Luke_Wilbur Posted April 17, 2009 Report Share Posted April 17, 2009 Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the USDA will be sending $84.8 million to state and local governments to improve water quality, increase water supply, decrease soil erosion, and improve fish and wildlife habitat in rural communities as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. "President Obama is committed to improving water quality, creating more dependable water supplies and decreasing soil erosion and this funding will make a big difference in the lives of the people who live in these rural communities," Vilsack said. Other major benefits include improved community safety and health, flood mitigation, sediment control, and enhanced fish and wildlife habitat. "For example," Vilsack said "the Neshaminy Creek Watershed (Pennsylvania) project funding will be used to acquire, elevate and flood-protect approximately 80 homes and businesses in the 100-year flood plain, while the Beaver Creek (Colorado) Watershed project will develop 45 land-treatment contracts with family-owned farms, resulting in significant water quality improvement, water conservation, and enhancement of scarce wildlife habitat." ARRA funds will be used to develop conservation measures such as planting vegetative cover and creating shallow water ponds to improve wildlife habitat, improving irrigation efficiency and conserving water, installing filter strips and soil erosion control practices, flood proofing homes and enhancing stream corridor and floodplain function, and constructing small flood control dams. USDA is directing technical and financial assistance available through this funding toward projects that are ready to begin and that will relieve stress on local economies through the creation of over 1,400 jobs. USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has worked closely with sponsors to identify projects that are ready for immediate implementation. Virginia Little Reed Island Creek $225,300 Virginia Chestnut Creek $367,700 Virginia North Fork Powell River $380,000 West Virginia Upper Deckers Creek $2,100,000 West Virginia Upper Tygart $3,025,000 Pennsylvania Tulpehocken Creek $1,375,000 Pennsylvania Red-White Clay Creeks $430,000 Pennsylvania Brandywine Creek $20,000 Pennsylvania Neshaminy Creek $10,075,000 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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