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U.S. EPA Gives Napa County $72,000 For Wetland Protection

Release Date: 8/11/2003
Contact Information: Laura Gentile, Press Office, 415/947-4227

SAN FRANCISCO - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently awarded $72,000 to the Napa Resource Conservation District to protect wetlands in the Napa River area.

This grant is part of over $1.5 million the EPA will award to fourteen states, tribes and local governments this year to protect wetlands in California, Nevada, Arizona and Hawaii.

The district will use the money to augment its volunteer stream monitoring program, study wetland health and educate the public about the importance of wetlands. The money will assist the district in conducting bird counts, water quality and fish sampling and vegetation surveys. Results will be reported to the public, researchers and government agencies.

More than 90 percent of the wetlands in California have been converted to urban development, agriculture and other uses. More than one third of the nation's threatened and endangered species need wetlands for survival. Wetlands reduce flood risks, recharge water supplies and protect drinking water from pollution.

"The Napa district has successfully generated widespread community support for wetland protection through its strong leadership," said Alexis Strauss, the EPA's Water Division director for the Pacific Southwest. " The EPA's funding will augment the superb Napa River restoration projects currently underway."

Any states, tribes, or local governments seeking funding for wetlands protection can apply to the EPA after Sept. 7 at www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/grantguidelines. For information about this project, please contact Jonathan Koehler of the Napa Resource District at 707-252-4188 or Paul Jones of the U.S. EPA's Pacific Southwest Office at 415-972-3470.