Dept. of Game, Fish and Parks
For Immediate Release: Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2001
For more information:  Bill Smith, 773-3096

LANDOWNERS WITH FLOODING WORRIES OFFERED ALTERNATIVE

PIERRE – South Dakota’s Natural Resources Conservation Service officials say landowners worried about the impacts of flooding from snow this winter should check into floodplain easements through the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program.

"The EWP can provide significant funding for those with flooded property," said Game, Fish and Parks Secretary John Cooper. "This program may offer some help for northeastern South Dakota producers that have experienced flooding." 

Dean Fisher, head of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Huron, said the EWP Program floodplain easements potentially offer economic return on land that is repeatedly inundated or unusable due to flooding. 

"Lands having the potential to flood, including farmland, grazing land, hay land, forest land or depressional areas adjacent to river channels, streams, lakes or other water bodies are potentially eligible for EWP," Fisher noted. "Program participants are offered a payment with a perpetual easement, based on agricultural tax value. Last year, 73 applications covering more than 6,000 acres in South Dakota were approved for perpetual EWP floodplain easements obligating over $1.8 million."

He added that NRCS works with landowners to incorporate EWP floodplain easements into their conservation treatment needs, long-term operation and management requirements. 

"Landowners may request additional compatible uses, like permission to cut hay, graze livestock or harvest wood products," Fisher said. "These compatible uses may be allowed if they are consistent with wetland protection and enhancement and wildlife functions of the area. They must be pre-approved annually by the State Conservationist."

Benefits of the EWP floodplain easements include protection of lives and property from floods, retardation of soil erosion through the restoration, protection or enhancement of the floodplain, and conservation of natural values including fish and wildlife habitat, water quality improvement, flood water retention and groundwater recharge. 

For more information, contact a local conservation district listed under U.S. Department of Agriculture, or check online at www.sd.nrcs.usda.gov under "What’s New." 

-30-