Environmental Services Awarded DOE Grants
SPOKANE COUNTY, October 8, 2020 – The Spokane County Environmental Services Department has been awarded two grants totaling $1.2-million by the Washington State Department of Ecology. The grants will be used for projects that will enhance stream flows in the Little Spokane River and tributaries to offset the impacts of new rural domestic water uses. The projects include water storage, wetland restoration, and managed aquifer recharge, which all aim to store water that is abundant in the spring for release during late summer and fall.
According to Water Resources Manager Mike Hermanson, Environmental Services has been a leader and active participant in state-funded water resource planning processes for the Little Spokane River Basin since the late 1990s. “Until now, we’ve been focused on developing a comprehensive watershed management plan in partnership with the three northeast Washington counties, local and tribal interests. It’s gratifying to know that the plan will soon be implemented,” Hermanson said.
The Washington State Legislature created this grant program as part of the 2018 Streamflow Restoration law that seeks to protects rivers and streams, while also providing water for rural homes. The grant program helps state and local agencies, tribal governments, and nonprofit organizations put local plans and projects into action. Other recipients include the Methow Salmon Recovery Foundation ($1-million), King County ($500-thousand), and the City of Tacoma ($380-thousand).
For more information, contact Water Resources Manager Mike Hermanson at (509) 477-7578.
Environmental Services: Keeping your Water Clean and the Environment Green!
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