The Michigan Clean Water Corps (MiCorps), a network of volunteer monitoring programs in Michigan, is pleased to announce $30,000 in grant funds available for two types of volunteer stream monitoring in Michigan.
The Volunteer Stream Monitoring Grant Program is now accepting funding proposals under two different topical areas as part of MiCorps. Local units of government and nonprofit organizations are eligible to receive funding under both of the following two areas:
· The Road/Stream Crossing Inventory grants will assist volunteer monitoring groups in establishing a volunteer-based program in which volunteers visit and assess the condition of stream crossings to protect and enhance streams throughout targeted watersheds. MiCorps will provide training to grant recipients, and the data will be entered into a publicly available database and used by various agencies as a screening tool. There is a maximum dollar amount of $8,500 per grant award for 13-month projects under this funding area.
· New in 2016, MiCorps will fund up to two Stream Flow Monitoring Pilot Project grants to establish volunteer-based programs in which staff and volunteers determine the total water flow (discharge) of small streams. Flow monitoring is important for determining the basic ecological function of a stream, potential disruptions to biota and habitat, and nutrient loading. MiCorps will provide training to the grantees, and the monitoring data will be utilized as a screening tool to identify locations where additional data may be needed to verify or modify the stream index flows used in the Water Withdrawal Assessment Tool. Depending on the success of this pilot program and availability of funding, this new monitoring program may be offered as part of the MiCorps volunteer stream monitoring programs in future years. There is a maximum dollar amount of $7,500 per grant award for 12-month projects under this funding area.
Now in its 12th year, the MiCorps program was established to assist the Michigan DEQ in collecting and sharing water quality data for use in water resources management and protection programs. MiCorps has awarded nearly $574,000 in Clean Michigan Initiative grant funds to volunteer organizations to assist in water quality assessments.
For more information on the MiCorps program or these grant opportunities, please visit the MiCorps website at: https://micorps.net.
Grant application packages, which include grant information and application instructions, are available at: https://micorps.net/register/roadstream16.html and https://micorps.net/register/streamflow16.html.
Grant applications are due by 1:00 p.m. on February 11, 2016. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered for funding.
Questions about the grant application process should be directed to Dr. Paul Steen, Huron River Watershed Council, at 734-769-5123 or psteen@hrwc.org; or Mr. Gary Kohlhepp, Water Resources Division, DEQ, at 517-284-5540 or kohlheppg@michigan.gov.
We anticipate releasing the remaining 2016 Volunteer Stream Monitoring Program grant application packages for the Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Survey full and start-up grants in early-mid February. Please visit the MiCorps website for more information on these two upcoming funding opportunities, or contact Laura Kaminski at laurak@glc.org to be added to the program’s email list.
Interested in becoming a volunteer monitor?
Please visit https://micorps.net for more information!
Source: MiCorps