USDA Watershed Program hasthe Flexibility to Address ManyNatural Resource ProblemsThe Watershed Protection and FloodPrevent ion Program (WatershedProgram) is administered by the USDANatural Resources Conservation Service(NRCS).

The Watershed Program providesassistance to public sponsors includingcities, towns, resource conservationdistricts and others, to address a varietyof critical natural resource problems.

Several federal programs are available tohelp individual land users to addresscritical resource needs. However, theWatershed Program uniquelycomplements these programs byassist ing public entit ies to installmeasures thatbenefit multiple landusersor entire communities.

The Watershed Program and otheravailable programs provide landusersand communities with the opportunityto address natural resource needs inentire watersheds.

The watershed program is utilized bypublic sponsors to address a variety ofneeds, including:Flood damage mitigation using:floodwater retarding dams

and similar measuresfloodplain easementsfloodproofing of homes and

businesses

Agricultural water supply (includingwater for rural communities)

Water quality

Water conservation

Groundwater recharge

Public fish and wildlife habitat

Public water-based recreation

Neshaminy CreekWatershed ProjectMany of the earlier watershed projectswere organized to reduce flooding andusually included flood control dams.Today, other methods are also used toreduce flood damages where damsmight not be feasible.This is being donein the Neshaminy Creek WatershedProject in Pennsylvania where eight

Flood Control

USDA Watershed ProgramMeeting Today’s Natural Resource Needs

Over 11,000 flood control dams have beenconstructed in 2,000 watersheds across the nation.

Snake River Watershed Project

The city of Warren, Minnesota, alsofound a way to reduce flooding withoutconstructing dams.The city had endurednumerous floods throughout its history.In 1996 and 1997 three major floodscaused 12.7 million dollars in damages.

In 1997 the USDA Natural ResourcesConservation Service (NRCS) was askedby the local sponsors, the city of Warrenand Middle River-Snake RiverWatershedDistrict, to resume planning on theSnake RiverWatershed Project. Planningon this project was started in the 1980s,but had beenterminated at the sponsor’srequest.In November1999,the planningfor this project was completed.

An excavated floodway was constructedaround the city of Warren and afloodwater storage impoundment wasbuilt upstream from the city. Thefloodwater storage impoundmentensures that flood levels won’t beincreased downstream of Warren orupstream of the floodway diversionstructure.The storage impoundment isan excavated areathat temporarily storeswater when the floodway can’t handlethe flow.

The project will provide 100-yearfrequency flood protection for the cityof Warren. Although not 100 percentcompleted at the time, the projectprovided significant flood reductionduring storms in the Spring of 2006.

Storage impoundment upstream fromWarren,Minnesota, temporarily storing floodwater during storms in the Spring of 2006.

Floodway diverting water around the city ofWarren, Minnesota.

House elevated out of danger from high water inthe Neshaminy CreekWatershed Project.

flood control dams had been built andone more was planned. Rather thanconstructing the remaining dam in theproject, local people chose anotheroption that included the purchase andremoval of homes, elevating homes toa safe level from flood water,development of a flood warning system,storm water management, andfloodplain regulations.

This new water flume in partof a water distribution system developedas part of the Lower Hamakua Ditch Watershed Project.

The Lower Hamakua Ditch Watershed Project in Hawaii is agood example of local people using the watershed program toconserve and distribute water for agricultural uses to a largerural acreage.

The old ditch system was constructed between 1900 and 1910by large sugar companies. After the collapse of the HamakuaSugar Company in 1994, the system was abandoned. Flumesand other parts of the system had deteriorated over the years.

The project consisted of restoring the water distribution systemthat now provides irrigation water for 2,500 acres of diversifiedcrop farming operations and 6,000 acres of grazing lands.

Agricultural Water Management

Water-Based Recreational Development

Many communities have utilized the watershed program to assist indevelopment of water-based recreational areas.This is one of severalareas around a lake in the Deer CreekWatershed incentral Oklahomathat was developed with cost-share funds provided through theWatershed Program.

Sponsors of watershed projects must be entities of state orlocal government or a tribe. Approved projects are eligiblefor technical and financial assistance from the NaturalResources Conservation Service.

For more information about the USDA Watershed Programcontact any NRCS field or state office.

“The U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination inall its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin,age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status,parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, politicalbeliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual’s income is derivedfrom any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to allprograms.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means forcommunication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape,etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice andTDD). To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director, Officeof CivilRights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.,Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).USDA is anequal opportunity provider and employer.”

Water Quality Projects

This fact sheet was developed by theNational Watershed Coalit ion incooperation with the USDA NaturalResources Conservation Service.October 2006

www.watershedcoalition.org

Westmoreland County, PennsylvaniaStates are utilizing the watershed program to address waterquality issues. One such project is the Monastery RunWatershed Project.

Mine drainage fromabandoned deep mines inthis 7,740acre watershed isimpacting water qualityand aquatic habitat in 20miles of stream. Deep minesubsidence is also a publicsafety hazard and the mine drainage is adversely affecting theaesthetics of the area.

The watershed project plan includes the treatment of fivedrainage sites with passive wetland treatment systems and theback filling of a deep mine subsidence to eliminate a safetyhazard and prevent a stream from entering a deep mine.

The project was authorized for funding in 1996 with a totalcost of the project exceeding a million dollars (50 percentfunding from the watershed program and 50 percent fundingfrom local sponsors).

Five of the passive treatment systems have been completedand 214 tons of iron are being removed from Monastery Runannually. The constructed wetlands are also being utilized bySaint Vincent College as outdoor teaching laboratories.

When completed the project will provide over $100,000 inannual benefits to the area in improved water quality inMonastery Run, Fourmile Run and Loyalhanna Creeks,elimination of a safety hazard, restoration of 20 miles of fishery,and enhanced aesthetics in the area.