U.S. Water News Online
WASHINGTON -- The Bureau of Reclamation has made available $728,250 for 13 fish and wildlife restoration challenge grants in 11 Western states, including one grant to a Native American tribe.
According to Reclamation Commissioner Eluid Martinez, the project is part of Reclamation's efforts to promote the health of ecosystems of the American West. It was undertaken in partnership with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), which agreed to jointly fund several projects that meet this objective. The successful applicants were chosen from a pool of 61 proposals.
Reclamation and NFWF are working to expand the available funds for next year. Reclamation is requesting $2.5 million in its FY 97 budget to continue offering challenge grants for projects in the West that enhance its water resource mission by employing sound environmental practices.
"We are delighted to offer these challenge grants to projects that meet the West's need for good natural resource management," said Commissioner Martinez. "We chose a cross-section of projects that we felt to be the most environmentally worthwhile. I'm especially pleased to be able to assist the needs of the Native American community."
Projects funded include several in the Lower Colorado Region of Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, and California, as well as 10 in several other western states including Idaho, Montana, Oklahoma, Oregon, Utah, and California.
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