Federal Agencies Expand Urban Waterway Revitalization Efforts

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in partnership with the White House Council on Environmental Quality, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the U.S. Department of the Interior, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and other federal partners, announced that the Urban Waters Federal Partnership is adding 11 new locations. In addition, two more federal partner agencies will join the partnership in its collaborative efforts to restore waterways and their environments, boost recreation, help local economies, create jobs, and protect Americans’ health.

EPA Acting Administrator Bob Perciasepe, joined by CEQ Chair Nancy Sutley, Department of Interior Deputy Regional Director Charlie Wooley and USDA State Conservationist Garry Lee, will announce the partnership’s expansion during a press conference in Grand Rapids. They will be joined by U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell and many local business and civic leaders for the announcement.

Through the partnership, agencies are working to revitalize urban waterways and communities that surround them, transforming overlooked assets and driving urban revival. The U.S. Department of Education will join the 11 existing agencies, expanding the expertise of the partnership by connecting school groups with their local waterways and preparing students for careers in science. The U.S. Department of Energy will also join to help communities accelerate the adoption of clean energy technologies. With the addition of the two agencies, the expertise and resources available to the sites are expanded.

The 11 new project locations are:

• Big River and Meramec River watersheds near St. Louis, Mo
• Delaware River Basin that covers Philadelphia, Camden, N.J., Chester, Pa., and Wilmington, Del.
• Grand River in Grand Rapids, Mich.
• Green-Duwamish River in Seattle
• Mystic River watershed in Greater Boston
• Martin Pena Canal in San Juan, P.R.
• Middle Blue River in Kansas City, Mo.
• Middle Rio Grande in Albuquerque, N.M.
• Passaic River in Newark, N.J.
• Proctor Creek watershed in Atlanta
• Western Lake Erie Basin near Toledo, Ohio

With the addition of 11 new locations across the country, the work of the partnership, now in 18 communities, will expand to the country’s largest cities and underserved communities. These projects will further the goals of the partnership and address a wide range of issues such as improving water quality, restoring ecosystems and enhancing public access to urban waters. A progress report details the successes and plans for future actions at each program location, as well as actions taken by each of the federal partners.

Americans use urban waterways as sources of drinking water and for a variety of activities including boating, fishing and swimming. Revitalizing these urban waterways will reconnect citizens to open spaces, and have a positive economic impact on local businesses, tourism and property values, as well as spur private investment and job creation in communities.

Source: EPA