18 MI watershed organizations awarded $600,000 in EGLE grants
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) announced on May 27 a series of 18 grants totaling $600,000 for projects that will support watershed organizations with conservation and educational efforts.
The Watershed Council Support grants are funded under Michigan's Public Act 166 of 2020. Grants were limited to $40,000 per applicant and the projects must be put into action within a year of receiving the grants.
The grants are issued by EGLE's Nonpoint Source Program, which helps local stakeholders reduce pollution and excess runoff by supporting efforts to develop and launch watershed management plans.
The Nonpoint Source Program issues an annual request for proposals for projects with the next request for proposals available in mid-July. It will be posted at Michigan.gov/NPS
Among the projects funded: Environmental outreach to targeted audiences including underserved communities and non-English speaking households; monitoring to detect and control aquatic invasive species and support boat cleaning stations; support watershed management planning; support farm-based conservation planning; and coordinate water quality monitoring among local units of government in a watershed.
Michigan-based organizations and projects selected to receive funding:
- Calvin University, Grand Rapids, $40,000
- Chippewa Luce Mackinac Conservation District, Sault Ste. Marie, $40,000
- Clinton River Watershed Council, Rochester Hills, $32,420
- Flint River Watershed Coalition, Flint, $21,150
- Friends of the Rouge, Plymouth, $39,808
- Genesee Conservation District, Flint, $31,500
- Great Lakes Water Authority, Detroit, $40,000
- Huron Pines Resource, Gaylord, $40,000
- Isabella Conservation District, Mount Pleasant, $30,995
- Kalamazoo River Watershed Council, Kalamazoo, $15,000
- Little Traverse Lake Property Owner's Association, Cedar, $14,602
- Macatawa Area Coordinating Council, Holland, $39,950
- Muskegon River Watershed Assembly, Big Rapids, $40,000
- River Raisin Watershed Council, Adrian, $39,984
- Superior Watershed Partnership, Marquette, $37,231
- Two Rivers Coalition, Paw Paw, $17,360
- Village of Onekama, $40,000
- Washtenaw County Water Resources, Ann Arbor, $40,000
A total of 69 applications requesting about $2.4 million were received in response to the request for proposals.
SOURCE: Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy
