Read about the First Annual Water Council Grant Awards in the press!
The Greenville News just published these photos from the press conference at McFalls Landing: Anderson Watershed Protection Grant awards first recipients.
Inaugural Water Council Projects Receive Funding
January 12, 2023 - ANDERSON COUNTY, South Carolina – The Anderson County Watershed Protection Council announced today that they are awarding grants from $30,000 to $90,000 to the Rocky River Conservancy and the Anderson Soil and Water Conservation District. The recipients are launching projects that will improve water quality and education in the county.
The water council and new grant program are part of Upstate Forever and Savannah Riverkeeper efforts to spend legal settlement dollars from past polluters on long-term, community-driven projects that will safeguard Anderson’s water quality.
“It is exciting to jumpstart water-focused projects in communities that have experienced heavy pollution in the past,” says Megan Chase, Upstate Forever State Policy Director. “The goal is to connect children, teachers, residents and leaders to the waterways through recreation, restoration, and education. The two projects we selected are perfect examples of what is possible.”
The Rocky River Conservancy project will engage the community in restoration efforts and water quality testing in the Rocky River Nature Park, a 148-acre public preserve in the Broadway Creek watershed. Trees Upstate is partnering with them to plant buffers while engaging the nearby community.
Also, in the Broadway Creek watershed, Anderson Soil and Water Conservation’s project will provide teachers, students and experts with Adopt-a-Stream kits and link them to the KnowYourRiver.com database to monitor local water conditions. The project will engage more than 1,000 participants in water-quality activities in the first year.
“Growth, development, and leaking pipelines have contributed to serious impairment of Anderson County’s once pristine waterways. We can no longer take clean water for granted. These grant funded proposals are expected to provide education, lasting clean up, and restoration to return these streams to good health,” says M. Cindy Wilson, Anderson County Council District 7. “Thank you, Upstate Forever, Savannah Riverkeeper, and Southern Environmental Law Center, for setting us on a better course.”
The next funding opportunity will be in the summer of 2023. Entities seeking more information about the process can visit www.andersonwatercouncil.com or email info@andersonwatercouncil.com.
The mission of the Anderson County Watershed Protection Council is to assist in identifying, prioritizing, and funding projects that empower citizens to take action on existing and emerging threats to water resources and to restore water quality in the Savannah River watershed's impacted areas.
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The Anderson Watershed Protection Council with the 2023 award winners at McFalls Landing in Anderson County
Awards to be Announced this Thursday, January 12
The Anderson County Watershed Protection Council invites members of the community to an important press event where we will be announcing the first annual award recipients for the Anderson Watershed Protection Grant.
When: Thursday, January 12, 2023 at 4:00 PM
Where: McFalls Landing, 1625 Broadway Lake Rd, Anderson, South Carolina
The event will include a brief overview of the Anderson Watershed Protection Council, an address from Anderson County Councilwoman Cindy Wilson, and an awards distribution ceremony.
Please RSVP at info@andersonwatercouncil.com.
New Funding Opportunity for Anderson County Watershed Protection
The Anderson County Watershed Protection Council is seeking grant applications for projects that will protect or restore water quality in Anderson County, as well as nearby portions of the Savannah River watershed. Individual grant awards will be between $10,000 to $50,000 for citizen empowerment and education projects and up to $100,000 for water restoration and land conservation projects.
Past pollution legal settlement provides grants for cleaner water
The Anderson County Watershed Protection Council is seeking grant applications for projects that will protect or restore water quality in Anderson County, as well as nearby portions of the Savannah River watershed. Individual grant awards will be between $10,000 to $50,000 for citizen empowerment and education projects and up to $100,000 for water restoration and land conservation projects.
Working to steward settlement funds from the nearby 2014 Kinder Morgan gasoline pipeline spill, the advisory council is composed of volunteers from Anderson County Council, Board of Education, Soil and Water Conservation District; Upstate Forever; Savannah Riverkeeper; Clemson PSA; and the impacted community.
“We have designed this grant program to serve as a catalyst for local land use, outreach, and education projects that will reinvigorate and protect this critical watershed historically impacted by water pollution,” says Megan Chase, Upstate Forever’s state policy director.
Entities who should apply for grant funds include not-for-profit charitable corporations or trusts; South Carolina and Georgia state agencies; municipalities in the impacted area and any agency, commission, or instrumentality of such a municipality; and educators focused on water quality in the impacted watershed.
“We are excited to launch this grant program in Anderson County,” says Tonya Bonitatibus, Savannah Riverkeeper’s executive director. “It’s a new opportunity to engage local communities in water quality issues—a surefire way to safeguard the health and vitality of our waterways.”
Proposals must be complete and submitted no later than 5:00 p.m. on August 29, 2022. For more information and the complete RFP, interested parties can visit the website at www.andersonwatercouncil.com or email info@andersonwatercouncil.com.
The mission of the Anderson County Watershed Protection Council is to assist in identifying, prioritizing, and funding projects that empower citizens to take action on existing and emerging threats to water resources and to restore water quality in the Savannah River watershed's impacted areas.