Governor Donald L. Carcieri has announced the award of $454,047 in pollution abatement and freshwater wetlands protection grants for 13 projects that will improve water quality throughout Rhode Island.

“Reclaiming and preserving our water resources is key to preserving Rhode Island’s natural heritage and way of life for generations to come,” Governor Carcieri said. “Our Department of Environmental Management will provide the grants to eight Rhode Island communities and two non-profit watershed associations for water quality restoration, freshwater wetlands protection and an onsite wastewater management project.

Funds include $392,597 provided by the US Environmental Protection Agency from the federal Clean Water Act nonpoint source management program, $51,450 from federal wetlands program development grants, and $10,000 from the state's Clean Water Environmental Trust Fund.

"Today's grant awards reflect DEM's continuing commitment to work in partnership with federal agencies and local communities to address high priority water quality problems effectively," said W. Michael Sullivan, Ph.D., Director of DEM.. "They will provide significant help in improving the quality of a number of water bodies throughout the state."

Nine water quality restoration grants, ranging from $30,000 to $60,000, and requiring a 40 percent match, will be used to support improvements to water resources in seven communities that are known to be polluted by nonpoint sources. The projects will address stormwater management and erosion control, impacts from sewage and animal waste, and the development of lake and watershed management plans.

Three wetlands grants, ranging from $14,000 to $24,950 and requiring a 25 percent match, will address wetlands impacts and aquatic habitat restoration in two East Bay communities and the Woonsasquatucket River Watershed.

A grant of $10,000, and requiring a 40 percent match, will be used for development of a community onsite wastewater management plan in Burrillville, with the goal of improving overall wastewater management and developing eligibility for community loan programs to repair and upgrade individual septic systems.

Nonpoint source pollution is a significant cause of water quality impairment in Rhode Island. Diffuse in nature, it comes from a number of sources such as failed septic systems, stormwater runoff from lawns, farms, paved surfaces, old landfills, and salt storage facilities, erosion from construction sites, and waterfowl.

This year's grants program was highly competitive. Requests for 18 grants totaling $1,093,871 were submitted, demonstrating the need for these funds and the importance of the grants program.

The following grants, totaling $514,047, were awarded:

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