2012 Clean Stormwater Grants and 5th Grade River Field Trips Awarded
At its December, 2011 meeting the District's Board of Directors awarded $35,303 in grants. Thirteen Clean Stormwater environmental education service learning projects received funding, and 15 San Joaquin River field trip grants were awarded to elementary schools. Up to $2,000 per project was available for Clean Stormwater projects, and river field trip grants cover the cost of transportation to Scout Island or Lost Lake, plus docent fees. Read news release.
The purpose of the grant program is to increase public involvement on environmental education and improvement projects to promote stormwater quality.
The grant program creates and maintains District partnerships with local residents and community groups by funding, in whole or in part, projects that preserve, protect, or educate citizens about our water resources – local stormwater ponding basins, canals, creeks, the San Joaquin River and groundwater.
Volunteer groups, environmental organizations, schools, neighborhood improvement groups and other not-for-profit associations are encouraged to apply. Projects must take place within the District’s service area, which is generally described as the Fresno-Clovis metropolitan area.
If you would like to apply next year, click here to take a look at the 2012 Clean Stormwater Grant Application and Grant Instructions. For San Joaquin River field trips for 5th grade, click here. Grant applications for 2013 will be released in September and will be due in November.
Clean Stormwater Grant Objectives
Projects must accomplish one or more of the following objectives:
- Storm Water Quality Information and Education –Inform and educate the general public, specific members of the community, or students about the following: 1) local water resources, supplies and sources; 2) water quality and water pollution prevention; and 3) urban stormwater runoff (where it goes, how it becomes polluted and how citizens can help keep it clean).
- Household Hazardous Waste Information and Education –Inform and educate the general public, specific members of the community or students about: 1) reducing household hazardous wastes through use of alternative practices or products; and 2) proper use, storage and recycling or disposal of household hazardous wastes, including but not limited to used motor oil, paint wastes and garden chemicals.
- Business Storm Water Pollution Prevention Assistance and Education – Inform and educate businesses about any or all of the following: 1) water quality and stormwater pollution prevention, 2) compliance with stormwater quality regulations, 3) and urban storm water runoff (where it goes, how it becomes polluted, and how businesses can help keep it clean).
- Environmental Restoration, Enhancement and Preservation – Enhance, restore or preserve the quality of a wetland, riparian (creek and river bank), including, but not limited to 1) the removal of litter and wastes, 2) planting appropriate trees or other vegetation, and 3) working with the Department of Fish and Game on a Salmonids in the Classroom project.
- Environmental Assessment –Assess the quality of habitats in creeks or the San Joaquin River through quantitative or qualitative observation or measurement of species, habitat or water quality.
Be creative!
Grant funds cannot be used to develop or implement storm water pollution prevention plans, monitoring or other activities required by the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System stormwater permits.
PROJECT IDEAS
The following are examples of eligible grant projects. Your project must provide one or more of the following: storm water quality information and education; household hazardous waste information and education; business storm water pollution prevention assistance and education; environmental restoration, enhancement, and preservation; or environmental assessment.
Public Information Projects
- Develop and distribute a public service announcement about storm water pollution prevention
- Develop and distribute fact sheets about preventing pollution, such as how to read and follow pesticide labels, including how to properly dispose of empty containers
- Create a calendar about water quality or pollution prevention
School Projects
- Take a class on a field trip to learn about storm water ponding basins, creeks, and the San Joaquin River
- Purchase watershed or groundwater educational resources for your school or district
- Plant a community garden on the school grounds
- Conduct teacher in-services to learn about water resources and available curricula
- Create a local version of a pollution prevention computer game or learning materials from other areas
Community Involvement Projects
- Conduct watershed tours or field trips
- Recruit volunteers to adhere “No Dumping – Protect Your Water” signs on storm drain inlets
- Hold a watershed or pollution prevention symposium
Business Outreach Projects
- Sponsor workshops to assist businesses in understanding environmental protection laws and regulations
- Create and distribute promotional items to remind employees of the need to prevent pollution
Enhancement and Restoration Projects
- Remove non-native species and re-vegetate an area along the San Joaquin River, local creek or trail
- Coordinate clean-up days along a trail, a creek or at the San Joaquin River
- Start a Salmonids in the Classroom project with the Department of Fish and Game
Environmental Assessment Projects
- Record waterfowl and wildlife species and populations in and near a water body over time
- Monitor a water body for basic water quality indicators over time
- Establish a record of plant and wildlife diversity in an area near a water body
The District is always open to new ideas and encourages innovation! If you have any questions about Clean Storm Water Grants or need assistance with your application, please call Kristine Johnson at the Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control District, (559) 456-3292, or e-mail to kristinej@fresnofloodcontrol.org.
Grant Application Evaluation
The District reserves the sole discretion to determine if an applicant or project meets eligibility requirements, whether proposed expenses are an appropriate use of grant funds, and whether an application is complete. The District may request supplemental information regarding the project. District staff will evaluate how well the project will meet grant program objectives and other requirements, and the amount of funds to be granted relative to the requested funding, the project’s merits, and the demand for funding from other eligible and worthy project applicants. Project funding recommendations will then be presented to the District Board of Directors for approval or amendment.
Staff’s evaluation and recommendations will be based on the extent to which:
- The proposed project meets one or more grant objectives and closely relates to the Clean Stormwater program’s purpose and objectives.
- The project description, tasks and schedule are clear and complete.
- The budget is adequately detailed and appropriate.
- The project is fully funded. Non-grant funds necessary to complete the project should be available, or be realistically projected to become available within the grant period.
- The applicant demonstrates the ability to coordinate, manage and complete the project.
- The project reaches the general public or specific groups through publicity, educational efforts, or participation. Projects that reach non-English speaking audiences will receive favorable consideration.
- The project will result in or contribute to ongoing or long-term efforts, activities and benefits.
2012 Clean Storm Water Grants for Free Field Trips to the San Joaquin River or Lost Lake
The Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control District is offering grants to 5th grade classes for field trips to Scout Island at the San Joaquin River or Lost Lake. The field trip will be focused on learning about our local water resources and the importance of keeping them clean.
The grant will fund transportation and the facility docent fees for all 5th grade students at your school. You will be provided with activity books, pencils, local water cycle poster and a Storm Drains 101 DVD. Patrick Bryan, a District employee, will also do a presentation about local water resources and conservation before your trip.
Scout Island and Lost Lake are open for school field trips in April, May, June, September and October. Spaces fill up quickly so plan a date for your field trip as soon as possible.
We’ll also take applications for other elementary school grade levels. Just note the grade level on the application. Fifth grade classrooms will be given priority. Grant applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. on November 7, 2011.
The application process is easy. Click here to download an application. Contact Kristine Johnson at (559) 456-3292 or kristinej@fresnofloodcontrol.org for more information.
Newsletter Stories on Past Grant Recipients
Links to Past Grant Recipients:
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