County to partner with local governments in reducing stormwater pollution

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"The county is accepting applications from local governments for its Urban Water Quality Grant Program, a partnership that helps reduce urban runoff pollution from fouling area lakes.

The county wants to partner with municipalities to improve old storm drain outlets that dump untreated water and litter into our lakes....

The grants help build stormwater sediment basins to capture trash and phosphorus-laden debris such as yard or pet waste  from urban areas that otherwise wash directly into lakes and streams when it rains.  The basins capture the debris by giving it an area to ‘settle out’, preventing it from entering the water, and allowing for safe disposal at a later time.  Phosphorus is the main culprit that leads to smelly, unsightly lakes.

For the first time ever, municipalities that contain one of the county’s top ten pipelines that discharge large amounts of sediment and phosphorus into lakes will be eligible to receive a 75% cost share to address their runoff.

Other municipalities with eligible projects that will also make a difference could receive a 50% cost share from the county if their application is approved.  A total of $1.5 million is available for this year’s grants....."

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