Easement program to benefit New Kent

New Kent residents will be able to benefit from the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NCRS) program that provides benefits through its Emergency Watershed Protection Floodplain Easement program. (EWP-FPE)

The program complements traditional disaster recovery funding and allows NRCS to purchase a permanent easement on lands within floodplains that sustained damage from Sandy and restore the area to a natural condition.

Private lands and those owned by local and state governments are eligible if they are located in a floodplain, not subject to tidal influence or action from storm waves, and meet the following requirement: The land must have been damaged by flooding during Hurricane Sandy, which impacted Virginia on Oct. 28-29, 2012. Other lands within the floodplain are eligible, provided the lands would contribute to the restoration of flood storage and flow, provide for control of erosion, or improve the practical management of the floodplain easement.

NRCS will accept applications through September 2 from residents of New Kent affected by this storm.

Compensation rates and ranking priorities will vary by location and whether the land is agricultural or vacant or has homes or other structures on it. If a structure is present, NRCS will cost-share the removal or demolition of that structure and enroll the remaining lot in a permanent easement.

Interested landowners should contact their local USDA Service Center (http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app) to learn more about the program and submit an application.