MONROE - The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) extended the sign-up period until April 10 for funding available to eligible landowners through the floodplain easement component of the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP).
The purpose of the funding is to restore frequently flooded land to its natural state. Land qualifies if it has been flooded at least once in the past 12 months, or twice in the past 10 years, and it must be in a floodplain. The easements are permanent, and the land remains privately owned. The program is voluntary, and competitive, with the most critical sites selected for easements. There is no minimum acreage, but one would score more points on the ranking sheet with larger offers.
Payments in Green County are $4,000 per acre if the application is accepted. Green County landowners have applied for nearly 1,000 acres to date.
With the permanent easement, landowners can continue to use the land, but without cropping, building or further manipulating the floodplain. Landowners may enjoy quiet recreational activities including hunting, fishing, and private access, and will be responsible for property taxes at use value. Dikes and levees will be removed to allow flood waters to flow onto the easement acres. In addition, surface ditches may be filled and shallow wetlands scrapes may be added back to the land to restore its wetland functions. The goal is to acquire floodplain easements on eligible lands and to restore their floodplain function and value to natural conditions. Floodplains generate many public benefits, such as increased flood protection, enhanced fish and wildlife habitat, improved water quality, and a reduced need for future public disaster assistance.
For more information, or to set up an appointment, call the Land Conservation office at (608) 325-4195, extension 3.
The purpose of the funding is to restore frequently flooded land to its natural state. Land qualifies if it has been flooded at least once in the past 12 months, or twice in the past 10 years, and it must be in a floodplain. The easements are permanent, and the land remains privately owned. The program is voluntary, and competitive, with the most critical sites selected for easements. There is no minimum acreage, but one would score more points on the ranking sheet with larger offers.
Payments in Green County are $4,000 per acre if the application is accepted. Green County landowners have applied for nearly 1,000 acres to date.
With the permanent easement, landowners can continue to use the land, but without cropping, building or further manipulating the floodplain. Landowners may enjoy quiet recreational activities including hunting, fishing, and private access, and will be responsible for property taxes at use value. Dikes and levees will be removed to allow flood waters to flow onto the easement acres. In addition, surface ditches may be filled and shallow wetlands scrapes may be added back to the land to restore its wetland functions. The goal is to acquire floodplain easements on eligible lands and to restore their floodplain function and value to natural conditions. Floodplains generate many public benefits, such as increased flood protection, enhanced fish and wildlife habitat, improved water quality, and a reduced need for future public disaster assistance.
For more information, or to set up an appointment, call the Land Conservation office at (608) 325-4195, extension 3.