Money Available to Help Fight Bay Pollution

According to regional water quality control officials, water pollution in the San Francisco Bay is the leading cause when it runs off sidewalks and streets, picks up junk, and runs down drains. 

To help fight that trend, the Alameda Countywide Clean Water Program (ACCWP) is inviting local grassroots organizations to apply for grants of up to $6,000 to prevent stormwater pollution and improve the health of local watersheds, creeks, and the San Francisco Bay. 

Eligible applicants include teacher and student groups, youth groups, homeowner associations, environmental groups, and non-profit organizations. The deadline is May 10.  

“San Francisco Bay and the creeks in Alameda County are places of incredible beauty and ecologic diversity,” said ACCWP project manager Sandy Mathews. “However, the urbanization in Alameda County affects the health of the watersheds. Pollutants from everyday activities that happen on land can enter storm drains that flow directly into creeks, lakes, and the Bay without treatment.”  

The current health of the San Francisco Bay and the surrounding watersheds is affected by urbanization and pollutants from everyday activities, such as litter, automotive fluids, garden chemicals, and other dangers to human health. 

“The grants are designed to help these groups achieve their goals of protecting the watersheds in Alameda County and reaching out to their local communities,” said Mathews. The funding can support the materials and activities the organizations need to inform and engage the community or take action to improve creeks and watersheds.”  

Projects can range from litter cleanups, creek restoration, and wildlife habitat enhancement projects to help with community outreach, art projects, and more.

“The success of a project might be direct changes in the watershed, such as the amount of trash removed, or area of creeks restored, but an even more significant outcome can be changing the community’s appreciation of our waterways and understanding of how our actions affect the health of our watersheds,” said Mathews. “That can lead to changing behavior to reduce pollutants getting into the creeks, like using fewer garden chemicals or making sure litter goes into the trash bin.” 
For more information, please visit their website (www.cleanwaterprogram.org/grants).