Cochise County and Nrcs Wrap-Up Emergency Watershed Protection Project at H
Incident: Horseshoe 2 Burned Area Emergency Rehabilitation
Released: 8/17/2011
United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service
230 N. First Avenue, Suite 509
Phoenix, Arizona 85003
Phone: 602-280-8801
Fax: 602-280-8805
Web Site http://www.az.nrcs.usda.gov/
NEWS RELEASE USDA-NRCS Release # 11-19 George Couch 602-280-8806
Amanda Sutter 602-280-8778
Cochise County and NRCS Wrap-Up
Emergency Watershed Protection Project at Horseshoe Two Fire
WILLCOX, Ariz. August 17, 2011 - To help reduce flooding danger from the Horseshoe Two Fire, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provided more than $164,000 of financial help through its Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP) to Cochise County.
The total project costs were estimated to be $218,900. Seventy-five percent of the financial assistance is provided through EWP funds, and Cochise County, the EWP sponsor, provided the remaining 25 percent. NRCS administers the EWP Program, which responds to emergencies created by natural disasters, such as wildfires and floods. Funding for the program is provided through emergency congressional appropriations. Once funds are available, ten days are allotted for completion of the project.
Thirteen sites along the Chiricahua Mountains received protection treatments. Some of the most common treatments used were sandbags, concrete barriers and ditch clearing/widening to assist in flood control and straw wattles and bales for erosion control. While county crews finish final installments, Mother Nature also does her recovery work. Grasses, wildflowers and other small plants have sprouted in low burn areas across the mountain range. To view pictures of this project and current conditions visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/nrcsaz/sets/72157627331405153/ .
NRCS also provides conservation planning to farmers and ranchers who have been impacted or are in close proximity to areas that were affected by the wildfire. Conservation planning is a fundamental starting point for maintaining and improving the natural resources that support a productive and profitable agricultural operation. Following a natural disaster, such as a wildfire, conservation planning can help restore the production of the land.
Contact your local NRCS field office in Willcox at 520-384-2229 for more information in receiving technical assistance on your property. Visit http://www.az.nrcs.usda.gov/ for more information about wildfire recovery.
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