Minnesota will receive $527,969 in financial assistance to invest in post-disaster recovery and/or the rehabilitation of aging dams in fiscal year 2016, said Cathee Pullman, state conservationist, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Serivce.

Minnesota is among 19 states to receive funding.

“The Emergency Watershed Protection Program is vital to communities repairing damage and making improvements to reduce future damage from natural disasters,” Pullman said.

Minnesota to receive $527,969 for watershed projects

Minnesota has invested funds and technical assistance to help local governments restore watersheds and protect communities from the aftermath of devastating natural disasters, such as a small land slide along the River Park Slough that threatens the roadway of River Park Drive in Mankato Township. The EWP Program will be used to repair the land slide and protect the roadway from damage.

Overall, NRCS will invest $93 million in EWP Program assistance to help state and local governments carry out much needed recovery projects to address damage caused by floods, hurricanes, wildfires and other natural disasters.

Nationally, NRCS is also investing $10.4 million in the Watershed Rehabilitation Program to help communities rehabilitate aging dams that protect property and infrastructure in rural communities downstream. Of this, $4.8 million will be used in Texas to complete the design and construction of four watershed rehabilitation projects in Ellis and Williamson counties, and $3.7 will be used in Utah for the construction of a dam project in Gillespie County. About $500,000 will be used to assess up to 25 aging dams nationwide this year.