NRCS urges Grayson County to seek Emergency Watershed Protection aid after storm damage; fiscal court to submit request

Officials from the Natural Resources Conservation Service and local watershed boards told the Grayson County Fiscal Court that a mid‑February storm produced significant erosion at several watershed dam spillways and that federal EWP funding could cover up to 75% of eligible repair costs if the county or a watershed district serves as local sponsor.

Fannie Yee, district conservationist for NRCS, and Eric Phillips, NRCS civil engineer, described damage to spillways on structures in the county and noted the dams themselves had not failed but spillway erosion is advancing. Phillips said the Short Creek spillway was likely the most severely damaged and that early, rough repair estimates range from $100,000 to $200,000 for Short Creek, $50,000 to $100,000 for Caney Creek, and $10,000 to $25,000 for Big Reedy. Phillips said the EWP program would reimburse 75% of eligible costs to a local sponsor; limited‑resource counties sometimes receive 90% federal share, but Grayson County is treated as 75/25 under current guidance.

Phillips explained the mechanics: NRCS will perform a damage survey and can provide design and technical assistance, but EWP requires a local sponsor (Grayson County fiscal court or an individual watershed district) to secure land rights, arrange access and handle permits. He said the first step to access those funds is a nonbinding letter from a sponsor requesting EWP consideration; NRCS staff said that letter must arrive by April 17 to meet a 60‑day window from the storm event.

Local watershed board members and conservation district representatives also presented the county’s annual conservation district budget requests. A representative of the Grayson County Conservation District said the district requested an increase (about 5%) in county operating support — presenting a figure the court’s staff described as $53,450 — to cover staff insurance and benefits; the district’s speaker explained most program revenue comes from federal programs such as the Conservation Reserve Program and other USDA programs.

Magistrates moved and the court approved multiple watershed and conservation budgets during the meeting. The court accepted the Grayson County Conservation District annual budget (motion by Magistrate Darren; seconded by Bridal; all in favor). The Big Reedy, Caney Creek, Short Creek and Shore Creek watershed district budgets were presented and accepted in similar motions with seconds and affirmative votes.

During discussion, NRCS staff advised that the sponsor pays invoices up front and receives federal reimbursement after work is completed; they said in‑kind county labor or equipment can count toward the sponsor’s 25% share. The staff also warned that if watershed districts dissolve or fail to maintain dams, responsibility and liability can move to the conservation district and ultimately to fiscal court.

After NRCS explained timelines and options, the fiscal court agreed to pursue a request letter to the state NRCS office. Fannie Yee and Eric Phillips offered to supply a sample letter and to perform the damage survey if the court and watershed districts request it.

Court members said they would confer with watershed boards about in‑kind contributions and possible short‑term loans from fiscal court to allow districts to front costs while awaiting reimbursement. NRCS staff emphasized the request letter is nonbinding and can be rescinded later if the sponsor elects not to proceed after seeing cost estimates and designs.

The presentation and budgeting items closed with court members directing staff to coordinate with NRCS and the local watershed boards to prepare the EWP request letter and to discuss board resources and possible in‑kind contributions.