The Lake Champlain Basin Program seeks education and outreach proposals for projects that inform students or adults about key Lake Champlain Basin issues identified in the management plan Opportunities for Action. By developing awareness and knowledge about Basin issues, more informed decisions and constructive actions will benefit Lake Champlain. Hands-on stewardship activities for citizens are strongly encouraged. Organizational capacity grants are designed to strengthen the watershed groups during their development or to assist established watershed organizations in strengthening their organizational capacity. The Program anticipates awarding more than 25 grants totaling more than $300,000 to local organizations, municipalities, and educational institutions. In addition, local watershed groups may apply for $500 mini-grants for professional development purposes.
Current grants will be awarded in three categories:
Local organizations play a critical role in implementing projects on the ground to achieve water quality and habitat protection goals. Since 1992, LCBP has awarded more than $10 million to more than 1,300 projects in New York and Vermont. Recent projects supported by these local grant program include:
Colleen Hickey, LCBP Education and Outreach Coordinator, said, “These education and outreach grants allow local partners to inform citizens about lake and watershed issues and provide hands on opportunities to solve problems that ultimately protect clean water, healthy ecosystems, and quality of life in the watershed.”
Projects located in the New York, Quebec, and Vermont portions of the Lake Champlain basin will be eligible for consideration in this grant opportunity. Grant guidelines and applications for each category can be found on the Lake Champlain Basin Program’s website at lcbp.org/grants. Volunteer peer reviewers will evaluate the proposals and develop the funding recommendations for the Lake Champlain Steering Committee to consider. Electronic versions of proposals must be received by grants@lcbp.org no later than January 9, 2020.
The grants will support projects that advance the goals of the long-term Lake Champlain management plan Opportunities for Action (plan.lcbp.org). They are supported by funds awarded to the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission on behalf of the Lake Champlain Basin Program by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Great Lakes Fishery Commission.
The Lake Champlain Basin Program coordinates and funds efforts that benefit the Lake Champlain Basin’s water quality, fisheries, wetlands, wildlife, recreation, and cultural resources. The program works in partnership with federal agencies, state and provincial agencies from New York, Vermont, and Québec, local communities, businesses, and citizen groups. These partners have led a collaborative, non-partisan effort to address water quality and environmental challenges that cross political boundaries. For further information about the program, contact the Lake Champlain Basin Program, 54 West Shore Road, Grand Isle, VT at (802) 372-3213 / (800) 468-5227 or visit www.lcbp.org.