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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 4, 1998
98-090
CONTACT: Kim McKee, (360) 407-6566
Mary Getchell, (360) 407-6157; Pager, (360) 534-8590
OLYMPIA - The Washington Department of Ecology is proposing $74 million in grants and loans to help improve and protect water quality in Washington, with a strong emphasis on restoring salmon runs.
The public is invited to comment on the 70 projects Ecology is proposing to fund in cities, counties and one Indian reservation in Washington.
"Every year we focus financial assistance toward improving water quality, which does help aquatic habitat. But this year, with the renewed urgency regarding endangered-species listings, the legislature directed us to set aside 25 percent of the grant money for salmon restoration," said Megan White, the manager of Ecology’s Water Quality Program.
Ecology is asking for public comment on the projects that are proposed to receive funding. People may give formal testimony at a public hearing.
LACEY Thursday, June 11, 9-12 a.m.
Department of Ecology, Auditorium
300 Desmond Drive
Most of the grants and loans go toward projects such as building or upgrading municipal wastewater-treatment plants, implementing pollution controls on storm water, improving and protecting ground water, and other pollution-prevention activities. Ecology provides local governments and Indian tribes with technical assistance.
For the past several years, local financial needs have far out-weighed the money available. This year, communities asked Ecology to fund 168 projects, totaling $107 million. That’s nearly one-third more money than is available.
"There isn’t enough money to go around, so we have to make tough decisions," said White. "We evaluated each project based on the severity of the community’s water quality problem and the expected environmental benefit.
"It is disappointing to have worthwhile projects go unfunded," she said.
The portion of the money earmarked for salmon restoration amounts to $2.6 million for 15 projects throughout Washington State:
|
Benton Conservation District |
Irrigation Management |
$ 35,259 |
|
Bremerton-Kitsap Co. Health District |
Dogfish Creek Basin Restoration |
$134,482 |
|
Chelan Co. Conservation District |
Wenatchee Watershed Improvement |
$249,900 |
|
City of Issaquah |
Stormwater Outfall Improvements |
$108,059 |
|
Clallam Co. |
Dungeness Bay Shellfish Protection |
$ 56,617 |
|
Clark Co. Conservation District |
Small Farm Water Improvement |
$214,971 |
|
Mason Conservation District |
Skokomish Watershed Education |
$250,000 |
|
Snohomish Co. |
Erosion Control |
$209,131 |
|
Snohomish Co., Surface Water Mgmt. |
Swamp Creek Discharge Cleanup |
$ 91,800 |
|
Snohomish Conservation District |
Hedgerow/"Living Fences" |
$233,850 |
|
Underwood Conservation District |
White Salmon Restoration |
$138,360 |
|
Wahkiakum Conservation District |
Cowlitz Watershed Restoration |
$234,678 |
|
Walla Walla Co. Conservation District |
Watershed Restoration |
$185,558 |
|
Whatcom Conservation District |
Watershed Restoration |
$250,000 |
|
Yelm Community Schools |
Nisqually River Student-Run Restoration |
$161,363 |
Ecology is proposing to issue grants and loans from four funding sources: Centennial Clean Water Fund, Referendum 26, Washington State Pollution Control Revolving Fund, and Clean Water Act Section 319 Nonpoint-Source Fund.
Through June 30, Ecology will accept comments on the projects proposed for funding. Written comments should be sent to Kim McKee, Department of Ecology, PO Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600.
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
