The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded $1.3 million to 22 organizations in 18 states to help protect and restore urban waters and to support community revitalization and other local priorities.
“Often underserved communities in our nation’s cities face disproportionate impacts from pollution, and too often they lack the resources to do something about it,” said Joel Beauvais, EPA deputy assistant administrator for water. “EPA provides support to empower these communities to improve the quality of their waterways and to help reconnect people and businesses with the water they depend on.”
Many urban waterways have been polluted for years by sewage, runoff from city streets and contamination from abandoned industrial facilities. Healthy and accessible urban waters can enhance economic, educational, recreational and social opportunities in surrounding communities.
This year’s Urban Waters grantees will inform and engage residents in storm water management and pursue community-based plans to address pollution in waterways. To accomplish these goals, many projects will address trash in waterways; test rivers, streams and lakes for pollutants; and prepare the next generation of environmental stewards for careers in the green economy.
The 22 organizations receiving EPA grant funding are as follows:
- Mystic River Watershed Assn., Massachusetts ($60,000)
- Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, Massachusetts ($60,000)
- NY/NJ Baykeeper, New Jersey ($48,150)
- Sarah Lawrence College, New York ($60,000)
- Anacostia Watershed Society Inc., Maryland ($50,000)
- Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia ($59,773)
- The Conservation Fund, Georgia ($60,000)
- The University of Tennessee, Tennessee ($59,995)
- Openlands, Illinois ($60,000)
- The University of Toledo, Ohio ($59,988)
- Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation, Louisiana ($60,000)
- Amigos Bravos, New Mexico ($55,508)
- Saint Louis University, Missouri ($58,793)
- University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Nebraska ($59,935)
- City and County of Denver, Colorado ($60,000)
- Groundwork Denver Inc., Colorado ($60,000)
- South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, South Dakota ($58,996)
- Arizona State University, Arizona ($58,227)
- Constitutional Rights Foundation, California ($59,673)
- Heal the Bay, California ($59,998)
- Lummi Indian Business Council, Washington ($56,433)
- The Lands Council, Washington ($45,250)
The Urban Waters Small Grants are competed and awarded every two years. Since its inception in 2012, the program has awarded approximately $6.6 million in Urban Waters Small Grants to 114 organizations across the country and Puerto Rico, with individual award amounts of up to $60,000.
To learn more about the funded projects, visit www.epa.gov/urbanwaters/urban-waters-small-grants.
For information on EPA’s Urban Waters program, visit www.epa.gov/urbanwaters.
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
