Emergency Watershed Protection Program

The Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program is a program administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service to respond to floods, fires,[1] windstorms and other types of natural disasters. Types of work this program funds include: removing debris; reshaping and protecting eroded banks; correcting damaged drainage facilities; repairing levees and other water conveyance structures; and purchasing flood plain easements.[2] For construction activities, it provides up to 75% of the project cost. It is almost always funded in supplemental appropriations that provide federal assistance to deal with a natural disaster. The EWP's activities are sponsored by a city, county, town, conservation district, or any federally-recognized Native American tribe or tribal organization before EWP can come in with their expertise to assist a region that has experienced an emergency.[3]

Over 430 sites in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands had to be immediately addressed by EWP after Hurricane Maria struck on September 20, 2017.[4] While EWP normally funds 75% of project costs, President Donald Trump authorized EWP to cover 100% of the costs for debris removal and other watershed protection costs, from the time Hurricane Maria occurred through May, 2018.[5]