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DC Talking Points        July 2008

 
Flood Guide Sheets
While the floods have receded, NRCS continues to work with communities and landowners to provide
guidance and resources to aid in the clean up. NRCS is providing technical assistance to farmers
affected by the floods. Two great resources are available to assist producers tying to rehabilitate
damaged fields. One is “Soil Quality Reclamation for Spring Flood Damaged Fields”, and the other is
“Cover Crops to Reclaim Soil Quality in Flood Damaged Fields”. Both are available on the web at
http://www.in.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/EWP/EWPhomepage.html.

Flood Funding
NRCS’ Emergency Watershed Program (EWP) is providing assistance to communities where lives and
property are threatened. EWP can fund debris removal from streams, protect destabilized stream banks,
establish cover on critically eroding lands, and repair conservation practices. All EWP projects must
have a sponsor that is a legal subdivision of state government, such as an SWCD, that is able to provide
25% of the project cost.

To date Indiana has requested $2.5 million for urgent, or ‘exigency’ EWP projects, and $15 million for
longer term ‘non-exigency’ projects. Indiana has also requested $6 million for the Floodplain Easement
Program (FEP), and is waiting to hear if funding is approved for this program. In addition $1 million is
available through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), and $15,000 is available
through the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) to repair conservation practices damaged by
the floods that were originally installed through these programs.

Indiana State Fair

The Indiana State Fair will run from Wednesday August 6 through Sunday August 17. The Indiana
Conservation Partnership’s Pathway to Water Quality has several improvements this year, including a
new and improved “What Can I Do At Home?” area. Pathway will once again feature the Chicago Field
Museum’s “Soil Adventure Mobile,” with special programs offered Saturday August 16 and Sunday
August 17. To volunteer for a shift at Pathway, please sign up on-line at
http://www.iaswcd.org/pwqsignup/PWQ_2008_list.php.

http://www.in.nrcs.usda.gov/intranet/DC%20talking%20points/DC_TalkPts_7-08.htm 9/8/2008