Local groups receive water grants

MAT-SU — Local governments and non-governmental organizations are the recipients of $352,035 in Alaska Clean Water Actions grants. The ACWA partnership between the Departments of Environmental Conservation, Fish & Game, and Natural Resources awarded 12 grants to assist the state in its clean water objectives. Four projects in the Mat-Su received grants. They are:

• Cook Inletkeeper received an $18,491 grant for a “Clean Boating on Big Lake” to continue its 2012 project. Using the Big Lake Action Plan as a guide, this project will address the goal of reducing pollution in Big Lake through a comprehensive educational clean boating campaign. This project has two objectives: to continue to implement the education campaign and to empower regional boaters to practice and encourage clean boating. A final report summarizing the project will be provided. For more information, contact Rachel Lord, (907) 235-4068, Ext. 29.

• Cook Inletkeeper received an $18,247 grant for a “Clean Boating on Little Susitna River” project. This project addresses an ACWA Protection priority building on other efforts. The lower Little Susitna River is at risk of water quality impairment from petroleum hydrocarbon pollution and turbidity. This project continues the educational campaign on the impacts of petroleum and turbidity pollution to aquatic species and ways to reduce this pollution. The outreach campaign will build on DEC’s current “Fuel Out — Fish On!” outreach message coordinating efforts with the work on Big Lake. In addition, one-on- one education of users of the lower Little Susitna River recreational fishery will be conducted. A final project report summarizing results will be provided. For more information, contact Rachel Lord, 235-4068, Ext. 29.

• Mat-Su Resource Conservation Development Council received a $17,555 grant for a “Cottonwood Creek Septic Smart: Homeowner Outreach” project. Cottonwood Creek is polluted from fecal coliform. This project will work with homeowners, local engineers, and septic system pumping services to develop a pumping co-operative to share costs where one street with several home septic systems can be inspected/serviced at once at reduced costs. The project will also include an education component, to raise awareness of septic systems’ potential impact on water quality through education efforts. For more information, contact Marty Metiva at 373-1016.

• Mat-Su Resource Conservation Development Council received a $34,500 grant for a “Mat-Su Palmer Rain Garden Demo” project at the Mat-Su Senior Service Center. The rain garden will minimize run-off from post-construction development by creating a natural system that mimics pre-development conditions. The public will be educated on the benefits of low impact development through hands-on and on-site education. For more information, contact Marty Metiva at 373-1016.