Cherry County Watershed & Flood Prevention Operations (WFPO) Program
Background:
USDA-NRCS Funding
- Helps Federal, State, Local, and Trival Governments (Project Sponsors) protect and restore watersheds.
Purpose of the WFPO funds
- Erosion and Sediment Control
- Watershed Protection
- Flood Prevention
- Water Quality Improvements
- Rural, Municipal, and Industrial Water Supply
- Water Management
- Fish and Wildlife Habitat Enhancement
- Hydropower Sources
The MNNRD received funding from USDA-NRCS for three WFPO Planning Projects in Cherry County, Nebraska. The WFPO planning is a two-year process that will guide the MNNRD to effectively locate structural and non-structural alternatives for watershed protection, mitigate flood damage, enhance flood resilience, water management, soil health, water quality management, and public fish/wildlife. The purpose of the planning effort leads the MNNRD to address stream degradation, bank erosion, inundated hay meadows, calving areas, and infrastructure associated with excessive flows.
Potential projects that may come out of the two-year planning include but limited too:
- Construction of various wetlands
- Grade Control Structures
- Streambank Stabilization
- Detention Basins
The USDA-NRCS approved funding to the MNNRD for the Cherry County WFPO Watersheds on June 9th, 2020 with a final project agreement signed in August 2020. The MNNRD selected E&A Consulting, Lincoln, NE, to assist the MNNRD with the two-year planning efforts.
Once the MNNRD is given final approval to the Cherry County WFPOs, the MNNRD can then apply for WFPO funding for construction on projects/sites that come about the two-year planning.
Please stay tuned for updated information regarding the Cherry County WFPOs.