The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) awarded more than $3 million to localities for water quality projects. Available through the federal Clean Water Act’s Section 319, the funding will go towards improving water quality by reducing pollution in local streams and watersheds.
The funding specifically targets projects that will help reduce non-point source pollution, such as storm water, precipitation, atmospheric deposition, drainage, seepage and hydrologic modification, as reported by the Augusta Free Press.
“Each of these projects is a small but measurable step towards cleaner, healthier watersheds,” said DEQ Water Planning Division Director Jutta Schneider. “These grants enable localities and environmental groups to accomplish critical improvements where they are most needed.”
According to the Augusta Free Press, DEQ has been cleaning up local watersheds since 2001. Other projects targeting non-point pollution sources have yielded significant water quality improvements. DEQ recently was recognized by the U.S. EPA for the progress their non-point pollution program has made in combating pollution issues.
2018-2019 Implementation Projects:
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Upper Roanoke River – Part I Western Virginia Water Authority Roanoke $342,875.00
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North Fork River Watershed Evergreen SWCD Smyth $340,638.31
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Tye River, Hat Creek, Rucker Run & Piney River Thomas Jefferson SWCD Nelson & Amherst $315,474.38
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Upper Rapidan River Culpeper SWCD Greene, Madison, Orange, & Albemarle $314,066.73
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Robinson River and Little Dark Run Culpeper SWCD Madison $291,282.34
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Upper Goose Creek John Marshall SWCD Fauquier $266,868.23
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Clinch River and Cove Creek Clinch Valley SWCD Russell $250,413.52
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Roanoke River Implementation Plan Part I Mountain Castles SWCD Roanoke $245,601.00
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Lower Banister River, Winn and Terrible Creeks Halifax SWCD Halifax $222,100.00
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Slate River and Rock Island Creek Peter Francisco SWCD Buckingham $170,272.00
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James River and Tributaries City of Richmond City of Richmond $175,413.69
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James River and Tributaries James River Association City of Richmond $128,869.50 $3,063,874.70
