Lexington, Ky.,  ‑ Natural Resources Conservation Service in Kentucky is accepting applications for the Emergency Watershed Protection Program Floodplain Easements (EWPP‑FPE).  Applications will be accepted through close of business, March 27, 2009.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) authorizes up to $145 million nationwide for Emergency Watershed Protection Program floodplain easements and up to $30 million in any one state. 

The purpose of this funding is to acquire floodplain easements on eligible lands and to restore their floodplain functions and values to natural conditions to the greatest extent practical.  The easements will be acquired and restored in an accelerated manner in order to address critical resource concerns.

The Landowner easement compensation payment will be based on a market analysis or survey and will be no more than the amount corresponding to a geographic rate cap or the offer by the landowner, whichever is less.  Landowners can view the geographic rate cap, which establishes the maximum easement payment NRCS will pay for the corresponding county and market analysis maps (available on or about March 27).

Landowners can enroll their land under a permanent easement for a lump sum easement payment and receive up to 100 percent of the wetland restoration costs.  Eligible lands include farmed lands that flood from overland or backwater flooding and lands that would be inundated or adversely impacted as a result of a dam breach.  Other adjacent land may also be offered.