Emergency Watershed Protection Program Helps Southwestern PA Residents After Severe Flooding

HARRISBURG, PA, Dec. 23, 2025 - After two rainfall events in April 2024 caused severe flooding, USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) used the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program to help southwestern Pennsylvania residents recover from damage.

The EWP Program helps local communities after natural disasters strike. Pennsylvania NRCS uses EWP as a recovery program aimed at relieving imminent hazards to life and property resulting from a significant flooding event.

Through EWP, NRCS was able to provide both financial and technical assistance to complete eight projects in seven counties for this event. The projects stabilized eroded stream banks that threatened life and property.

One such project was in the Borough of Millvale, a historic town in Pittsburgh. The storm caused an existing rock wall along Grity's Run to collapse, significantly eroding the bank and causing a telephone pole to collapse into the stream. The failed wall left the adjacent business and downstream residences at risk of future flood damage.

Construction to repair the wall began in October 2025 and was completed by the end of November. The project included removing the original wall from the stream and installing a new pre-cast modular block wall. The new wall tied into existing upstream and downstream walls.

According to the property owners, "The extensive damage presented significant challenges, and [NRCS's] organization, communication, and guidance were invaluable. We are highly satisfied with the contractor's performance. Their artistry, attention to detail, and professionalism were consistently evident during the repair process."

Recovery projects begin with a local sponsor contacting NRCS after a natural disaster. Eligible sponsors include cities, counties, towns, townships, and conservation districts. These sponsors work with NRCS to identify sites eligible for EWP assistance. Interested public and private landowners must work through the local sponsor to have their property considered. NRCS and the sponsor then provide assistance to private landowners and municipalities affected by the event.

NRCS will reimburse the Sponsor 75 percent of construction funding for each project and provide engineering assistance. The sponsor is responsible for providing the other 25 percent of construction funds. For the Millvale project, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) provided 25 percent of the funding. In addition to covering 75 percent funding, NRCS staff assisted with the site design, and provided daily construction inspection duties. The Borough of Millvale acted as the project Sponsor on behalf of the property owner. The Borough's duties included requesting EWP assistance, securing all necessary land rights/construction easements, acquiring the appropriate regulatory permits, soliciting a contractor to perform the work, and agreeing to provide operation and maintenance of the completed emergency measures.

To learn more about EWP and other NRCS conservation programs, producers can contact their local USDA Service Center. Producers can also apply for NRCS programs, manage conservation plans and contracts, and view and print conservation maps by logging into their farmers.gov account. If you don't have an account, sign up today.