Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Floodplain Easements Help Protect Marshall County, Minnesota Floodplain

The flat fertile valley of the Red River in northwest Minnesota is ideal farmland, but when excessive rains or snowmelt occur the river can quickly exceed it's capacity and water floods the surrounding cropland.   In the mid-1990’s flooding was occurring annually and sometimes more than once in a year. The floods destroyed valuable crops and threatened lives and property.

Through disaster declarations starting in 1996, it became possible for NRCS to purchase permanent floodplain easements through the Floodplain Easement Program of the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program to restore the natural functions and values of the floodplain. The program allows landowners to voluntarily sell a permanent conservation easement to the US Government.

In 1996 NRCS began acquiring EWP easements in Marshall County. The success of these easements inspired local interest in restoring and protecting the floodplain. In subsequent years, through 2003, additional easements were acquired in the same area, including utilizing Wetlands Reserve Program Easements (WRP). A total of 34 easements, covering 4,600 acres, have been acquired along the Red River in Marshall County and at the confluence of the Red and Snake Rivers. These easements have created a “corridor” of restored lands that protects more than 5-miles of floodplain.

Once an easement is established, NRCS has the authority to restore, protect, maintain, and enhance the functions of the floodplain. Natural values including fish and wildlife habitat, water quality, flood water retention, ground water recharge, and open space can be restored and protected. The need for long-term federal disaster assistance is reduced and lives and property are safeguarded from floods, drought, and the products of erosion. Cessation of cropping, planting native grasses, and allowing natural regeneration of vegetation are used to restore the natural functions of the floodplain.
 

New seeding on EWP easement.

Successful seeding on EWP easement.

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