FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 26, 2001
ODNR AWARDS MORE THAN $72,000 TO LOCAL SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICTS
TO FUND NONPOINT SOURCE POLLUTION EDUCATION
COLUMBUS, OH -- Seven of Ohio's county soil and water conservation districts have been awarded a total of $72,430 for nonpoint source water pollution education through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). Receiving nonpoint source education grants for this year are the soil and water conservation districts in Franklin, Geauga, Lawrence, Mercer, Noble, Scioto, and Warren counties.
"As nonpoint source pollution continues to be the foremost threat to water quality in Ohio, we will continue to work aggressively to reduce its impact on our state," said ODNR Director Sam Speck. "By providing grants for educational projects in local communities, we can inform Ohioans about the many different causes of nonpoint source pollution and ways every citizen can help prevent it from occurring."
Nonpoint source pollution includes agricultural runoff and pollution that drains into waterways from highways, backyards and construction sites. According to Speck, more than $1,000,000 has been awarded to Ohio's soil and water conservation districts since the grant program was initiated in 1992. The grants are awarded jointly by the Ohio Soil and Water Conservation Commission and the ODNR Division of Soil & Water Conservation.
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EDITORS NOTE: BELOW IS A SUMMARY OF THIS YEAR'S NONPOINT SOURCE EDUCATION GRANTS
For Further Information Contact:
Jeanne Russell, ODNR Division of Soil & Water Conservation
(614) 265-6682
-or-
Andy Ware, ODNR Media Relations
(614) 265-6882
ODNR 2001 Nonpoint Source Grant Awards
Franklin County SWCD
Proposal to hire a watershed education coordinator to provide educational workshops, tours, seminars and resources to the eight individual watershed groups active in Franklin County.
$12,000
Geauga County SWCD
Proposal to change current education specialist/technician position by increasing NPS education responsibilities from 60% to 90%.
$8,430
Lawrence County SWCD
Second year request for funding for a program targeting schools, the general public, and civic groups. Activities to include teacher workshops, community action projects, field days and water festivals.
$10,000
Mercer County SWCD
Proposal to partially fund a full-time position with duties split 60% education/marketing and 40% office manager. Activities to include development of school programs, NPS field day and displays for local events.
$12,000
Noble County SWCD
Third year request to continue school and general public NPS education program. Will expand to provide outreach education program to Amish community on water quality issues.
$7,500
Scioto County SWCD
First year grant to hire full-time education specialist to conduct teacher workshops, field days and watershed tours, coordinate monitoring programs, and implement community action projects.
$15,000
Warren County SWCD
Third year grant request to continue program aimed at assisting local municipalities in meeting NPS educational requirements. Activities will include school programs, stream clean-ups, storm drain stenciling, NPS lessons on the web and generation of fact sheets for community use.
$7,500
TOTAL $ 72,430
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