WASHINGTON – Following the historic flooding that impacted much of Iowa, Senator Chuck Grassley has urged the Natural Resources Conservation Service at the U.S. Department of Agriculture to release Emergency Watershed Program disaster funding to help Iowans with floodplain management. The money was appropriated by Congress, but it appears that little money has been disbursed. Grassley sent the letter to the chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Arlen Lancaster.
"Congress appropriated these funds to alleviate the pressures the storms caused on communities across Iowa, and the amount of money that's been distributed has met only a fraction of the needs. Conservation is an important part of any rural state, and Iowa is no different. It makes a lot more sense to me to address the disasters that have already occurred and help people who need it," Grassley said.
Here's a copy of the text of the letter Grassley sent to Lancaster.
December 3, 2008
Chief Arlen Lancaster
Natural Resources Conservation Service
United States Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Ave, SW
Washington, DC 20250
Dear Chief Lancaster,
Iowa and much of the Midwest were severely impacted by the flooding, tornadoes, and other severe weather of 2008. Throughout the past year, Congress has proactively appropriated funds for various United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs to alleviate the pressures these storms have caused on our communities.
In particular, the Emergency Watershed Program (EWP) funding is critical in the state of Iowa. There is significant need for floodplain easement funding to protect our lands from future storms and restore our permanent vegetation and wildlife habitat.
I was frustrated to learn that so far, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has decided to retain the funds that we appropriated for future disasters, instead of addressing the disasters that have already occurred. So far, Iowa's needs for EWP floodplain easements have only been met with a fraction of the funds requested.
Please give all due consideration to releasing the maximum amount possible to fund Iowa's EWP project backlog. I would also urge NRCS to work with Iowa partners including the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation to develop longer term strategies for any unmet floodplain conservation easement needs.
Thank you for consideration of this request.
Sincerely,
Charles E. Grassley