Kaua'i County officials plan to seek a federal debris removal grant following the Kaloko Dam breach nearly three weeks ago.

The county may be eligible for a debris removal grant through the Emergency Watershed Protection Program, representatives with the National Resource Conservation Service told Kaua'i officials Saturday.

Disposal of enormous amounts of debris in the Wailapa area is one issue facing the county in the wake of the deadly dam break on March 14.

Kaua'i Mayor Bryan Baptiste said the county plans to write a letter to NRCS to ask for assistance and are simultaneously seeking funds from the state Emergency Fund to match the debris removal grant.

The Emergency Watershed Protection program was set up by the U.S. Congress to respond to emergencies created by natural disasters and is designed to relieve imminent hazards to life and property caused by floods, fires, windstorms and other disasters.

"The Kaloko Dam breach has left in its wake enormous amounts of debris which has impacted the Wailapa Stream and many residents in the affected area," Baptiste said in a statement Saturday.

"We understand the sense of urgency in dealing with this situation," he said.

The Kaloko dam catastrophe killed seven people, damaged homes and flooded a section of Kaua'i's main highway.

An updated damage assessment released last week said that more than 50 homes on Kaua'i suffered damage as a result of the recent rains and reservoir breach.

U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, D-Hawai'i, also said he is seeking $15 million to $30 million in emergency federal aid to help the county recover.

Also, the destruction of crops on the island prompted Gov. Linda Lingle to request a federal disaster declaration to help farmers.