Watershed Protection Plan - Lower Rio Grande Valley Development ...

INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK
and enhancement of the environment and standard
of living in designated RC&D areas. Similarly, the
USDA’s Rural Development Program (USDA-RD)
offers grants and low interest loans for water and
wastewater development or improvement projects in
rural communities .
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(USEPA)
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA)
works to develop and enforce regulations that
implement environmental laws enacted by Congress,
such as the Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act. EPA
is responsible for researching and setting national
standards for a variety of environmental programs
and delegates to states and tribes the responsibility
for issuing permits and for monitoring and enforcing
compliance with regulations and permit requirements.
Where national standards are not met, EPA can issue
orders and take other steps to assist the states and
tribes in reaching the desired levels of environmental
quality. The EPA also sponsors several initiatives and
grant programs that provide assistance to organizations
involved in watershed management, pollution
prevention, education and sustainable development.
.
Federal Emergency Management
Administration (FEMA)
The Federal Emergency Management Administration
(FEMA) has undertaken a massive effort of fl ood
hazard identifi cation and mapping to produce Flood
Hazard Boundary Maps, Flood Insurance Rate Maps,
and Flood Boundary and Floodway Maps. The maps
identify Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs), which
are regulated to minimize potential loss of life, property
and economic benefi ts that would result from fl oodplain
development. Development may take place within the
SFHA, provided that development complies with local
fl oodplain management ordinances, which must in
turn meet the minimum federal requirements. Flood
insurance is required for insurable structures within
the SFHA to protect federal fi nancial investments and
assistance used for acquisition and/or construction
purposes within communities participating in the
National Flood Insurance Program .
Ernesto Reyes with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), part
of the Department of the Interior, protects America’s
diverse fi sh and wildlife resources. The USFWS’ Texas
Coastal Program focuses on restoring and protecting
economically, recreationally and ecologically important
coastal fi sh and wildlife habitats through partnerships
by sharing biological knowledge, offering technical
assistance identifying and designing restoration
projects, identifying habitat protection opportunities and
providing federal matching funds to implement projects
USFWS’ Texas Coastal Program biologists play an
important role in supporting and implementing coastal
conservation initiatives through partnerships .
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is a bureau of
the Department of the Interior. The USGS serves the
nation by providing reliable scientifi c information to 1)
describe and understand the earth, 2) minimize loss
of life and property from natural disasters, 3) manage
water, biological, energy and mineral resources,
and 4) enhance and protect our quality of life. The
Water Resources Discipline (WRD) provides reliable,
impartial, timely information needed to understand
January 2007 65 Arroyo Colorado Watershed Protection Plan