[September 20, 2018] |
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American Water Awards 49 Environmental Grants
American
Water (NYSE: AWK), the largest publicly traded U.S. water and
wastewater utility company, announced today the recipients of the
company's 2018 Environmental Grant Program awards. American Water has
committed to support $188,000 to 49 projects throughout their service
areas in 11 states.
"Our commitment to providing our customers with clean, safe, reliable
water service also means that we share our customers' commitment to
protecting our environment. Through this unique grant program, we've
seen truly inspiring and significant projects come to life and make a
measurable and vital impact on the protection and improvement of public
water supplies in the communities we serve," said Susan Story, president
and CEO of American Water. "These projects continue to better the lives
of millions of people-as well as the environment-because of their focus
on sustainability."
Established in 2005, American Water's Environmental
Grant Program offers funds for innovative, community-based
environmental projects that improve, restore or protect the watersheds,
surface water and/or groundwater supplies in the communities it serves.
After 13 years, American Water's environmental grant program has
provided more than $1.5 million of needed support for 462 projects to
help improve, restore and protect our valuable natural resources through
partnerships.
The 2018 grant recipients, which are located throughout American Water's
service areas, include the following:
Illinois
Illinois American Water issued ten grants totaling $22,750 to the
following organizations:
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Foundation for Ohio River Education received a $1,000 grant to
fund the Ohio River Sweep. The funds will supply gloves and other
materials to volunteers cleaning up the Ohio River.
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Bolingbrook Park District used its $4,000 grant for the DuPage
River Ecological Improvements, which focuses on removing invasive
species from along the DuPage River and restoring the natural
landscape. The project will reduce the occurrence of invasive species
to less than 10% in the area. In addition, native planting will
restore the natural landscape.
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Lincoln College utilized a $3,645 grant to increase watershed
awareness, specifically stream-bank erosion along Sugar Creek. The
funding will be used to install a boardwalk to make the area handicap
accessible.
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Nature at the Confluence, Inc. in South Beloit received a
$3,000 grant for the Kelly Creek Clean-Up. The project will engage
community volunteers to clean up Kelly Creek, a major water asset on
the Nature At The Confluence, Inc. property. Stream monitoring and
water quality testing before and after the clean-up with measure
results to educate about the impact of watershed clean ups.
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Pekin Park District will use its $2,000 grant for the continued
Lick Creek Watershed Invasive Species Control and Restoration project
to eliminate invasive species along the Lick Creek corridor. Funds
will be used to restore native plants to improve forest quality and
help to control creek-side erosion.
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Peoria Park District will receive two grants for two different
projects. A $730 grant will support the Heal the Hill Prairie at
Forest Park Nature Center. Volunteers will remove invasive species and
restore the bluffs, decreasing erosion and sedimentation of the river.
An $875 grant will support the Illinois River Sweep. Funds will help
supply gloves, trash bags, dumpsters and tire recycling.
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Peoria PlayHouse Children's Museum will utilize a $2,000 grant
for the Journey to Sea project. The project is a collaboration between
the Peoria PlayHouse, Bradley University and The Sun Foundation.
Together they will create a PlayHouse art exhibit to illustrate the
devastating impact of plastic pollution on water.
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Senior Services Plus, Inc. in Godfrey will receive a $3,500
grant to construct a detention/infiltration bioswale and rain garden.
This project is an extension of their initiative to grow their own
food to feed local senior citizens.
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Woodridge School District #68 will use a $2,000 grant for their
permeable paver parking lot at Meadowview Elementary School. The
project will decrease storm water runoff.
Indiana
Indiana American Water issued four grants totaling $12,650 to the
following organizations:
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The City of Terre Haute is being awarded $5,000 for its
Stormwater Community Watch Program. The City of Terre Haute is
partnering with Team Storm, a local group of children involved with
FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) LEGO
League, a not-for-profit public charity designed to inspire young
people's interest and participation in science and technology, and to
motivate them to pursue education and career opportunities in STEM
(Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) fields.
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The Tippecanoe County Partnership for Water Quality will
receive $4,000 to purchase an enclosed mobile trailer for
equipment used as a part of numerous hands-on field learning
experiences and activities on the Wabash River.
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Floyd County Farm Bureau is receiving $3,200 to develop
a water station as part of the My Little Farm interactive exhibit at
the Floyd County 4-H Fair during the first week of June each year. The
exhibit uses hands-on experiences to teach the public about a variety
of farm issues. The water station will educate the public on how to
keep our streams and waterways clean, avoid pollution in storm water
runoff, and how to safely recycle materials and substances that might
otherwise end up in storm runoff.
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Shelbyville High School Earth Club is being awarded $450 to
engage more than six dozen high school students in a project that
provides native trees to local residents. The project will also allow
students to prune, mulch and plant trees in the organization's nursery
and maintain those planted throughout the watershed from previous
years.
