Senators Collins, King Announce Additional Watershed Protection Funding For Northern Maine

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will allocate an additional $27,000 in Emergency Watershed Protection Program funds for disaster recovery efforts pursuant to the June 2012 rain storm in northern Maine.

"We are pleased the USDA recognizes the pressing need for federal flood assistance in northern Maine," said Senators Collins and King. "The severe rain storms last June had devastating consequences for northern Penobscot and southern Aroostook Counties. The demands of disaster relief efforts, coupled with the recent economic downturn, have left many of our communities financially exhausted. These additional funds are welcome news and will provide vital assistance that will help these areas continue along what has become a very difficult road to recovery."

The USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service oversees the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program. The EWP is mandated with responding to natural disaster emergencies by relieving imminent hazards to life and property incurred through floods, fires, wind­storms, and other natural phenomena. Conditions that qualify for assistance include: debris-clogged stream channels, undermined and unstable stream banks, jeopardized water control structures and public infrastructures, and wind-borne debris removal.