Ohio EPA Awards Environmental Education Grant to Promote Citizen Monitoring of the Lower Great Miami River Watershed
WASHINGTON, D.C. –- (RealEstateRama) — Enthusiasts of the lower Great Miami River watershed will have an opportunity to be part of a citizens’ water quality monitoring program thanks to an $18,822 grant from the Ohio Environmental Education Fund (OEEF). The grant was awarded to Rivers Unlimited – one of eight Ohio communities and organizations to receive a total of $239,941 to support environmental education programs.
Rivers Unlimited will use the money to train 50 volunteers to perform monthly water quality monitoring at more than 75 locations throughout the watershed. Participants also will learn about nutrient loading, pulse flows and other issues impacting streams in their area. They will present their findings to neighborhood, civic and other local organizations, so the community can make informed decisions on how best to improve water quality.
Collaborating with Rivers Unlimited on the project are the Friends of the Great Miami, Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District, University of Cincinnati, and Oxbow Inc.
OEEF grants are funded with a portion of the civil penalties Ohio EPA collects for violations of Ohio’s air and water pollution control laws. OEEF awards grants for a variety of environmental education projects serving kindergarten through university students, the public and the regulated community. Eligible recipients include environmental groups, public and private schools, colleges and universities, trade and professional organizations, state and local governments, and businesses.
For the next round of grants, electronic letters must be submitted by July 10 and completed applications are due July 17. Additional information is available on OEEF’s webpage or by calling (614) 644-2873.
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The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency was created in 1972 to consolidate efforts to protect and improve air quality, water quality and waste management in Ohio. Since then, air pollutants dropped by as much as 90 percent; large rivers meeting standards improved from 21 percent to 89 percent; and hundreds of polluting, open dumps were replaced with engineered landfills and an increased emphasis on waste reduction and recycling.
PUBLIC INTEREST CENTER, (614) 644-2160
MEDIA CONTACT: Dina Pierce