Iowa
Iowa American Water issued four grants totaling $8,000 to the following
organizations:
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River Action, Inc. will be awarded a $2,800 grant for its Urban
Revitalization project. River Action and proud partners will construct
the alleyway found between Federal and Tremont Streets into a
permeable alley t address nutrient runoff and urban flooding. As the
first of its kind in Davenport, the project will act as a
demonstration model for similar installations in the future to educate
the community on the importance of best management practices.
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Nahant Marsh Education Center will use its $2,000 grant for its
Clean Up and Bio Blitz program. Nahant Marsh will host a Bio Blitz and
three clean ups on a new 40-acre parcel. During the Bio Blitz, all
species found will be documented and at least 250 people educated.
Volunteers will also help up clean up at least 500 tires and other
items discarded into the wetland.
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Keep Scott County Beautiful/Xstream Clean-Up will be granted
$1,700 for its Xstream Water Sampling Team project. Beginning in
spring 2018, the Xstream Water Sampling Team will set up to conduct
water quality testing three times per year at 48 (or more) sites after
the State of Iowa was unable to continue funding for the IOWATER
program.
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Clinton Substance Abuse Council/Gateway (News - Alert) ImpACT Coalition will
be awarded $1,500 for its Clinton County Safe Medication Disposal
Project. The effort seeks to raise awareness of the environmental and
public health effects of improper medication storage and disposal in
Clinton County through a youth led social marketing campaign and youth
leadership training. The goal is to increase knowledge of and
participation in the Medication Drop Box (News - Alert) Program with non-senior
citizens.
Kentucky
Kentucky American Water issued two grants totaling $8,424 for the
following projects:
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Floracliff Nature Sanctuary's project will involve protecting
and treating approximately 88 ash trees in the Elk Lick watershed with
assistance from state and local partners, including the Kentucky
Division of Forestry, LexingtonFayette Urban County Government,
SiteOne Landscape Supply and the University of Kentucky.
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The Friends of Stoner Creek's project involves a comprehensive
outreach effort to engage Bourbon County citizens of all ages in
protecting and preserving Stoner Creek, the source of drinking water
supply for Paris and Millersburg. The effort includes waterway-focused
art activities with schoolchildren, a community event highlighting the
importance of Stoner Creek, and efforts to educate citizens about
proper septic system maintenance.
Missouri
Missouri American Water issued six grants totaling $26,200 to the
following organizations:
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Missouri Stream Team/Paddle Mo's grant will support Stream
Teams United's Paddle Mo event, in which paddlers come together to
celebrate the final 100 miles of the Missouri River as it joins the
Mississippi River.
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Wildcat Glades Friends Group will receive a grant to manage the
Shoal Creek Water Festival 2018, which brings together people from
four states to learn about water quality and conservation through
hands-on activities and educational booths.
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Forest ReLeaf of Missouri will utilize its grant to enhance the
environmental benefits of land it manages by planting a pollinator
garden. This garden will educate visitors, promote native plants and
support native bee and butterfly populations.
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Great Rivers Habitat Alliance is receiving a grant to host a
volunteer stewardship day in the Meramec Watershed near Arnold to
remove debris from multiple floods in 2016 and 2017.
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Missouri River Relief will use its funds to lead a
community-based cleanup of trash from the shores of the Missouri and
Mississippi Rivers in St. Charles and St. Louis counties.
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St. Joseph Youth Alliance will receive a grant for Project
WET!, which brings together participating youth to explore and
investigate aquatic ecosystems by taking water samples for testing,
picking up trash from streams and producing informational literature
about the importance of clean watersheds.
New Jersey
New Jersey American Water issued four grants totaling $37,500 to the
following organizations:
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The Borough of Fanwood will use a $7,500 grant to replant and
restore the banks of Robinson's Branch (a tributary of the Rahway
River) to help mitigate downstream flood risks and naturally diffuse
water contaminants.
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The Camden SMART Initiative will use its $10,000 grant to
support its Business Engagement for Green Infrastructure Systems
Maintenance project, which will assist with the management and
diversion of stormwater runoff from the City of Camden's combined
sewer system into constructed green infrastructure projects.
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The New Jersey Tree Foundation will use its $10,000 grant to
implement the Trees for Irvington project - a watershed protection
project in which the Foundation's Renaissance Tree Program works
cooperatively alongside the Irvington Department of Public Works in
order to plant at least 30 new 2-2.5" caliper trees in the town. Each
tree and corresponding tree pit is anticipated to intercept
approximately 13,650 gallons of stormwater within the first year of
planting in efforts to further improve the Elizabeth Watershed.
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Raritan (News - Alert) High School will use its $10,000 grant to support the
creation of an Outdoor Environmental Learning Lab for students. In
partnership with the Hazlet Environmental Commission, the project will
transform existing underutilized courtyards at the school into a
unique outdoor lab. The learning lab will then be utilized by teachers
to educate students about sustainable practices in the school's
environmental science and biology courses.
