U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced grants of more than $14.5 million for water improvement projects in the agency's Pacific Southwest Region to advance water resources projects.
The money will be spent mainly to implement nonpoint source management plans to address pollution caused by rainfall moving over ground, according to an Oct. 19 EPA news release. Rainfall running over ground can lead to runoff that picks up natural and man-made pollutants from diffuse sources.
"These grants will do much to advance our shared goal of protecting water resources in Arizona, California, Nevada and Hawaii," EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman said in the news release. "Combined with state matching funds, EPA's awards will help put into place the best practices needed to reduce runoff-related pollution and improve water quality for our communities."
"These funds will accelerate California's efforts to reduce the impacts of runoff pollution on the state’s water bodies," California State Water Resources Control Board Chair Joaquin Esquivel said in the news release. "It will help us prevent future harmful algal blooms, collaborate with ranching and agriculture communities to implement sustainable operating practices and restore watersheds affected by historic and active mining and timber activities. We are grateful for the reliable support of our federal partners for our work to protect California’s waters."
The Hawaiii Department of Health will receive $1.3 million to support implementation of that state's Nonpoint Source Management Plan, the release reported.
“Nonpoint source pollution is the major cause of brown water advisories and overall water quality degradation in Hawai’i," Deputy Director of the Hawaii Department of Health Kathleen Ho said in the release. "These federal grant funds will be combined with state funding to protect water quality and restore healthy ecosystems in watersheds throughout Hawai’i."
