The Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP) is a part of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).  The program, entitled the Watershed Recovery Project by NRCS, was established when the Governor of California declared a State of Emergency in San Diego County after the 2003 wildfires burned over 375,000 acres of San Diego forests.  Locally sponsored by the County of San Diego, EWP is federally funded through NRCS and works in cooperation with other agencies.  The program is designed to remove hazardous trees on private property within the targeted areas.  In removing dead, dying and diseased trees within 200 feet of structures current dangerous conditions are being mitigated.  The Watershed Recovery Project is augmented by additional federal funding to remove trees along public evacuation corridors.  

Many of these San Diego trees began dying at an accelerating rate as a result of one of the worst droughts in history.  Stressed pine trees emit an odor that attracts bark beetles, killing the trees.  Compounded by the massive tree mortality resulting from the 2003 firestorms and the residual severe soil erosion, San Diego County forests pose a large fire hazard.  The EWP program removes these trees in an effort to protect life and property.

The first step of the process is to delineate project areas that qualify for the program.  Once the general areas are chosen, locations are prioritized by the cooperating agencies.  With landowners’ permission, the dead, dying and diseased trees are marked for removal.  NRCS then conducts an environmental assessment, which encompasses endangered species, cultural resources, hydrology, and soil protection.  A contract is written and a bid-show is organized for contractors to assess project areas.  After submitting their bid, a sealed-bid system is used to award the contract to the lowest, qualified bidder.  As the contractor proceeds, they are supervised by an NRCS representative to ensure quality work and that the project site remains protected.  Some of the removed trees are utilized as mulch to reduce soil erosion, while others are taken to sawmills, where the wood is cut and sold for retail uses by the contractor. 

NRCS simultaneously works on several different projects.  Our first few projects are requiring less funding than expected, enabling NRCS to spread funds over a larger land area than originally anticipated.  In undertaking additional projects, NRCS continues to protect our watershed, reduce wildfire hazards and make San Diego County a safer place for residents.