Capacity Through Partnerships in Times of Need

Breakout session Monday, February 10 at 3:45 p.m.

Within North Carolina, we have an agreement that allows employees in the conservation partnership to be trained to complete Damage Survey Reports (DSR's) in response to natural disaster to expedite the Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWPP). This agreement builds capacity, enhances partnerships, and supports the mission of delivering conservation in real times of great need. David and Bryan shared the successes of the work performed through the agreement. They highlighted the steps taken to get the agreement in place and accomplishments and services provided to citizens and local governments.

Speaker: Bryan Evans, NC Association and NC State Division of Soil and Water Conservation and David B. Williams, NC Division of Soil & Water Conservation, Director

1. Capacity Through Partnerships in Times of Need David Williams , Director, NC Division of Soil & Water Conservation Bryan Evans , Executive Director, NC Association of Soil & Water Conservation Districts

2. Rowland Creek Clear & Snag Beaufort County Goose Creek Clear & Snag Pamlico County Stream Debris, Bank Erosion Burke County Stream Debris – Haywood Co. East Fork Pigeon River Stream Debris/Bank Erosion – T.S. Fred - Buncombe County Gully in Field T.S. Helene - Haywood County

3. Background – Delayed Response, Limited Awareness EWP process starts with development of Field Data Reports to screen sites, then Damage Survey Reports to submit to State Con & HQ for funding approval Hurricane Florence, September 2018 NRCS detailed a few staff and contracted with an NGO to do FDR/DSRs Not complete until late Summer 2019 Most local sponsors are unfamiliar with the process for EWP participation

4. Purpose of Agreement Provide experienced and knowledgeable technical staff across the State to immediately begin to act following a natural disaster. Provide the skilled personnel to help increase EWP implementation Increase the number of available staff that can assist with immediate workload following a natural disaster. Provide a funding mechanism for NRCS partners to provide supplemental manpower to complete EWP deliverables immediately following a natural disaster. Project to serve as a national pilot to engage partner employees to improve EWP responsiveness and delivery

5. Trained Partnership Staff 13 classroom/virtual sessions Overview of EWP Local sponsor and site eligibility Completing Field Data Reports Completing Damage Survey Reports CPA- 52 & Cultural Resource Assessment 14 Field sessions Discuss scenarios (eligible vs. not eligible) Estimating Costs Partner staff now fully trained and eligible to provide deliverables ( 146 districts, DSWC, Assoc.)

6. Field Data Reports (FDRs) Preliminary Site Visits to prospective sites Screening sites for potential EWP eligibility NRCS to reimburse $150 per completed FDR, estimate 7.5 person- hrs each Report must be reviewed and approved by NRCS

7. Damage Survey Reports (DSRs) Develop a basic scope of work for restoration Estimate costs to complete restoration Complete PDM- 20 form and review with local sponsor Cultural Resources Review form & CPA- 52 (thru Sec. O) NRCS to reimburse $400 per completed DSR, estimate 20 person- hrs each Report must be reviewed and approved by NRCS

8. Travel Costs Contract includes funds to reimburse actual costs for overnight stays for partner employees to complete FDRs & DSRs. Travel must be pre-approved

9. T . S . Fred August 15- 18, 2021 Haywood, Buncombe, Transylvania, Madison, and Yancey Counties

10. 29 partner employees (15 SWCDs, DSWC) signed up for 4-5 day commitments to do FDRs/DSRs for T.S. Fred impacted counties 137 sites evaluated, FDRs submitted 108 DSRs submitted within 4 months (8 months faster than H. Florence) Partners received > $65,000

11. T . S . Helene September 27, 2024 28 Counties in Western NC

12. 1000 Year Storm Over 30” of Rainfall Over 100 Losses of Life Over 1000 Landslides Partners Ready to Mobilize Large Scale Recovery Wait on Critical Infrastructure Repairs Waiting on FEMA, CORPS, ECP and other Federal Assistance to Complete Their Efforts

13. Rowland Creek Clear & Snag Beaufort County Goose Creek Clear & Snag Pamlico County Stream Debris, Bank Erosion Burke County Stream Debris – Haywood Co. East Fork Pigeon River Stream Debris/Bank Erosion – T.S. Fred - Buncombe County Scour in Field T.S. Helene - Haywood County Non Field Farm Roads Large Gullies in Fields Massive Amounts of Stream Debris And Sediment to be Removed Infrastructure Protection Landslides Impacting Streams Landslides Impacting Homes

14. Moving Forward Continued Trainings for Additional Assistance Additional Executed Mutual Aid Agreements to Allow Quicker Response Building of Infield Tools (Survey 1,2,3) National Level Shared Resources Additional Advocacy

15. Mutual Aid Agreements Between County, District, State and Association For sharing of personnel resources Non-binding Establishes network of responders pre-need Develops expectation that assistance is allowed when feasible Develops training opportunities in addition to disaster response

16. Advocacy Efforts State-level Funding (Match and StRAP ) Resolution for Annual Funding of EWPP Resolution for Inclusion of Farmland as Qualifying Property TA Funding for NRCS with EWPP Permitting Hurdles (Floodplain, Moratoriums) Maintenance Priority (PL566, Stream Debris) Resiliency (NC Blueprint)

17. Capacity Through Partnerships in Times of Need David Williams , Director, NC Division of Soil & Water Conservation Bryan Evans , Executive Director, NC Association of Soil & Water Conservation Districts