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Congressional bill would give USDA ‘clear’ authority to work with landowners to mitigate flood risk • Iowa Capital Dispatch [1]
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Date: 2025-07
A federal bill introduced Wednesday by U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst would strengthen the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s role in a program that restores vegetation and wetland structure, in an effort to mitigate flooding and improve water quality.
Known as the “Restoring America’s Floodplains Act,” the bill would simplify language pertaining to the Emergency Watershed Protection program and “make clear” the USDA can provide technical and financial assistance to landowners when land is damaged or threatened by flooding.
The Emergency Watershed Protection program allows landowners to enter into an easement agreement with USDA to help restore portions of land damaged by flooding, or other circumstances. The program was authorized by the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978, and amended in a 1996 law.
The program gives USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, or NRCS, the ability to enter easement agreements with landowners so it has the “full authority” to restore a damaged floodplain area with actions to correct drainage, establish vegetative covers or reinstate the hydraulic capacity of wetland structure.
According to a 2022 USDA report on the Emergency Watershed Protection program, NRCS has purchased permanent floodplain easements on 184,254 acres, across 36 states, including Ernst’s home state of Iowa.
The bill simplifies some of the language pertaining to the program and gives the Secretary of Agriculture the “sole discretion” to enter compatible-use agreements with landowners and other organizations on easements acquired under the program.
Flooding frequently impacts cropland and communities in Iowa. Ernst, as a former member of the Iowa Army National Guard, recalled serving during the historic 2008 flood that impacted eastern portions of the state.
“I’ve seen firsthand the devastating impacts flooding can have on our communities in Iowa, and my heart goes out to all those who have been impacted by destructive natural disasters,” Ernst said in a statement. “I’m proud to be working on a bipartisan solution to proactively reduce these impacts, that will use existing tools at no additional cost to taxpayers while also improving water quality and protecting our valuable land.”
The legislation is also sponsored by U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo. and is supported by several Iowa conservation programs in Iowa.
Amber Markham, the director of external affairs for The Nature Conservancy in Iowa, said nature is the best solution to control flooding.
“Nature-based solutions like floodplain restorations provide countless benefits to Iowans and we support legislation that advances these goals,” Markham said in a statement.
Chris Fox, the policy chair for Iowa Ducks Unlimited, said floodplain easements are a “perfect example” of natural, incentive-based tools that “benefit people, our communities, and wildlife.”
The Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation also supported the bill, with the organization’s public policy director and council, Anna Gray, saying it will provide producers with “critical relief” while facing flooding disasters and have “cascading benefits” for Iowa.
“The Restoring America’s Floodplains Act is a real opportunity for farmers and landowners working to restore impacted floodplains and enhance stewardship of vulnerable landscapes to provide wildlife habitat, flood mitigation, and cleaner water,” Gray said in a release.
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