EWP project 5082 home buyout spring 2025 flooding in LEE county, KY for implementation of recovery measures and obstruction removal

Lee County Fiscal Court received a $1.60 million Cooperative Agreement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) under the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program (CFDA 10.923), awarded September 30, 2025, with a completion deadline of October 7, 2026. The award funds recovery and obstruction removal measures in Lee County, Kentucky, in response to spring 2025 flooding. Under this EWP project, the county will implement emergency watershed protection practices designed to provide runoff retardation, erosion prevention, and removal of debris and obstructions that pose threats to life and property resulting from the natural disaster event.

The funding supports the county's home buyout initiative and associated recovery infrastructure work intended to relieve imminent hazards created by the flooding. As the project sponsor, Lee County Fiscal Court is responsible for obtaining necessary land rights, permits, and operation and maintenance responsibilities, while NRCS oversight continues through the completion of all emergency recovery measures. This award reflects the EWP Program's core objective of assisting local sponsors in implementing post-disaster mitigation and recovery measures to protect communities and critical infrastructure from watershed emergencies.