Overview

The Watershed Rehabilitation Program helps project sponsors 

rehabilitate aging dams that are reaching the end of their design 

life and/or no longer meet federal or state standards. Watershed 

Rehabilitation addresses critical public health and safety concerns.

Since 1948, NRCS has assisted local sponsors in constructing 11,850 

project dams. Rehabilitation of watershed project dams is authorized 

for dams originally constructed as part of a watershed project 

carried out under any of the following four authorities—Public Law 

83-566, Public Law 78-534, the Pilot Watershed Program authorized 

under the Department of Agriculture Appropriation Act of 1954, or 

the Resource Conservation and Development Program authorized by 

the Agriculture and Food Act of 1981.

Many aging dams no longer meet current state and NRCS design and 

safety criteria and performance standards and may pose a potential 

hazard to lives and property if dam failure would occur. NRCS 

provides technical and financial assistance to local project sponsors 

to rehabilitate aging dams that protect lives and property, and 

infrastructure. Local sponsors who are interested in rehabilitating 

their aging dam may request technical and financial assistance from 

NRCS. NRCS prioritizes dams for rehabilitation based on the risks to 

life and property if a dam failure would occur.

Benefits of Watershed Rehabilitation

Across the nation, watershed projects provide an estimated annual 

benefit of $2.2 billion in reduced flooding and erosion damages, 

and improved wildlife habitat, recreation, and water supply for 

an estimated 47 million people. These projects provide additional 

benefits, such as improved water quality through sediment and 

erosion control. Watershed rehabilitation projects also can create 

rural economic growth and job opportunities.

NRCS maintains a robust dam safety program through GeoObserver 

for Dams and DamWatch. NRCS GeoObserver for Dams is a 

geospatial dam management tool that helps NRCS engineers 

maintain up-to-date information for the National Inventory of 

Dams. NRCS DamWatch provides NRCS engineers and local project 

sponsors with web-based monitoring of dams during rainfall, 

snowmelt, or seismic events.

Watershed Rehabilitation and Drought

The Watershed Rehabilitation Program allows sponsors to construct 

or augment existing water supplies based on current and future water supply demands. Costs associated with additional or new water 

supply storage purposes added to the rehabilitation project may be 

cost-shared with watershed rehabilitation funds. 

Cost share for new water supply storage 

purposes will be considered on a case-bycase basis. If cost-share is authorized, the 

cost-share rate will be up to 65 percent of 

the eligible project cost allocated to the 

new water supply storage purpose 

(see table on next page).

NRCS and Project Sponsors

Watershed project sponsors represent 

interests of the local community in federally 

assisted watershed projects. Sponsors request assistance from NRCS. When funding 

is allocated, the sponsor and NRCS enter 

into an agreement that defines the roles 

and responsibilities of each party to complete the rehabilitation.

Although not a requirement for program 

participation, sponsors may request an 

assessment of their dam. The assessment 

provides a broad overview of the dam’s 

current condition and can be used to help 

the sponsor determine whether to proceed 

with rehabilitation of the aging dam. 

For dams funded for rehabilitation, a 

watershed plan is developed for each dam. 

The watershed plan addresses resource 

concerns including environmental impacts, 

costs, and benefits, planned conservation 

practices, and the responsibilities of involved 

parties. NRCS works with the local sponsors 

when developing a watershed plan.

United States

Department of

Agriculture

WATERSHED REHABILITATION PROGRAM

NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE

FACT SHEET - NOVEMBER 2021
WATERSHED REHABILITATION PROGRAM 2

NRCS provides technical and financial assistance to 

sponsors and assists them with the assessment, planning, design, and construction of the rehabilitation projects. Project sponsors are responsible for and agree to 

carry out specific parts of the project, including:

• Providing their share of project costs,

• Assist NRCS in developing a watershed plan,

• Obtaining land rights,

• Obtaining required permits,

• Operation and maintenance throughout the 

evaluated life of the project,

• Monitoring easement encroachment,

• Developing and updating emergency action plans 

for high-hazard potential dams,

• Conducting regular inspections of installed works of 

improvements.

Eligible Project Cost 

1/2

Engineering 

/ Technical 

Assistance

Real Property 

Rights

65 percent Federal/35 

percent Local of total 

eligible project cost, not 

to exceed 100 percent of 

actual construction cost

No more than 

1001/ percent

0 percent

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Costs associated with new purposes added to the 

rehabilitation project that do not involve water supply 

storage will not be cost-shared with watershed 

rehabilitation funds. The costs allocated to these new 

purposes will be borne by the SLO.

Applicants should contact their State Watershed 

Rehabilitation Program Manager for specific cost 

share information for the proposed project.

Applicants should contact their State Watershed 

Rehabilitation Program Manager for specific cost 

share information for the proposed project.

More Information

This fact sheet is for informational purposes only; other 

restrictions may apply. For more information about or 

find your local USDA Service Center, visit farmers.gov.

Brandywine Creek PA-436F Hibernia Dam, Chester County, PA was constructed in 1994 as a high hazard potential dam with a 50-year 

service life. Prior to the rehabilitation, Hibernia Dam no longer met current state or Federal design criteria and performance standards. 

The dam was rehabilitated to maintain flood protection, recreation, and water supply for the local communities. Hibernia Dam’s 

rehabilitation includes a new rock filter toe, regrading of the downstream bench, and installation of a concrete cutoff wall in the auxiliary 

spillway. These structural repairs will increase the integrity of the dam and significantly lower any risks to public safety and health 

Construction was completed in October 2020.

1 Specific rate established in the statute.

2 Project cost includes construction, in-kind services (planning, 

engineering, project administration), required replacement 

in-kind, required decent/safe/sanitary.