Conservation group receives federal grant
Sen. Michael Bennet has announced that San Juan Resource Conservation and Development in Durango has won a $96,415 grant from the Interior Department’s Bureau of Reclamation.
The grant, which comes from the WaterSMART (Sustain and Manage America’s Resources for Tomorrow) Cooperative Watershed Management Program, will be used to expand the membership of the Animas Watershed Partnership and address concerns with temperature, sedimentation and E. coli levels in the Animas River as well as the endangered Southwest willow flycatcher.
The Department of the Interior established WaterSMART in 2010 to facilitate pursuing a sustainable water supply for the nation.
The program focuses on improving water conservation and sustainability and helping water resource managers make sound decisions about water use. The Cooperative Watershed Management Program supports the formation and development of locally led watershed groups and the development of watershed projects with multiple stakeholders.
Herald Staff
