Emergency watershed protection program - meeker, CO. DSR 08-03-25-5096-002. Watershed protection from flooding and debris flows caused by the LEE and ELK fires

The Department of Agriculture National Resources Conservation Service awarded a Cooperative Agreement totaling $6.167 million to Rio Blanco County, Colorado on November 24, 2025, under the Emergency Watershed Protection Program (CFDA 10.923) to implement watershed recovery and hazard mitigation in Meeker following the Lee and Elk fires.

The award funds emergency recovery measures for runoff retardation and erosion prevention to relieve imminent hazards to life and property created by the natural disaster. Work is performed in Colorado with an ultimate completion date of October 15, 2026. Rio Blanco County serves as the project sponsor, a role consistent with EWP program eligibility requirements that mandate sponsorship by a state government, state agency, legal subdivision, or tribal organization with legal interest in threatened values, capability to obtain necessary land rights and permits, and capacity to carry out operation and maintenance responsibilities.

The Emergency Watershed Protection Program assists sponsors, landowners, and operators in implementing emergency recovery measures following natural disasters when current land or watershed conditions pose a threat to health, life, and property. The program is funded through emergency supplemental appropriations rather than as a line-item program. Sponsors must submit formal requests to the NRCS state conservationist within 60 days of disaster occurrence and enter into a Cooperative Agreement before NRCS releases financial assistance; NRCS will not fund activities undertaken prior to agreement execution.