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A Community Leader's Guide to Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention

Lake SugemaThe Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act, commonly known as the PL-566 Watershed Program, authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to cooperate with state and local agencies, called sponsors, in planning and carrying out works of improvement for soil conservation purposes and others including:

  • Watershed Protection

  • Flood Prevention

  • Rural Water Supply

  • Water Quality Protection and Improvement

  • Fish and Wildlife

  • Public Recreation

The PL-566 Act requires projects to be in watersheds smaller than 250,000 acres. Public recreation purposes must be combined with either flood control or rural water supply. 

Federal financial assistance is based on the projects purpose. It ranges from 100% for flood prevention to up to 50% for recreation, fish and wildlife, and rural water supply.

Iowa Projects

These Iowa watershed projects are providing abundant, high quality water supplies for communities and rural areas:

  • Lake Icaria - Walters Creek Watershed
  • 12 Mile Lake - 12 Mile Watershed

  • 3 Mile Lake - 3 Mile Watershed

  • Little River Lake - Little River Watershed
  • Lake Sugema - Indian Creek-Van Buren Watershed
How do we start? 

Potential sponsors request planning assistance from your Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Conservationist. NRCS will conduct a preliminary investigation to determine if a likely project can be developed. If sponsors identify a specific watershed, that area is investigated. If no specific area is selected by sponsors, NRCS can conduct a county-wide preliminary investigation.

Sponsors of Iowa projects include counties, soil and water conservation districts, cities, rural water associations and other local organizations. 

What's next?

If sponsors want to proceed after the preliminary investigation and funding is available, NRCS will assist sponsors to develop a watershed plan. Plans must conform to Federal guidelines for considering economic and environmental effects. Benefits must exceed costs.

The planning process provides for extensive public participation through public meetings, the NRCS website and other avenues.  

What are sponsors' major responsibilities?

Sponsors' major responsibilities are to provide land rights, operate and maintain the project, provide non-federal costs of the project (usually about half of the cost) and keep the public informed about the project.

How long does a project take?

The generalized time frame is:

  • Preliminary investigation - 1 to 2 years
  • Watershed planning - 3+ years
  • Approval by Congress - 1 to 2 years
  • Land Acquisition - 2 to 4 years
  • Construction - 2+ years

For more information, contact your local NRCS office.


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