ORDI_R tdu. `7r1t~ FaF'PRCIVF-1L f=0f? c:;l.llihllT'I'INC~ RtJ F`iPi'L.1:Cii"I"If.:1tJ f QR 1'UP~IDS f= f?Oh1 l~~Fili= Eh11'=F?6f_Nt:;y WRTL-:FiUI-iF=U F'I-tLJ I t.C: I tUPd 1='RUl~ifdf~h7 On tt-~is the ~Gth d<.y o'(= G!~.y~_LSt9 ~Q3kIE, ~_Lpon mot:iini iii-_.du u'! C;omrni.ssinner Williams, sec_oncaed tay C;ornriiissioner Lecz, tl'~e Cn!~.r~i: i_manimously approved by a vote of 4-0-~~ ~~.timiL~bir~~y an application fur ftmc:Js from I;tLr' [_~neryi_'ncy W<:aersi-~~-~~:~ F'r'oir.i_Isiiin iE.WF=') F'togr-eam admini.==t_~red by the Ut_,L)41 PJ<-atur'~:al fiesu~-Lr''-=e<_. i~ti 715ei"Va1; .L ~.~n tie r'V li:_e In l ~'.'i)„ COMMISSIONERS' COURT AGENDA REQUEST PLEASE FURNISH ONE ORIGINAL AhND NINE COPIES OF THIS REQUEST AND DOCUMENTS TO BE REVIEWED BY THE COURT. MADE BY: William H. Williams OFFICE: Commissioner, Pct. 2 MEETING DATE: August 26, 2002 TIME PREFERRED: SUBJECT: (Please be specific) Consider and discuss submitting an application for funds from the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program administered by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (MRCS), as authorized under the provisions of Section 403, Agricultural Credit Act of 1978. EXECUTIVE SESSION REQUESTED: (PLEASE STATE REASON) NAME OF PERSON(S) ADDRESSING THE COURT: Bill Williams, Commissioner, Pct. 2. ESTIMATED LENGTH OF PRESENTATION: 5 minutes. IF PERSONNEL MATTER-NAME OF EMPLOYEE: Time for submitting this request for Court to assure that the matter is posted in accordance with Title 5, Chapter 551 and 552, Govermnent Code, is as follows: Meiling scheduled for Mondays: 5:00 P.M. previous Tuesday THIS REQUEST RECEIVED BY:, THIS REQUEST RECEIVED ON: All Agenda Requests will be screened by the County Judge's Office to determine if adequate information has been prepared for the Court's formal consideration and action at time of Court meetings. Your cooperation is appreciated and contributes toward your request being addressed at the earliest opportunity. See Agenda Request Rule adopted by Commissioners Court. Page 1 of 1 Bill Williams From: "Bertha Venegas" To: Sent: Thursday, August 08, 2002 4:15 PM Attach: 07182002fac_EWP.pdf; 07222002 News Releasel.doc; example_EWP_Itr.doc Subject: Information requested Attached is the information you requested Bertha T. Venegas 8/9/02 o MRCS Fact Emergency United States Watershed Protection Departmentof Agriculture Sheet program (EWP) Natural Resources Conservation Service June2002 Program Objectives: The Emergency WatershedProtection(EWP) Program provides assistance to re lieve imminent hazazdstolifeandproperty. Hazardsincludefloods and the products oferosion created by floods, fire, windstorms, earthquakes, drought, or other natural disasters. TheUSDANatural ResoureesConserva- tionService (NAGS) isresponsible for overall program administration and guidance. Program Sponsors: Local sponsors request assistance for emergency situationsthroughtheEWPProgram.Program contracts and payments are administered either underFederal contract orthrough local sponsors. City, county, state, andtribalgovernments ortheir political subdivisions sponsor Emergency W atershed Protectionprojects.Eligible sponsotsmusthavethe abi lity and legal authority to enter into contracts and obtain any ne eded land rights, water rights, and permitsforthelandstheysponsor. Sponsotsrequest adeternilnation of "eligibility"fromtheNRCS following a natural disaster or event. Program Funding: The EWP Program provides up to 75 percent of the cost ofthe watershed treatment or approved stntcturalrepairs. sponsors to delineate the watersheds that are above identified areas or at-risk, site-specific locations. Watetshedeligibilityand applicantfundingwillbe based on an assessment ofwatershed conditions, identifiedvaluesbeingthrentened, potential damage costs, estimatedtreatmentcosts, social consider- ations,and environmental considerations. Types oJWork: Workunderthe EWP Program is not limited to a set ofprescribed measures. TheNRCS and sponsor(s) perform acase-by-case review of each site orwork azea. Some examples of types ofwork perfotmedaze: • Debrisremovalfromstreamchammels,road culverts, and bridge abutments • Debrisremovalinuplandareasfollowingwind- storms andtornadces • Reshapingandprotection(hardandsoft)of erodingstreambanks • Repairofdamageddrainagefacilities,leveesand flood prevention structures • Reseedingofburnedordenudedareas • Deferred andprescribedgrazingpracticesunder droughtconditionsto assistinwatershedrecov- ~'Y Eligibility: The NRCS works with the sponsors and other partners to identify structures, property, and other valu es that are at i ncreased risk from flooding or erosion Identifiedrisksincludehumansafety, property damage, water quality ,threatened and endangered species, critical wildlife habitat, and culturalresources. TheNRCSworks withthe Program Limitations: E W P funds cannot be utilized to solve probl ems or remedy conditions that existed be fore the disaster or event occurred. Thiswould include: • Restoringcondifionsattributedtoalackof inairitenance • Raisingthelevelofprotectionfromthatwhich existed prior to the emergency • Providingoperationandmaintenanceworkor repairprivate orpublic transportation facilities or utilities Workperformedunderthisprngram: • Cannotadverselyaffectdownstreamwaterrights • Installmeasuresnotessentialtohazardreduction • Workonmeasuresinstalledbyanotherfederal cY How to Get Assistance: All requests forconsideration underthe EWP Program mustbe receivedwithin 60 days ofthe disasterforconsideration. Contactyourlocal USDANRCS foranassistance package and list ofpotential sponsors in the area. Submit a formal request for "eligibility detetTnina- tion" byletter tothe NRCSState Office at 101 South Main Street, Temple, TX 76501. The U.S. Department of AgAcutture (USDA) prohibits discdminetion in ali its programs and activities on the basis of race, cobr, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (Not ell prohibited bases eppiy to all programs.) Persore with disabilities who require ehernative means for rgmmunication of program Information (&eille, large pAnt, eudiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice end TDDj. