WASHINGTON - The Agriculture Department said Wednesday that it was sending $62.8 million to Washington County to help repair damage from major flooding earlier this year and to prevent future incidents. Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, who pushed the funding into an emergency spending bill that passed Congress last month, praised the Agriculture Department's quick action. "These funds are critical to the rebuilding effort under way in Washington County, and with ongoing weather concerns, will certainly help mitigate future flooding in the area," Bennett said in a statement. Early this year, torrential rains swelled the Santa Clara and Virgin rivers, damaging stream banks and clogging the river with debris. Mountain snowpack in southern Utah was more than 2 1/2 times the average level, threatening further flooding if it melts suddenly. The county can use the money to repair damage to riverbanks or clogged streams on private lands that resulted from the floods and to protect lives and property. The Utah funds were part of $104.5 million that the department released to 15 states through the Emergency Watershed Protection Program. Utah was the largest recipient by far. "These funds were provided through a supplemental appropriation and will help restore critical watersheds while responding to the needs of rural communities," Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns said in a statement. -Robert Gehrke