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<br />which protect and conserve valuable farmland for future <br />generations. USDA assistance also helps individuals and <br />communities restore natural resources after floods, fires, <br />or other natural disasters. <br />The following cost-share programs are managed by <br />USDA's Farm Service Agency and Natural Resources <br />Conservation Service. For details, contact the local USDA <br />Service Center. <br />EMERGENCY CONSERVATION PROGRAM (ECP) <br />provides financial assistance to farmers and ranchers for <br />restoring farmland damaged seriously enough by natural <br />disasters to impede normal farming operations. ECP <br />also helps with funds for carrying out emergency water <br />conservation measures during periods of severe drought. <br />Emergency conservation assistance is available for remov- <br />ing debris and restoring permanent fences, dams, ponds, <br />irrigation systems, and other installations. Conservation <br />problems that existed before a disaster are not eligible. <br />EMERGENCY WATERSHED PROTECTION PROGRAM <br />(EWP) is designed to reduce threats to life and property <br />in communities ravaged by natural disasters. It provides <br />technical assistance and cost sharing to restore watersheds. <br />Assistance includes installing or repairing conservation <br />measures that prevent flooding and soil erosion. Measures <br />include establishing vegetative cover, gully control, and <br />streambank protection devices; removal of debris and <br />sediment from channels; and repairing existing water <br />control structures. In subsequent storms, EWP projects <br />protect homes, businesses, highways, and public works <br />from further damage. In addition, the Secretary of <br />Agriculture may purchase floodplain easements under EWP. <br />FLOOD RISK REDUCTION PROGRAM authorizes <br />voluntary contracts that provide one lump-sum payment <br /> <br />to producers with contract acreage on a farm with land <br />that is frequently flooded. The payment will equal 95% of <br />7-year market transition paymentsr and other payments <br />to offset estimated federal outlays on frequently flooded <br />land. In return, the producer agrees to comply with <br />applicable wetlands and highly erodible land require- <br />ments and to forego commodity loans, crop insurance, <br />conservation program payments, and disaster payments. <br />SMALL WATERSHED PROGRAM assists farmers and <br />small communities by solving natural resource and related <br />economic problems on a watershed basis. Participants <br />must have a government sponsor. Projects include water- <br />shed protection, flood prevention, erosion and sediment <br />control, water supply, fish and wildlife habitat enhance- <br />ment, wetlands creation and restoration, and public <br />recreation in watersheds of 250,000 or fewer acres. Cost <br />sharing is paid to establish structural and management <br />practices that protect watersheds, prevent floods, control <br />erosion and sediment, improve water quality, and create <br />or improve water supplies, \vildlife habitat, wetlands, <br />and public recreation. <br /> <br />SEVERAL OlliER AGENCIES also provide assistance to <br />localities for flooding and floodplain management. They <br />include: <br />. U.s. Department of Commerce, National Weather Service <br />. U.s. Environmental Protection Agency <br />. U.s. Department of Housing and Urban Development. <br />You may contact the local, state, or regional office of these <br />agencies to determine the types of assistance they may be <br />able to offer your community. <br /> <br />page 35 <br />