Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP)-Recovery

The program is designed to help people and conserve natural resources by relieving imminent hazards to life and property caused by floods, fires, wind­storms, and other natural occurrences. EWP is an emergency recovery program. All projects undertaken, with the exception of the purchase of floodplain easements, must have a project sponsor. NRCS may bear up to 75% of the construction cost of emergency measures. The remaining 25% must come from local sources and can be in the form of cash or in-kind services. Funding is subject to Congressional approval.

Public and private landowners are eligible for assistance, but must be represented by a project sponsor that must be a legal subdivision of the State, such as a city, county, township or conservation district, and Native American Tribes or Tribal governments.

Dealing with extreme weather events is a way to adapt to the changing climate, which includes an increase in such events.