The Flood Resiliency and Land Stewardship Act would enhance flood resilience efforts within the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) administered by the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service. H.R. 3972 would formally add flood prevention, mitigation, and resiliency to RCPP’s statutory purpose, enabling the program to better assist agricultural producers, communities, and nongovernmental stakeholders in implementing regional and watershed-scale flood solutions.
WHY WE LIKE IT
The best flood solutions often require collaboration from multiple partners and across jurisdictional boundaries. While RCPP already supports some activities that reduce flooding, the program’s federal authorization does not explicitly mention flood prevention or mitigation as a key purpose. H.R. 3972 would enhance RCPP by incorporating flood prevention alongside other important objectives like soil health, water quality, and wildlife conservation. This would provide greater flexibility and support for partners to address regional flooding issues together.
Photo courtesy of USDA National Agroforestry Center
