Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS NHQ 09 03
Apply for USDA NRCS NHQ 09 03
- The Natural Resources Conservation Service in the agriculture natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Recovery Act" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.923 Emergency Watershed Protection Program.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 27, 2009 and posted on Mar 27, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 10, 2009. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $145,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Eligible applicants include: Individuals City or township governments State governments Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) County governments Special district governments.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Recovery Act grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number USDA NRCS NHQ 09 03) is a discretionary funding announcement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) focused on floodplain easements under the Emergency Watershed Protection Program (CFDA 10.923). The central purpose is to support the purchase of floodplain easements on eligible lands so those floodplains can be restored, protected, maintained, and enhanced. In practical terms, the program is designed to put vulnerable, flood-prone lands into long-term conservation status so they can function naturally again, rather than repeatedly suffering damage and triggering expensive recovery efforts.
The opportunity emphasizes multiple public benefits that come from healthy floodplains. By restoring floodplain functions, the easements help conserve natural values such as fish and wildlife habitat, improve or protect water quality, provide floodwater storage and retention during high-flow events, support groundwater recharge, and preserve open space. These outcomes are not just ecological; they are also aimed at reducing long-term federal disaster assistance costs by decreasing repeated flood and erosion damages. A key theme throughout the announcement is risk reduction: safeguarding lives and property from floods, drought, and the products of erosion by keeping the most flood-vulnerable areas in uses that can tolerate flooding and by restoring natural floodplain processes.
NRCS indicates that it may purchase easements on floodplain lands that meet program criteria, and that those purchases are made based on established priorities. While the announcement does not detail the priority ranking system in the excerpt provided, the intent is clear that not every eligible parcel will be funded and that selections are made strategically to maximize program outcomes, such as risk reduction and environmental benefits. Once an easement is purchased, NRCS gains the authority to carry out restoration and enhancement work needed to bring back or strengthen floodplain functions and values, which is the mechanism by which the program delivers its conservation and hazard-mitigation results.
At the same time, landowners are not giving up all interests in their land. The easement structure described allows landowners to retain several important rights, including quiet enjoyment of the property, the right to control public access, and the right to use the land for undeveloped recreation such as hunting and fishing. This framing signals that the program is meant to be compatible with certain private land uses, so long as those uses do not undermine the easement's conservation and flood-risk objectives.
The estimated total funding for the program is $145,000,000, with a note that no more than $30,000,000 may be awarded in any one state. The listing shows a cost sharing or matching requirement, meaning recipients should expect to contribute non-federal resources or otherwise meet a matching requirement as part of participation. The award ceiling and floor are both listed as $0, which typically indicates the announcement is not specifying per-award minimums or maximums in the standard fields, rather than suggesting awards will be zero. The expected number of awards is listed as 0, which can occur in older federal postings when the agency does not enter an estimate in that field, or when awards are structured differently than a typical competitive grant count.
Eligible applicants include individuals as well as a range of government entities: city or township governments, county governments, state governments, special district governments, and federally recognized Native American tribal governments. This broad eligibility aligns with the fact that floodplain easements often involve coordination among private landowners, local or state partners, watershed or drainage districts, and tribal governments, depending on where the floodplain land is located and how restoration and long-term management will be supported.
Key dates show the opportunity was posted and created on March 27, 2009, with an original and current closing date of April 10, 2009, and an archive date of May 10, 2009. The sponsoring agency is NRCS, and an additional information link is referenced as "NRCS Recovery Act." For applicants or stakeholders who cannot access the full announcement electronically, the contact listed is Ross Lahren, Branch Chief, USDA NRCS, P.O. Box 2890, Room 6809-S, Washington, DC 20013-2890, phone 202-720-0123, fax 202-720-9689.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is a Recovery Act discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), identified as Funding Opportunity Number USDA NRCS NHQ 09 03. It supports floodplain easements under the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program (CFDA 10.923).
What is the main purpose of the grant?
The central purpose is to support the purchase of floodplain easements on eligible lands so floodplains can be restored, protected, maintained, and enhanced. The overall intent is to place vulnerable, flood-prone lands into long-term conservation status so they can function naturally rather than repeatedly experiencing damage that leads to costly recovery efforts.
