This year, Washington Department of Ecology will provide $651,000 in grants to fund 14 projects to improve water quality and the natural environment in multiple watersheds across the state. Two of the projects are in Clark County.
Clark Conservation District will receive a $49,861 grant to support Poop Smart Clark, a program that reduces and prevents fecal bacterial pollution through source identification, targeted outreach and voluntarily implementing best management practices. The additional funding will support and expand current outreach efforts, Ecology’s news release stated.
Clark Public Utility District will receive $49,895 to enhance streamside habitat in Rock Creek. This project will improve water quality and enhance wildlife habitat by planting native trees and shrubs to increase stream shade, boost stream flows and stormwater infiltration and reduce turbidity, the news release stated.
The grants are funded through Ecology’s Terry Husseman Account from penalties issued for violations of the state Water Pollution Control Act. The account is designed to help local and tribal governments, conservation and port districts, fisheries enhancement groups and other state agencies pay for environmental projects.
For more information about the grants, visit shorturl.at/pvyJ0.
