Federal Cooperative Agreement Summary

The National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) awarded Letcher County Fiscal Court a $26.9 million Cooperative Agreement on September 30, 2025, under the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program (CFDA 10.923) to implement recovery measures and obstruction removal in response to spring 2025 flooding in Letcher County, Kentucky. The project is scheduled for completion by October 7, 2029. Under this cooperative agreement, the county will execute emergency watershed protection practices designed to provide runoff retardation, control erosion, eliminate imminent threats to life and property, and remove flood-related obstructions resulting from the natural disaster.

This award reflects the chronic flooding challenges facing southeastern Kentucky's Appalachian region, as Letcher County has secured multiple EWP awards addressing flooding events from July 2022, February 2023, and April 2024. The county's role as project sponsor includes assuming responsibility for local cost-share contributions, securing necessary land rights and permits, and managing long-term operation and maintenance of completed recovery measures. NRCS authorization for EWP projects continues until all program recovery measures are installed or installation is terminated by mutual agreement.