WVDNR Receives $700K in Wetlands Program Development Grants

The State Journal
3 October 2014

The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources was one of six recipients sharing $2,642,270 in Wetland Program Development Grants, EPA Regional Administrator Shawn M. Garvin announced Oct. 2 at an event in Dover, Delaware.

The WVDNR will receive $700,000 to develop a wetland functional assessment protocol for assessing impacts to wetlands. The Division will also evaluate success in mitigating those impacts and evaluate wetland status statewide.

“Wetlands are one of our nation's most unique ecosystems and they play a significant role in protecting our nation's water supply,” Garvin said. “West Virginia continues to advance wetland science which is essential for protecting and restoring these valuable resources and keeping our lakes, rivers and streams clean.”

The Clean Water Act recognizes the dangers of having pollution upstream. As water flows downstream, it carries pollutants with it. And because wetlands are instrumental in eliminating pollution, they have a huge impact on water downstream.

Grant recipients also included the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control ($443,233), Penn State University ($668,764), Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources ($400,000), the Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences ($392,773) and the Maryland Department of Environment ($37,500).