco, the park offers prime hiking, fishing and camping opportunities with the Leon River coursing through the scenic property.

In May 2015, torrential rains caused heaving flooding in the area resulting in a large log jam piling up just shy of a county road’s bridge that travelers use to reach the park’s entrance. The log jam hindered stream flow, making the area susceptible to subsequent flooding events that occurred in October 2015. The original part of the park near the Leon River has remained closed due to flood damage since May 24, 2015.

The Mother Neff State Park project is a recent national EWPP funding totaling $93 million dedicated to post-disaster recovery efforts in watersheds in 18 states. The park’s significant log jam served as the back drop for the national announcement made by NRCS Assistant Chief Kirk Hanlin.

“Funded through the Farm Bill, EWPP allows NRCS to work with local and state governments to help recover from natural disasters – floods, hurricanes, and forest fires,” Hanlin told the crowd of project partners gathered at Mother Neff State Park. “The EWPP program differs from the way we normally work with private landowners in that it allows us to work directly with state and local governments, with them providing 25 percent of the cost and NRCS putting in the other 75 percent.”

Texas will receive $21.2 million in conservation funding through the EWPP to repair damages in 17 Texas counties affected by severe flooding caused by heavy rain, up to 20 inches in some locations, that occurred in May 2015.

“In order for us to get work like this completed, it is critical for local governments to have a federal partner,” Hanlin said. “The federal match to local dollars actually makes it possible to do this.”

The flooding damage that occurred at Mother Neff State Park is an example of one of the 55 EWPP funded in Texas, with 3 of those being in State Parks with TWPD as the project partner.

 “One thing we have learned about Mother Nature is that she always bat’s last and she remains undefeated,” said Rodney Franklin, regional director for TPWD. “Mother Neff State Park is one of our most popular state parks. This funding will help with debris removal so we can open up this historic area for visitors again.”

Claude Ross, natural resource specialist for NRCS, estimates cleanup work in the park will begin in the next few months with project completion in the summer of 2016.