Oklahoma One of Four States USDA Authorizes Watershed Assistance

Contact: Jasper Parker, 405-742-1243

Stillwater, Oklahoma Nov 8, 2005—U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Chief Bruce Knight today authorized federal assistance for local flood control and watershed rehabilitation efforts in Oklahoma, Georgia, Mississippi, and Texas.

“These watershed projects are wise conservation investments that will help local communities with additional flood mitigation,” said M. Darrel Dominick, state conservationist. “Through cooperative conservation, they will provide environmental benefits and protect communities from future natural disaster threats.”

Federal assistance for rehabilitation of the following floodwater retarding structures and flood control dams is authorized by the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act (Public Law 33-566). Under this legislation, NRCS provides watershed surveys and planning, watershed protection and flood prevention operations, and watershed rehabilitation. USDA will pay 65 percent of the total cost of each project.

Authorized Oklahoma watershed projects—three dams:

The Cobb Creek Watershed Flood Control Dam No. 1 in Washita County: The dam is used extensively for water-based recreation. Six homes, a county road and a state highway would be inundated by a breach of the dam. Local sponsors are the Deer Creek Conservation District and Southwest Oklahoma State University. Estimated cost of the project is $2,626,000.

The Caney-Coon Creek Watershed Flood Control Dam No. 2M in Coal County: A breach of the dam would put lives at risk and result in destruction of 12 houses, a state highway, a U.S. highway, the City of Coalgate’s water treatment plant and a sewer lift station. Local sponsors are the Coal County Conservation District, City of Coalgate and Coalgate Public Works Authority. Estimated cost of the project is $3,392,000.

The Sallisaw Creek Watershed Flood Control Dams 15, 16 and 20 in Adair County: A break in the dam would cause destruction of 18 homes, one school, a Cherokee Children’s Mission, one church, two county roads and a railroad. Local sponsors are the Adair County Conservation District, Sequoyah County Conservation District, Cherokee County Conservation District, City of Sallisaw, City of Stilwell and Stilwell Area Development Authority. Estimated cost of the project is $1,449,000.

Eligible measures for the federal assistance announced today include flood prevention, water conservation, recreation, agricultural water management, floodplain easements, municipal and industrial water, and rural water supply.

All programs and services of the Natural Resources Conservation Service are provided in a nondiscriminatory manner.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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