What is the Emergency Watershed Program?
The Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program is a recovery effort aimed at relieving imminent hazards to life and property caused by natural disasters. EWP addresses watershed impairments such as: debris clogged waterways, unstable streambanks, and severe erosion jeopardizing public infrastructure. Due to the impacts of Hurricane Florence, Cumberland County will be using EWP Funding to help mitigate some of these watershed impairments.
What do the letters mean?
We have provided 2 types of letters Notifications and Right of Entry requests. The Notifications do not require a response. They are simply notifying the residents of work being performed in their area. The Right of Entry requests do require a response from the landowner. These are lots where the County needs either access across the property or has planned work on the property or both. The County is requesting permission from these property owners to access their property and perform the storm debris removal.
What if there is current beaver activity in the project area?
Beaver removal may also be coordinated through this project. The County will coordinate with USDA to determine if the project site can be added to their current list for removal. If approved, the beaver would be removed first and then the County would include the dam removal in our debris clearing activities for those sites.
Where is this work being performed?
There are 32 sites across Cumberland County that are included in the EWP project.
How were sites selected?
Sites were selected by the County and NRCS staff shortly following Hurricane Florence based on observed debris and tree damage.
What happens if I do not agree to provide access to my property?
Many of the project sites span over multiple adjacent properties under different ownership. If permission is not granted for a one parcel, then no debris removal activities will take place on that property. Further, if no other reasonable access point can be found, the site may be removed from the project.
What happens if my property is damaged?
The County or its agents will make reasonable efforts to return the property of the undersigned to a substantially similar condition upon completion of the work. If the County or its agents must move items in order to complete the work on property of the undersigned, the County or its agents will make reasonable efforts to place them back in their original location when the work is complete.