New York
New York American Water issued one grant totaling $5,000 to the
following organization:
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Battenkill Conservancy of Cambridge received a $5,000 grant as
part of the company's annual Environmental Grant Program. This grant
will assist the Battenkill Conservancy-a primarily all-volunteer,
nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and building awareness
for the protection of water resources-in funding its Adopt-A-Stream
Program.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania American Water issued six grants totaling nearly $40,000 to
the following organizations:
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Allegheny Land Trust will use its grant to plant 300 native
plants along the riparian habitat of Wingfield Pines, and train "Weed
Whackers" volunteers on invasive plant identification and management.
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Berks County Conservation District will use its grant to support
tree planting and environmental educational signage along Cacoosing
and Wyomissing Streams. Volunteers will also complete stream cleanups
along a one-mile area of the streams.
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Carnegie Shade Tree Commission will use its grant to apply an
innovative material called "biochar," which is a form of charcoal, to
urban soil planters and gardens. The group will test the benefits of
biochar in improving water quality and aiding in stormwater retention.
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Lackawanna River Conservation Association will use its funds to
implement a rain garden program and contest in the Lackawanna River
Watershed. The project will include public education for best
management practices for bio-retention.
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National Audubon Society, John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove will
receive a grant to add 1,000 native plants along Stony Creek
and Schuylkill River to reduce stormwater runoff. Local Norristown
area school students will grow plants in a greenhouse and create
demonstration gardens using native plants.
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Warren County Conservation District will conduct weekly water
quality monitoring on Barton Run and plant a riparian buffer zone to
determine benefits of riparian zones to water quality and health of
streams.
Tennessee
Tennessee American Water issued four grants totaling $10,000 to the
following organizations:
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Hamilton County Coalition was awarded $2,500 to expand its
community drug take-back. The grant allows them to continue to educate
citizens on the proper disposal of medications to keep them out of the
environment as well as potential misuse in their homes.
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Lookout Mountain Conservancy will use its $3,000 grant for
watershed protection through a unique internship program with
underserved students from urban schools. Students learn in the
outdoors and work on projects at the conservancy that contributes to
watershed protection and cultivates environmental awareness.
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Kids for Clean Water will use its $3,000 grant monies
for stream stabilization/water quality through a neighborhood program.
The organization has engaged various partners including residents,
neighborhood schools and churches to restore the habitat along
Mountain Creek. Protection of the watershed provides both stream
health benefits and enhance native biodiversity.
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John Ross Commons was awarded $1,500 for the restoration of a
park with spring/watershed protection. The citizen group Redev
Workshop started a community park rehab project in Rossville. The
central point of the park is a spring-fed pond, which is in need of an
aerating fountain to maintain the water quality in the pond and the
life it sustains. The park project also includes engaging the school
system to utilize the public space as a learning lab through an
outdoor eco-education program.
Virginia
Virginia American Water issued three grants totaling $7,500 to the
following organizations:
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James River Association will receive $4,500 to introduce and
implement meaningful watershed environmental experiences in the
Hopewell City Public Schools and New Kent County Public Schools. The
environmental grant will help provide scholarships for students in the
aforementioned school districts to attend the James River Ecology
School.
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Friends of the Rappahannock will receive $1,500 to help expand
its Rappahannock River Oyster Reef Restoration Program. This
community-based habitat restoration program provides hands-on learning
opportunities for local students and volunteers to restore oyster
reefs and improve water quality in the Rappahannock River, an
important tributary of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.
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Friends of the Occoquan (FOTO) will receive $1,500 for the
organization's community gardens and watershed workshops. FOTO
regularly donates rain barrels and community gardens to schools and
churches, and this year, the organization will sponsor an Eagle Scout
garden program. In addition to these programs, FOTO will also use the
grant for its Occoquan River cleanups.
West Virginia
West Virginia American Water will issue five grants totaling $10,000 to
the following organizations:
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25045/Town of Clendenin will receive $3,200 to support the Elk
River Spring Watershed Cleanup.
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Boone County Career and Technical Center will use its $2,276
grant for the Walhonde Water Trail Cleanup.
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Davis Creek Watershed Association received $1,200 to support a
water quality internship.
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Marshall University was issued $1,500 for the Explore Academy
rainwater harvesting project.
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Martha Elementary School received $2,000 for a classroom living
stream.
About American Water
With a history dating back to 1886, American Water is the largest and
most geographically diverse U.S. publicly traded water and wastewater
utility company. The company employs more than 7,100 dedicated
professionals who provide regulated and market-based drinking water,
wastewater and other related services to an estimated 14 million people
in 45 states and Ontario, Canada. American Water provides safe, clean,
affordable and reliable water services to our customers to make sure we
keep their lives flowing. For more information, visit amwater.com
and follow American Water on Twitter,
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and LinkedIn.
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