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Watersheds

Wisconsin Watershed Projects Stood the Test of August Flooding, 2007
 First Wisconsin River Removed From Degraded Waters List
Adobe Acrobat Document.Governor Proclaims 50th Anniversary of Watershed Progam

Small Map of Wisconsin PL 566 Watershed Projects. Click here to see full sized map.

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Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Program

The purpose of the Watershed Program, including River Basin operations, is to assist Federal, State, local agencies, local government sponsors, tribal governments, and program participants to protect and restore watersheds from damage caused by erosion, floodwater, and sediment, to conserve and develop water and land resources, and solve natural resource and related economic problems on a watershed basis. The program provides technical and financial assistance to local people or project sponsors, builds partnerships, and requires local and state funding contribution.  Find out more about the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Programs.

PL566 Projects Protect From Floods, Spring, 2004


Watershed Rehabilitation

In Wisconsin, eighty-three dams have become part of Wisconsin’s landscape through the PL-566 Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention program. More than half of these dams need repairs that, if not corrected, will result in significant adverse environmental, economic, and social impacts. The dams were built to protect agricultural lands. However, human health and safety concerns now exist downstream of 12 dams as a result of residential and commercial development.

Dam Rehabilitation Projects

The following documents require Adobe Acrobat or Microsoft Word.
Adobe Acrobat Document.Summary of Projects in Wisconsin  NEW
Adobe Acrobat Document.Wisconsin PL566 Watershed Projects
Adobe Acrobat Document.Alma Mill Creek, Buffalo County
Adobe Acrobat Document.Bad Axe, Vernon County
Adobe Acrobat Document.Glen Hills, St. Croix County
Adobe Acrobat Document.Plain Honey, Sauk County - White Mound Lake
Adobe Acrobat Document.Plum Creek, Pierce County
Adobe Acrobat Document.Twin Parks, Iowa County
Adobe Acrobat Document.Mill Creek, Richland County
Adobe Acrobat Document.Otter Creek, Iowa County

Studies are needed on an additional 41 dams to determine the extent to which other homes and businesses could be in harm’s way. Eighty-two of the dams are between 20 and 39 years old.  Many of these dams will reach the end of their useful life within 15 years.  More about Watershed Rehabilitation.


Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP)

The purpose of the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) program is to undertake emergency measures, including the purchase of flood plain easements, for runoff retardation and soil erosion prevention to safeguard lives and property from floods, drought, and the products of erosion on any watershed whenever fire, flood or any other natural occurrence is causing or has caused a sudden impairment of the watershed.

It is not necessary for a national emergency to be declared for an area to be eligible for assistance. Program objective is to assist sponsors and individuals in implementing emergency measures to relieve imminent hazards to life and property created by a natural disaster. Activities include providing financial and technical assistance to remove debris from streams, protect destabilized streambanks, establish cover on critically eroding lands, repairing conservation practices, and the purchase of flood plain easements. The program is designed for installation of recovery measures.  More information on the Emergency Watershed Protection Program.

News Release: Wisconsin Watershed Projects Stood the Test of August Flooding, 2007
 

Adobe Acrobat Document.Wisconsin Report on PL566 Dams in Vernon and Richland Counties-October 2007  NEW*

Microsoft Word Document.Wisconsin Emergency Response Plan
Adobe Acrobat Document. Emergency Watershed Protection Program factsheet
Adobe Acrobat Document. Request for Advancement or Reimbursement (SF270)
Adobe Acrobat Document. Damage Survey Report  - EWP Recovery   (NRCS-PDM-20)