Press Release - Thursday, March 09, 2006
Press Releases
No Data
Illinois EPA supports local efforts to clean up Illinois streams and lakes with "SCALE" program
SPRINGFIELD -- Illinois EPA Director Doug Scott announced that 30 grants ranging from $500 to $3,500 and totaling $35,750, have been approved for local cleanups of streambanks, riverbanks and lakeshores under the Illinois EPA's Streambank Cleanup And Lakeshore Enhancement (SCALE) Program.
The grants come entirely from federal funding through the U.S. EPA and are being allocated to Illinois to encourage local groups to carry out this kind of cleanup event. Governor Rod R. Blagojevich described SCALE as "a creative way of getting positive environmental results statewide for limited monetary outlays." Illinois EPA provides the funding through Section 319 of the Clean Water Act.
"These groups work locally to improve our stream and lake shores. Their efforts demonstrate a grass roots approach to protecting our environment," said Director Scott. "Illinois EPA is able to support these efforts with SCALE grants. The funding will make it easier for them to do that by helping with expenses like safety attire, litter bags, dumpster rentals or landfill fees, and other costs they have previously had to meet on their own."
This is the forth year for the SCALE program. In 2005, 43 of the 45 groups involved reported over 11,000 participants in local stream and lake cleanups. Together they collected over 500 tons of garbage from nearly 800 miles of streambanks and 1200 acres of lakeshore.
The recipients, grant amounts and benefiting waterways for the 2006 SCALE grants are:
Three applicants were approved for grants of $3,500 each:
Friends of the Illinois River, Illinois River
Friends of the Chicago River, Chicago River and Tributaries
ORSANCO, Ohio River (Illinois segment)
Seven applicants will receive $1,750 each:
Alliance for the Great Lakes, Lake Michigan and Waukegan River
Friends of the Parks, Multiple Chicagoland Area Waterways
Northern Illinois Anglers Association, Kankakee River and Tributaries
Friends of the Fox River, Fox River and Tributaries
Living Lands & Waters, Multiple Illinois River Waterways
Salt Fork River Partners, Salt Fork River
The Conservation Foundation, DuPage River and Tributaries
Designated for $1,000 grants were:
Forest Preserve District of Cook County, Busse Lake/Salt Creek
Lewis & Clark College (Piasa Creek), Piasa Creek Watershed
Lower Kaskaskia Stakeholders, Inc, Kaskaskia River
Thorn Creek Restoration Coalition, Thorn Creek
JoDaviess Conservation Foundation, Mississippi River Pool
Village of Northbrook, North Branch Chicago River
Receiving $500 grants will be:
Keep Salem Beautiful, Salem City Reservoir
Keep Vermilion County Beautiful/Middle Fork Canoe Outfitters, Vermilion River
Hegewisch Chamber of Commerce, Wolf Lake
Long Lake Improvement and Sanitation Association, Long Lake
Macon County Conservation District, Sangamon River
Prairie State Canoeists, DesPlaines River
River Forest Park District, DesPlaines River
Vermilion County Soil & Water Conservation District, Lake Vermilion
Youth Conservation Corp, DesPlaines River, Waukegan and Lake Michigan
Izaak Walton League - Elgin Chapter, Fox River
Boone County Conservation District, Kishwaukee River
Illinois Smallmouth Alliance, Kankakee River
Round Lake Management Commission, Round Lake
Valley of the Fox Group/Sierra Club, Fox River
The application deadline for next group of SCALE grants is November 30, 2006. Visit Illinois EPA's website at www.epa.state.il.us for additional information.
-30-
Press Releases
No Data