USDA Announces Investment In Watershed Infrastructure Projects
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture will invest $420 million in 132 infrastructure projects in 31 states, including a $330,000 investment in six projects in Montana. These projects include rehabilitating dams, flood prevention, and watershed restoration projects, and they are part of the implementation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), building on a $166 million nationwide investment announced earlier this year. “President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to rebuild our infrastructure, create good-paying jobs and build new economic opportunity,” Vilsack said. “Our watershed programs help communities rebuild after natural disasters and prepare for future events. This includes communities that we’ve historically underserved. The President believes we will grow the economy from the bottom up and middle out and this will occur in partnership with rural communities. That’s what Building A Better America is all about.”
Today’s infrastructure announcement includes funding through two programs: the Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations Program provides technical and financial assistance for new watershed infrastructure, and the Watershed Rehabilitation Program upgrades existing NRCS dams.
Projects in Montana include: Fort Peck Tribes – Wolf Point Irrigation Project BIL WFPO funding will be used to implement ag-water management methods to build towards climate resiliency. Funds are needed to modernize the Wolf Point Irrigation Project water delivery system.
Helena Valley Irrigation District BIL WFPO funding will be used to implement ag-water management methods to build towards climate resiliency. Funds are needed to modernize the Helena Valley Irrigation District water delivery system.
Kinsey Irrigation District BIL WFPO funds will be used to perform a feasibility study on a proposed watershed project that would rehabilitate and modernize the Kinsey Irrigation District water delivery system located in the Cabin Creek – Yellowstone River watershed near Kinsey, Montana.
Missoula Conservation District BIL WFPO funding will be used to implement ag-water management methods to build towards climate resiliency. Funds are needed to modernize the Missoula Conservation District Irrigation District water delivery system.
Tongue & Yellowstone River Irrigation District BIL WFPO funding will be used to implement ag-water management methods to build towards climate resiliency. Funds are needed to modernize the Tongue & Yellowstone River Irrigation District delivery system.
Wyota Irrigation Project BIL WFPO funding will be used to implement ag-water management methods to build towards climate resiliency. Funds are needed to modernize the Wyota Irrigation Project water delivery system.
In total, NRCS received $918 million of BIL funding to allocate through its watershed programs. In addition to WFPO and REHAB, this includes funds for Emergency Watershed Program to help communities recover from natural disasters. NRCS will continue to assist communities as it receives disaster requests.
A full list of projects is available on NRCS’ Bipartisan Infrastructure Law webpage .
NRCS encourages communities to engage with their local project sponsors, participate in developing a sound conservation plan that serves to protect and preserve local watersheds, and connect with their local NRCS office to learn more about Watershed Program assistance.
Since 1948, NRCS’ watershed programs have designed and built 11,850 dams, constructed water storage structures, flood management systems, stabilized streambanks, relocated residences, redirected stream flows, re-established wildlife habitat and more to save lives and protect watersheds.
Learn more about the Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations Program at www.mt.nrcs.usda.gov under Programs and Landscape
Planning.
