Locally Led Contract a Winner

When Hurricane Isabel devastated major portions of Virginia in 2003, the job of restoring damaged stream banks and waterways was overwhelming.  Requests for Emergency Watershed Protection assistance poured into the NRCS State Office.  To expedite repairs, NRCS encouraged sponsors to use locally led contracts rather than depending on NRCS to handle all the work.  For the City of Chesapeake, this approach not only resulted in an excellent project, it saved an estimated $100,000 for the sponsors and NRCS.

NRCS State Conservationist M. Denise Doetzer was recently recognized by the City of Chesapeake along with Congressman Randy Forbes at a televised Council meeting for providing assistance to remove debris from over five miles of the Northwest River.  The river was clogged with mostly woody debris blown down during the hurricane.  The Northwest River is the backbone drainage way for much of the area, including both residential and agricultural beneficiaries. 

The City of Chesapeake administered the contract with a local company to remove the debris.  This was a challenging task given the fact that the only access to the site was from the water.  Workers with chain saws worked from boats to cut away and remove fallen trees and limbs that were clogging the river.  The City was so pleased with the work done by the contractor that they have entered into a contract to retain the company for other projects in the future. 

This was the first time NRCS had assisted the City of Chesapeake using the EWP program.  Thanks to a cooperative conservation effort, it was a win-win situation for the residents, the City and NRCS.

< Back to ...