WASHINGTON, DC, Dec. 8, 2014 -- A broad coalition of 27 national non-governmental organizations (NGOs), including the Sierra Club, Nature Conservancy and Conservation Fund, have all pledged to support the Urban Waters Federal Partnership (UWFP) as it works to restore waterways and revitalize communities across the country.
The NGOs will align resources, funding and expertise with federal efforts to restore urban waters and parks, increase outdoor recreation and engage residents and youth. The announcement came as federal agencies and NGOs convened in Washington, D.C., to share best practices on restoring urban waterways. Many waterways have been polluted for years by sewage, runoff from city streets and contamination from abandoned industrial facilities.
Healthy and accessible urban waters can help grow local businesses and enhance economic, educational, recreational, and social opportunities in nearby communities. Reconnecting residents to their local urban waters helps communities to actively participate in restoring urban waters while improving their neighborhoods.
The UWFP is made up of 13 federal agencies working to reconnect urban communities with their waterways by improving coordination among federal agencies and collaborating with community-led revitalization efforts. The partnership is led by the Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of the Interior, Department of Agriculture, and Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Launched in 2011, the UWFP provides grants, resources and expertise to local governments looking to restore urban rivers and jumpstart local economies, particularly in underserved communities. The Urban Waters Grant program, which currently supports 19 communities in some of the country's largest cities, has awarded more than $1.8 million since its inception, with grantees leveraging an additional $6.7 million in local project support.
See also:
"EPA awarding $2.1M to 17 states to revitalize urban waters"
"Urban Waters to announce new projects to restore U.S. waterways"
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