Floodplain Protection

More than $145 million is being set aside to help Tennessee landowners restore thousands of acres of frequently flooded land to its natural state, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The ARRA funds are available through the floodplain easement component of the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program. Landowners can sign up for the easements through March 27, 2009 at their local USDA Service Center. The funding includes both technical and financial assistance to restore the easements. The goal is to have all floodplain easements acquired and restored within 12-18 months. Additional information can be found at: http://www.tn.nrcs.usda.gov/.