News Release 378

DEPARTMENT AWARDS $384,382 GRANT
FOR RESTORATION AND EDUCATIONAL PROJECT
IN LITTLE CREEK WATERSHED

Volume 36-378

Contact: Renee Bungart

(For immediate release)

573-751-4465

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, JUNE 24, 2008 -- The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has awarded a $384,382 grant to the St. Louis County Soil and Water Conservation District for the Little Creek Watershed Restoration and Education project.  The project will focus on the Little Creek watershed within and upstream of the Little Creek Nature Area located in the Ferguson-Florissant School District.

The project will help restore Little Creek within the Little Creek Nature Area and manage the supporting areas so the creek is accessible for educational programs provided by Little Creek Nature Area.  The watershed restoration and management plans focus on streambed stabilization, natural stream bank stabilization, biological storm water practices, gully stabilization and vegetative enhancements.  Community outreach and educational awareness efforts will be conducted by organizing three annual watershed festivals, one in conjunction with World Water Monitoring Day, and by developing new water quality curriculum into the Little Creek Nature Area and Ferguson-Florissant School District lesson plans.

The Little Creek Nature Area and its watershed provide hands-on science education to more than 12,000 urban students and several thousand community residents each year.  The soil and water district and the Ferguson-Florissant School District have partnered to conduct the watershed project activities.

Other contributing partners in this collaborative effort include the East-West Gateway Council of Governments, City of Florissant, Great Rivers Greenway District, Metropolitan Sewer District, Missouri Department of Conservation, Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation, Open Space Council, Saint Louis Christian College and Special School District of St. Louis County.

The soil and water conservation district will monitor the match funds pledged by the Little Creek Watershed Restoration Partners in the amount of $421,762, bringing the total of the project to $806,144. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 7, through the Department of Natural Resources, has provided funding for this project under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act.

The grant will be administered by the Department of Natural Resources' Water Protection Program.  For more information, contact the department's Water Protection Program at P.O. Box 176, Jefferson City, MO 65102 or by calling at 800-361-4827 or 573-751-1300.

For news releases on the Web, visit www.dnr.mo.gov/newsrel.  For a complete listing of the department's upcoming meetings, hearings and events, visit the department's online calendar at www.dnr.mo.gov/calendar/search.do.

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