Wyoming County will receive $478,498 to help control future flooding for six acres, according to U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall and U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, both D-W.Va.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved $1,389,700 to purchase 18 property easements covering 17 acres in West Virginia to preserve the floodplain from development that would obstruct high water flow and produce greater flooding, Rahall explained.

The easements are in Matheny and Mullens, according to Dean Meadows, Wyoming County Emergency Services director.

Meadows said the easements will allow agencies to widen and stabilize the creek banks.

“Wyoming County has been hit too hard too many times with flooding,” Rahall said. “By returning floodplains to their natural contour, high water flow is better managed and flooding can more easily be prevented, safeguarding lives and property. This will require a lot of work so we will also be creating jobs, while we improve our quality of life.”

On May 9, the most recent widespread flooding in Wyoming County, more than 150 homes sustained serious damage, some were completely destroyed, along with at least 20 businesses along the Guyandotte River and Little Huff Creek, according to Meadows.

Nearly 50 private bridges and two public bridges were destroyed as well.

“This opportunity is incredibly important for the West Virginia communities most vulnerable to flooding and the devastation it can cause,” Rockefeller said. “As we’re seeing right now from the aftermath of recent flooding in our state, it has a terrible impact on families, homes and communities. That’s why this funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is so critical. It will help restore flood-damaged areas, improve water quality and infrastructure, better safeguard lives, homes and businesses in the future – and create jobs along the way.”

The 18 easements are among 289 selected by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack for the first national sign-up for floodplain easements under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which both Rockefeller and Rahall supported.

The USDA received $145 million in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to acquire floodplain easements and restore the land to its natural state while helping maintain jobs in rural America.

During the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act floodplain easement sign-up, USDA received more than 4,200 applications representing 479,000 acres of flood-prone land in 47 states and territories.

“All applications were submitted voluntarily and were rigorously screened by the USDA to ensure they met specific criteria,” Rahall said. “Floodplain easements are permanent land conservation agreements that ensure generations can benefit from their undeveloped recreational use such as hunting and fishing.”

The Emergency Watershed Protection Program’s floodplain easement component allows USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service to acquire permanent easements on private land, or certain land owned by units of state and local governments, that have been damaged by flooding at least once in the last 12 months or twice in the past 10 years.

Once the easements have been established, Natural Resources Conservation Service will fund conservation work necessary to restore the land to its natural state, Rahall explained.