Agricultural News
OACD Applauds $2 Million EPA Award to Oklahoma Water Quality Projects
Mon, 24 Sep 2012 14:12:46 CDT
The recent decision by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide over $2 million in additional funds for water quality work in Oklahoma is a welcome one according to Joe Parker, President of the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts (OACD). Parker said this recent decision by EPA shows recognition of the water quality work going on in Oklahoma.
"We are very happy with this recent development in our ongoing dialogue with EPA," Parker said. "This new injection of funding for water quality efforts in Oklahoma recognizes the outstanding work that is taking place on the ground in our state to address non-point source pollution through voluntary conservation practices. This new money recognizes the hard work that is being done in Oklahoma to protect our water. It's nice to have a chance to find agreement on this issue that is so important to us all."
The action singled out by Parker for praise was the redirecting of over $2 million in EPA clean water act section 319 funds to Oklahoma from the surrounding states in EPA region 6 for voluntary, cooperative conservation work. Projects to be funded with this new money include $431,855 to the Oklahoma Conservation Commission to continue the implementation of agriculture best management practices and water quality monitoring in the Eucha/Spavinaw, Honey Creek and Illinois River watersheds, $811,084 to Oklahoma State University to study existing bio-retention cells in the Grand Lake Watershed and to install new cells in the Thunderbird Watershed, $640,512 to Land Legacy to continue the development of permanent easements in the Eucha/Spavinaw Watershed and $176,322 to Oklahoma State to study phosphorus and load reductions from established riparian areas. According to Parker, all of these efforts work hand in glove with other conservation initiatives, including farm bill conservation title programs, to continue the great success Oklahoma has shown in recent years in reducing non-point source pollution from our surface water.
"Oklahoma has been a leader in addressing non-point source pollution for a several years
now, but we have a long way to go and many challenges we have to address," Parker said. "It's heartening to see the EPA recognize the strides we are making in Oklahoma and these new funds will definitely help this effort to continue."
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