NRCS Announces Project to Protect Jones Valley Residents in Wake of Bear Fire

Contact: Bob Bailey (530) 226-2574

REDDING, Calif., August 30, 2004 USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Conservationist Chuck Bell today announced plans for an Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) project to protect Jones Valley residents in Shasta County from post-fire flooding and debris flow.

"NRCS identified several threatened homes and other potential problem areas in Jones Valley during post-fire damage assessments conducted last week," said Bell. "The burned hillsides are highly susceptible to erosion, and lives and property would be at risk from winter runoff and landslides if corrective practices are not implemented."

The project has an estimated cost of more than $205,000 and will include hydroseeding to stabilize steep, denuded hillsides; drainage pipe installation and sandbag placement to convey water away from homes, and installation of trash racks to prevent the clogging of culverts. Shasta County's Department of Public Works is the project's local sponsor and is providing the 25 percent cost share for the work. NRCS is providing the remaining 75 percent of funding through its EWP Program.

"The emergency measures should be in place before fall rains begin," said NRCS District Conservationist Bob Bailey. "We anticipate that the project will be completed by some time next month," he added.

The EWP program provides technical and financial assistance to protect people and property threatened in the aftermath of natural disasters. To qualify for EWP assistance the restoration work must be economically defensible and sound from an engineering standpoint. Additionally, local sponsors must be found who are willing to take on the responsibility of obtaining permits, maintaining the restoration work and providing the required 25 percent cost share.

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