This bill amends the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program to allow the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide for certain restoration activities. The EWP Program offers technical and financial assistance, including the purchase of floodplain easements, to safeguard people and property from floods, drought, fires, windstorms, and other natural disasters that impair a watershed.
Under the bill, USDA may allow restoration above pre-disaster conditions if that restoration is in the best interest of the long-term health and protection of the watershed.