The Columbia River Basin Restoration Funding Assistance Program offers competitive grants for environmental protection and restoration in the Columbia River Basin. Funded by the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, it received $79 million, with over $56 million designated for Toxic Reduction Leads, leveraging an additional $17 million in matching funds.
Key grant recipients include:
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Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership: Funding for a School Stormwater Reduction program to mitigate pollution around schools, targeting overburdened communities.
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Urban Waters and Wildlife Partners: Expanding a stormwater retrofit program to improve water quality and resilience while enhancing community engagement.
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Oregon DEQ: Efforts to reduce pesticides and mercury, and remediate brownfield sites in impacted communities.
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Salmon-Safe Columbia Partner Network: Building a market-based movement to protect water quality across the region.
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Washington Dept. of Ecology: Developing a strategy for toxic reduction and engaging tribal and underserved communities.
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The Freshwater Trust: Coordinating efforts to upgrade irrigation systems to reduce runoff and its health impacts.
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City of Nampa: Utilizing constructed wetlands to improve water quality in local waterways.
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Upper Columbia United Tribes: Developing a strategic plan and on-the-ground projects for toxics reduction.
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University of Montana: Implementing a Pesticide Stewardship Partnership Program to engage communities in reducing pesticide contamination.
- Montana DNRC: Addressing stormwater and septic leachate pollution while supporting underserved communities.
The program exemplifies collaboration across various sectors to foster lasting environmental benefits, particularly in historically neglected areas.
