Emergency watershed protection project in kittitas CO WA. Streambank stabilization along the yakima river and teanaway river due to the 2025 PNW foods

The Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service awarded a $1.6335 million Cooperative Agreement to Kittitas County Conservation District on May 7, 2026, under the Emergency Watershed Protection Program (CFDA 10.923) to fund streambank stabilization and erosion prevention along the Yakima River and Teanaway River in response to the 2025 Pacific Northwest floods.

The district, a Washington State local government entity, acts as project sponsor overseeing installation contracts, permitting, land-rights acquisition, and long-term operation and maintenance. Work is performed in Kittitas County, Washington, with a completion date of October 29, 2026. The district is responsible for furnishing local cost-share contributions as a condition of the award. The Emergency Watershed Protection Program assists sponsors in implementing emergency recovery measures for runoff retardation and erosion prevention to relieve imminent hazards to life and property created by natural disasters. Project sponsors must apply within sixty days of the disaster occurrence and execute a Cooperative Agreement with NRCS before the release of funds specifying sponsor responsibilities, including operation and maintenance obligations. The agreement covers the full lifecycle of the project, with records maintained for the life of the project.