Including Watershed Planning and Green Infrastructure into
State Hazard Mitigation Plans
Share the benefits of integrating watershed planning with FEMA hazard mitigation planning.
4 Good Reasons:
1. Provides a platform for localities to include natural hazard mitigation in their plans
2. Leverages funds under the Clean Water Act
3. Results in hazard mitigation projects that provide year-round benefits
4. (Possibly) More insurance discounts for Community Rating System (CRS) jurisdictions
1. Green infrastructure (floodplain and stream restoration, on-site stormwater infiltration, wetlands creation,
reforestation, etc.) can help mitigate hazards of droughts, flash floods, urban heat island, landslide,
erosion, and harmful algal blooms. FEMA encourages nature-based approaches in hazard mitigation
planning and now allows ecosystem benefits in the benefit/cost test for project eligibility. The State
Hazard Mitigation Plan can provide a platform for encouraging adoption of green infrastructure
practices by localities by referencing them in the plan.
2. The Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 319 provides for grants ("319 grants") for States that have prepared
approved Non-Point Source Pollution Management Plans to reduce stormwater runoff volume, reduce
pollutants and protect groundwater. The grants are for technical assistance, education, training,
demonstration projects and monitoring to support watershed-based planning and projects such as
wetlands or infiltration basins. Many of these projects also could provide mitigation of natural hazards.
EPA's CWA 319 program is now working with State Non-Point Source Coordinators to educate them about
hazard mitigation planning collaboration benefits.
The Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) provides for loans and other funding under
the Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund (CWSRF). Mainly used for wastewater and drinking water
facilities, the funds can also be used for stormwater projects to treat/manage/reduce stormwater runoff,
or for reusing or recycling wastewater or stormwater. Watershed planning and stormwater projects are
eligible for CWSRF loans and grants to the extent they facilitate the mitigation of excess runoff and
pollution (potential hazards). In addition, CWSRF can provide technical assistance and grants for
watershed pilot projects such as watershed partnerships, integrated water resource planning, municipal-
wide stormwater management planning, and watershed management of wet weather discharges. Many of
these projects also could provide hazard mitigation.
Drinking water authorities are becoming more aware of the risks of not protecting their watersheds, so
may be more encouraged to invest in source water protection by conserving forests or reforestation. The
Safe Drinking Water Act provides for the Safe Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund (DWSRF), where
states may elect to set aside some of their annual allotments to support source water protection like
conservation of forest land draining to a drinking water reservoir, which could reduce risk of erosion,
wildfire caused by drought or pest damage, water contamination, and urban heat island.
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3. Nature-based approaches provide year-round benefits to a community beyond hazard mitigation, such as
healthier streams, better fishing, increased recreation, and safer water supplies that will cost less to treat
at the water plant. For example, if state and local plans for flood risk and stormwater management can be
aligned, a planning partnership of flood risk with watershed water quality could create an asset for a
community, increasing overall community resilience.
4. FEMA's CRS program continues to expand credits for nature-based approaches to reduce insurance costs.
Fact sheets and more information can be found here: https://www.epa.gov/nps/using-low-impact-
development-and-green-infrastructure-get-benefits-fema-programs
Get started. Meet your State Non-Point Source Program Coordinator (https://www.epa.gov/nps/state-
contacts-nps-programs) who can tell you about the watershed planning programs underway in your state, and
the water quality hazards that exist there, like harmful algal bloom risks to water supplies, bacterial
contamination in creeks and rivers that could put swimmers at risk, and other water quality hazards in your
state. Your State Floodplain Manager
(https://www.floods.org/index.aspPmenulD=274&firstlevelmenulD=185&sitelD=l) may have additional
insights on the benefits to communities to integrating flood and watershed planning concepts in the SHMP
and in local plans.
Most states have a Federal Interagency team supporting the SHMO or State Floodplain Manager- the "Silver
Jackets. This may be a good forum for your non-point source agency contact to meet all the Federal agency
staff that assist you. Share the link for Silver Jackets with your water quality colleagues. Invite them to team
meetings. http://silverjackets.nfrmp.us/State-Teams.
Additional Resources:
How can I contact my State's NPS Coordinator?
https://www.epa.gov/nps/state-contacts-nps-programs
FEMA: Hazard Mitigation Assistance Unified Guidance: https://www.fema.gov/media-
library/assets/documents/103279; Benefit-Cost Analysis Supplement for Ecosystem Services:
https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1464289310993-
d619d562aff0810ba029f42bdfldeb67/Supp BCA Guid Floodwater Div Storage 508.pdf; Innovative and
Drought Mitigation Projects: https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/129691
CRS Program
https://www.fema.gov/national-flood-insurance-program-communitv-rating-system
EPA: Fact Sheets on these FEMA programs: https://www.epa.gov/nps/using-low-impact-development-and-
green-infrastructure-get-benefits-fema-programs; Green Stormwater Infrastructure Sites:
https://www.epa.gov/green-infrastructure: https://www.epa.gov/nps/urban-runoff-low-impact-development:
CWSRF and DWSRF Sites: https://www.epa.gov/sourcewaterprotection/funding-source-water-protection
All Federal Water Funding Programs: https://www.epa.gov/waterfinancecenter
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