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City of Seattle
Gregory J. Nickels, Mayor
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NEWS ADVISORY
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| SUBJECT: Seattle's aquatic life get a boost from new grant program
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
8/15/2005 4:00:00 PM |
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
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Seattle’s aquatic life get a boost from new grant program
Money will help community groups improve water quality and habitat
SEATTLE - A new $300,000 grant program will improve the quality of the city’s
aquatic habitat by creating and funding partnerships between the city and community
organizations.
The money is part of Mayor Greg Nickels’ city-wide Restore Our Waters
strategy. The program will support the work of community organizations by matching
cash, volunteer labor, and other donations, including land, supplies, equipment,
or professional services. The City Council approved funding for the program
today.
“Seattle is a city that is defined by its beautiful waterways,” Mayor
Nickels said. “This program will encourage people to get involved in
improving our waters so that fish and plants can thrive for generations to
come.”
"People want to do something for fish, and this is their opportunity
to get city help,” said Councilmember Jim Compton. “We will match
dollar-for-dollar for projects that fit the criteria to help neighborhoods
that wants to restore a stream or homeowners who want to replace a culvert
that blocks salmon. Everybody wins."
Examples of projects that may qualify for funding include:
- Removing fish passage blockages in creeks that are located on private
property,
- Removing invasive plants and planting native plants along creeks and along
shorelines near storm water outfalls or creek mouths,
- Removing bulkheads and restoring the creek channel or creating shallow-water
habitat.
Applications are being accepted from now until September 23, 2005. The following
guidelines apply:
- Projects may be located on either private or public property.
- If the project takes place on private property, a direct public benefit
must be shown.
- Grants have a minimum of $2,000, and require a one-to-one match.
- Projects must be located within the City of Seattle along creek, marine
and lake shorelines that have been impacted by the City of Seattle’s drainage
system operation. For example, during storms, some of Seattle’s urban creeks
experience high stormwater flows. This fast-moving water can cause changes to
shorelines and channels. Storm water flowing out of pipes or creek mouths along
Puget Sound, Lake Washington and the Duwamish can also impact nearby aquatic
habitat.
More details are available on the program’s Web site at: www.seattle.gov/util/aquaticgrant
For more information, contact Kathy Minsch, Aquatic Habitat Program Manager,
at kathy.minsch@seattle.gov or 206-615-1441 or Christina Faine, Aquatic Habitat
Grant Coordinator, at Christina.faine@seattle.gov or 206-386-4195.
Get the mayor’s inside view on initiatives to promote transportation,
public safety, economic opportunity and healthy communities by signing up for
The Nickels Newsletter at www.seattle.gov/mayor/newsletter_signup.htm.
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Office of the Mayor
Seattle Public Utilities
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