CHICAGO, IL, March 20, 2008 -- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 has chosen the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians to receive $823,500 to improve the Betsie, Platte and Otter watersheds in northern Michigan. The adjacent watersheds cover rural Benzie County.
The proposed projects will improve water quality through dam removal, stream channel restoration, erosion control, using best management practices and reducing the amount of sediment entering rivers and streams.
"EPA is pleased to recognize and support the important work done by the Grand Traverse Band to protect water quality in northern Michigan," said EPA Regional Administrator Mary A. Gade. "Watershed health contributes to clean, safe water. The Targeted Watersheds grants program has proven very successful in other parts of the region and EPA looks forward to seeing improvements to rivers and streams in this area."
The band is one of 16 organizations nationwide that received $13.36 million in grants.
EPA started the Targeted Watersheds Grant Program in 2003 to encourage successful community-based approaches to protect and restore the nation's watersheds. It is a competitive program based on fundamental principles of environmental improvement: collaboration, new technologies, market incentives and results-oriented strategies.
More information on the finalists is available at www.epa.gov/twg/implementation.html
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