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Olfice of C(vil Righfs, Raom 326W, Whitten BuIlAing, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW. Washington, DC 20250-9410 or cell (202) 720-6964 (voice or TDD). USDA is en equal opportunity provider end empbyer. n I C United Statcs Natural 101 South Main O ~~ I v J Department of Resources Temple, TX Agriculture Conservation 76501-7602 Service Phone: 254-742-9800 http://www.tx.nres.usda.gov Fax: 254-742-9819 NEWS -For Immediate Release For more Information, please contact: H. Hazold Bryant, State Public Affairs Specialist hazold.bryant@tx.usda.gov August 9, 2002 EMERGENCY WATERSHED PROTECTION PROGRAM HELPS LOCAL COMMUNITIES On June 29-July 11, 2002, a band of severe thunderstorms maintained a neaz stationary position over central and south central Texas. Especially hard hit were 24 counties including Bexar, Corral, Guadalupe, Kendall, Medina, Kerr, Gillespie, Bandera, Brown, and Taylor. National Weather Service radaz indicated a large azea of rainfall exceeding nine inches in 24 hours. Rain gauge measurements confirmed these totals, but also revealed many isolated azeas recording more than 40 inches of rainfall in six days producing a flood of record in many azeas. The Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program administered by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides assistance to relieve imnvnent hazards to life and property primazily on public infrastructure. Local sponsors include city, county, state, or tribal governments, or their political subdivisions. Sponsors request a determination of eligibility from NRCS following the natural disaster. EWP provides up to 75 percent of the cost of eligible work. Most of the damages associated with the floods were from the Guadalupe River in Ken, Blanco, Corral, and Guadalupe Counties and from the Medina River in Bandera, Medina, and Bexaz Counties. EWP funds can be used to clean up debris in the river and river channel, repair damage to road crossings to their preflood condition, and stabilize public infrastructure in immediate danger of failing. Repairs can also be made to floodwater retazding structures as applicable. Areas damaged from critical active erosion aze also eligible for repair. Repairs made under provisions of the EWP Program will restore the applicable infrastructure to pre-storm conditions. (more) According to Tomas M. Dominguez, Acting State Conservationist for NRCS, the EWP Program provides welcome relief to local communities whose resources aze strained to the maximum during times of disaster. "Often work can begin immediately to repair and restore critically damaged infrastructure. This is a real benefit to local tax payers since sponsors can provide their 25 percent of the cost with in-kind services," Dominguez said. From preliminary estimates provided by vazious public agencies, it is estimated that approximately $12 million in damages will be eligible for EWP assistance. Affected counties should contact their local office of NRCS located in the respective county USDA Service Center. Questions should be addressed to Tim Buscha, EWP Coordinator, Temple, Texas at 254-742-9800. (Example oja letter) City of Raitling PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT P.O. Box 1412 Raining, TX 77747 Phone: (421) 412-1412 FAX: (412) 412-1414 Mr. Tomas M. Dominguez Acting State Conservationist USDA-Natural Resource Conservation Services 101 N. Main Temple, TX 76501-7682 Deaz Mr. Dominguez; The City of Raining request Federal assistance under provisions of Section 403, Agricultural Credit Act of 1978, the Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP), to repair damage to drainage infrastructure and stream crossings. This damage was caused by the heavy rains and flooding of August 29-31, 2001. This flooding caused significant damage to culverts, channels and bridges within the City of Raining. We have several azeas where debris removal is also required to protect lives and property from future flooding. We understand, as Sponsors of an EWP project, our responsibilitiestyill include acquiring land rights and permits needed for construction or cleanup activities. Additionally we may be required to operate and maintain any works of improvement. We are prepazed to famish the 25 percent local cost-shaze of the construction or cleanup activities. Please feel free to contact me for any additional information that may be needed. I will work with you in coordinating any necessary meetings and site visits. Sincerely, JOHN PUBLIC Public Works Director