MORGANTOWN, (W.Va.)– Several communities in West Virginia have received funding for flood protection and water supply infrastructure projects as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, also known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). These projects will help communities protect lives, property, and the watershed as a result of climate change and extreme weather events.
The first round of projects funded by the IIJA was announced last week by President Joe Biden and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) investing more than $166.5 million in 108 infrastructure projects in 23 states, including West Virginia.
Through this first round, NRCS prioritized projects in communities heavily impacted by drought and other natural disasters as well as historically underserved and limited resource communities.
“The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to building back better, and this starts with our infrastructure,” Vilsack said. “Protecting our watersheds and saving lives is paramount. These investments in our watershed programs will provide much needed support for communities to build resilience in the face of climate change. We can extend financial assistance to underserved communities that live in constant fear of flooding, help with the effects of severe weather events, and put systems in place that will ensure a climate resilient future to help communities thrive in the years to come.”
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, signed in November by President Biden, provided $918 million for NRCS watershed programs, which includes the Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations (WFPO) Program, Watershed Rehabilitation Program (REHAB) , and Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program. Through NRCS watershed programs, NRCS works with local, eligible sponsors, including state government entities, local municipalities, conservation districts, and federally recognized tribal organizations.
Watershed Rehabilitation projects in West Virginia focus on repairing existing infrastructure, and they include:
· North & South Mill Creek Site 3(Grant Co.)
· North & South Mill Creek Site 4 (Grant Co.)
· Pocatalico Site 28 (Jackson Co.)
· Brush Creek Site 12 (Mercer Co.)
· Bonds Creek Site 1 (Ritchie Co.)
· Big Ditch Site 1 (Webster Co.)
Meanwhile, Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations projects in West Virginia focus on new infrastructure, and they include:
· Daves Fork-Christian Fork Watershed (Mercer Co.)
· Harmon Creek Watershed (Brooke Co.)
· Marlin Run Watershed (Pocahontas Co.)
· Mill Creek Watershed (Jackson Co.)
· New Creek Watershed (Grant/Mineral Cos.)
· Patterson Creek Watershed (Grant/Mineral Cos.)
· Polk Creek Watershed (Lewis Co.)
· Salem Fork Watershed (Harrison Co.)
· Saltlick Creek Watershed (Braxton Co.)
· Sleepy Creek Watershed (Berkeley/Morgan Co.)
· South Fork River Watershed (Hardy/Pendleton Cos.)
· Town of Rainelle (Meadow River Watershed, Greenbrier Co.)
· Upper Buffalo Creek Watershed (Marion Co.)
· Upper Deckers Creek Watershed (Preston Co.)
· Upper Grave Creek Watershed (Marshall Co.)
· Warm Springs Run Watershed (Morgan Co.)
· Wolf Creek Watershed (Fayette Co.)
IIJA also provided EWP funds and those funds are available for communities to respond to natural disasters. NRCS will continue to assist communities as it receives disaster requests.
A full list of projects is available on NRCS’ Landscape Planning and Watershed Programs webpage.
Implementing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
Since the bill was signed into law, NRCS has hosted training webinars focused on educating potential sponsors and historically underserved communities about the funding opportunities provided by the new legislation.
NRCS conducted an assessment of current needs for watershed protection and flood prevention work. This assessment supported the establishment of priorities that focused funding on the most critical and highest priority projects for improving the Nation’s land and water resources.
NRCS encourages local sponsors to submit requests for funding through their local NRCS Watershed Program Manager. For West Virginia projects, contact Don Dodd at donny.dodd@usda.gov/304-244- 9019. On March 31, 2022, NRCS will compile any additional request received and develop a second list of projects to fund. After March 31, 2022, NRCS will continue to review and fund requests as funds are available.
More Information
Since their enactment in 1948, NRCS’ watershed programs have designed and built 11,000 dams, constructed water storage structures, flood management systems, bank stabilization, moved towns, redirected stream flows, re-established wildlife habitat and more to save lives and protect watersheds.
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit usda.gov.
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