There are currently about 531 small watershed projects underway throughout the country. The objectives of the programs are to assist local sponsors in assessing conditions in their watershed, developing solutions to their problems, and installing necessary measures to alleviate the problems. Measures may include land treatment and structural and nonstructural measures. Federal cost sharing for installation of the measures is available. The amount depends upon the purposes of the project.
Loans are available to help finance the local share of the cost.
State agencies review and approve local proposals and may provide financial and other assistance. An emergency is considered to exist when a watershed is suddenly impaired by flood, fire, drought, or other natural causes that results in life and property being endangered by flooding, erosion, or sediment discharge. The emergency area need not be declared a national disaster area to be eligible for assistance. During the past 8 years, the program has been used in a average of 26 states per year. Local people are generally employed on a short term basis to assist with disaster recovery.