[ADEQ Media] ADEQ Director Owens Announces $12, 880 Water Quality Improvement Grant to Protect Gila River in Graham County

[media@lists.azdeq.gov]

ADEQ Director Owens Announces $12,880 Water Quality Improvement Grant to
Protect Gila River in Graham County

PHOENIX (July 3, 2008) - Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
(ADEQ) Director Steve Owens today announced that the department has
awarded a $12,880 water quality improvement grant to the Gila Valley
Natural Resource Conservation District (NRCD) in Graham County to
protect water quality in the river by reducing soil erosion and runoff.

"The Gila River is one of the most important water resources in our
state," Director Owens said.  "These funds will help protect the Gila
River and educate those living in the Gila River Valley about healthy
watersheds.  We are very pleased to support this extremely important
local effort."

The NRCD will use the grant to plant vegetative buffer strips along the
Gila River to reduce sediment discharge, nutrient and pesticide runoff
and excess organic input into the Gila River.  The NRCD also will spend
some of the funds to educate the public about best management practices
on crop lands to minimize erosion and runoff.

The grant also will be used to design and implement various classroom
projects and hands-on workshops about steps being taken to decrease
irrigation runoff. 

The grant is funded with federal dollars provided to ADEQ under the
federal Clean Water Act.

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News media interested in additional information on this or any other
topic concerning the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality should
contact the Office of Communications at (602) 771-2215 or via email at
communications@azdeq.gov.

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