{"id":5618,"date":"2022-04-27T10:57:49","date_gmt":"2022-04-27T15:57:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.iowawatercenter.org\/?post_type=news&p=5618"},"modified":"2022-04-27T10:57:49","modified_gmt":"2022-04-27T15:57:49","slug":"fw-president-biden-usda-announce-420-million-investment-in-watershed-infrastructure-projects-to-benefit-rural-and-historically-underserved-communities","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.iowawatercenter.org\/news\/fw-president-biden-usda-announce-420-million-investment-in-watershed-infrastructure-projects-to-benefit-rural-and-historically-underserved-communities\/","title":{"rendered":"FW: President Biden, USDA Announce $420 Million Investment in Watershed Infrastructure Projects to Benefit Rural and Historically Underserved Communities"},"content":{"rendered":"

ALBANY, Georgia, April 21, 2022<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack was joined by White House Infrastructure Coordinator Mitch Landrieu and Congressman Sanford Bishop (GA-2) to announce the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will invest $420 million in 132 infrastructure projects in 31 states, including rehabilitating dams, flood prevention, and watershed restoration projects. Today\u2019s investments are funded by President Biden\u2019s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and build on a $166 million investment announced earlier this year.<\/p>\n

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Secretary Vilsack and Mitch Landrieu made the announcement in Albany, Georgia, as part of the Building a Better America Rural Infrastructure Tour. There, NRCS is helping improve the flow of Radium Springs. Radium Springs does not flow consistently and is highly dependent on underground water. Funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) will be used to implement strategies that blend efficient irrigation methods with better resource management to ensure consistent flow to support agriculture, provide wildlife habitat, improve water quantity and quality, and improve the recreational value within the existing public park. Over $69 million will go towards eight projects that will provide relief for flood related watershed concerns.<\/p>\n

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\u201cPresident Biden\u2019s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to rebuild our infrastructure, create good-paying jobs and build new economic opportunity,\u201d Vilsack said. \u201cOur watershed programs help communities rebuild after natural disasters and prepare for future events. This includes communities that we\u2019ve historically underserved. The President believes we will grow the economy from the bottom up and middle out and this will occur in partnership with rural communities. That\u2019s what Building A Better America is all about.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Vilsack added: \u201cThe President believes that when rural communities thrive, America thrives. Building A Better America means that no community is left behind. These projects exemplify why this historic investment in our watersheds was needed and the adeptness of our agency to act swiftly.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Today\u2019s infrastructure announcement includes funding through two programs: the Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations (WFPO) Program provides technical and financial assistance for new watershed infrastructure, and the Watershed Rehabilitation Program (REHAB) upgrades existing USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) dams.<\/p>\n

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The Albany project is funded through WFPO. Additional examples of WFPO projects funded through the investment announced today include:<\/p>\n

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