What is a floodplain easement in the context of this program?
In this opportunity, a floodplain easement is an interest in land that NRCS may purchase on eligible floodplain lands. After purchase, NRCS gains authority to implement restoration and enhancement work needed to restore or strengthen floodplain functions and values.
What public benefits are emphasized by the opportunity?
The announcement highlights multiple public benefits from healthy floodplains, including: conserving natural values such as fish and wildlife habitat, improving or protecting water quality, providing floodwater storage and retention during high-flow events, supporting groundwater recharge, and preserving open space.
How does this program relate to disaster risk reduction and recovery costs?
A major theme is risk reduction: safeguarding lives and property from floods, drought, and the products of erosion by keeping the most flood-vulnerable areas in uses that can tolerate flooding and by restoring natural floodplain processes. The program is also aimed at reducing long-term federal disaster assistance costs by decreasing repeated flood and erosion damages.
Does NRCS purchase easements on all eligible parcels?
No. NRCS indicates it may purchase easements on floodplain lands that meet program criteria, and purchases are made based on established priorities. The excerpt does not describe the full priority ranking system, but it indicates selections are strategic and not all eligible parcels will be funded.
What happens after an easement is purchased?
Once an easement is purchased, NRCS has the authority to carry out restoration and enhancement work needed to bring back or strengthen floodplain functions and values. This restoration and enhancement work is how the program delivers conservation outcomes and hazard-mitigation results.
Do landowners give up all rights to their land under an easement?
No. The opportunity states that landowners retain important rights, including quiet enjoyment of the property, the right to control public access, and the right to use the land for undeveloped recreation such as hunting and fishing.
Can landowners allow public access after an easement is purchased?
The easement structure described allows landowners to retain the right to control public access. This indicates landowners can decide whether and how the public may access the property, consistent with the easement terms.
What types of recreation are specifically mentioned as compatible with retained landowner rights?
The announcement specifically mentions undeveloped recreation such as hunting and fishing as uses landowners may retain under the easement structure described.
Which program and CFDA number are associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is tied to the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program, and the CFDA number provided is 10.923.
How much total funding is estimated to be available?
The estimated total funding for the program is $145,000,000.
Is there a limit on how much funding can be awarded in a single state?
Yes. The notice states that no more than $30,000,000 may be awarded in any one state.
Is there a cost share or matching requirement?
Yes. The listing indicates there is a cost sharing or matching requirement, meaning recipients should expect to contribute non-federal resources or otherwise meet a matching requirement as part of participation.
What does it mean that the award ceiling and award floor are listed as $0?
The award ceiling and floor being listed as $0 typically indicates the announcement is not specifying per-award minimums or maximums in those standard fields, rather than indicating awards will be zero.
What does it mean that the expected number of awards is listed as 0?
The expected number of awards being listed as 0 can occur when an agency does not enter an estimate in that field, especially in older federal postings, or when awards are structured differently than a typical competitive grant count.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include individuals and multiple types of government entities: city or township governments, county governments, state governments, special district governments, and federally recognized Native American tribal governments.
Which federal agency sponsors this opportunity?
The sponsoring agency is the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The opportunity was posted and created on March 27, 2009. The original and current closing date listed is April 10, 2009. The archive date is May 10, 2009.
Where can someone find additional information referenced by the announcement?
The opportunity references an additional information link described as "NRCS Recovery Act."
Who is the contact person for those who cannot access the full announcement electronically?
The contact listed is Ross Lahren, Branch Chief, USDA NRCS.
What are the contact details provided in the announcement?
Mailing address: USDA NRCS, P.O. Box 2890, Room 6809-S, Washington, DC 20013-2890. Phone: 202-720-0123. Fax: 202-720-9689.
How does the opportunity describe the overall program strategy for flood-prone lands?
The program is described as putting vulnerable, flood-prone lands into long-term conservation status so they can function naturally again, rather than repeatedly suffering damage and triggering expensive recovery efforts.
What kinds of outcomes are tied to restoring floodplain functions?
The outcomes emphasized include environmental benefits (habitat, water quality, groundwater recharge, open space) and hazard-mitigation benefits (floodwater storage/retention and reduced repeated flood and erosion damages), which together support risk reduction and lower long-term disaster assistance costs.
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