San Angelo council authorizes application to NRCS emergency watershed program for floodway armoring and voluntary buyouts

The San Angelo City Council on Aug. 5 authorized city staff to apply to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service Emergency Watershed Protection Program to pursue cost-shared armoring of public infrastructure and voluntary buyouts of properties at imminent flood risk. The council voted 6-0 to permit staff to submit a letter of request to NRCS and begin the application process.

The authorization lets the city propose two types of projects under NRCSEWP: armoring projects to protect roads, outfalls and other infrastructure from erosion and flood damage, and voluntary buyouts of privately owned properties that are at imminent risk of future flooding, drought or erosion. Operations Director Patrick Frerich said the NRCS program pays 75% of approved project costs and requires a 25% local match. "The only obligation I need from y'all today is this action item that says authorization to apply…