News Feature                                                           7/13/2009

Whitewater River Watershed Benefits From American Recovery And Reinvestment Act

Assistance Will Be Good For Local Economy and Conservation

Minnesota Natural Resources Conservation Service State Conservationist, William Hunt provided an overview of the Obama Administration's Whitewater River project at an event at the Whitewater State Park On July 9, 2009. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced April 16 that the Whitewater River Watershed would receive approximately $300,000 as part of President Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). A total of $220,000 has been earmarked for financial assistance for landowners in the Whitewater River Watershed. The remaining dollars will be used to pay for staff salaries at NRCS.

“President Obama and Secretary Vilsack are committed to improving water quality, creating more dependable water supplies and decreasing soil erosion," said Hunt. "This funding will make a big difference in the lives of people who live in rural communities.”

The Whitewater River Watershed is the area of land and water, including homes, farms, forests, and cities that drain into the Whitewater River. In addition to providing economic stimulus to the area the funding will be used to develop conservation measures to improve water quality, increase water supply, decrease soil erosion, and improve fish and wildlife habitat.

"The Whitewater Watershed has prized trout streams, well-loved parks, and rich farmland,” said Rudie Spitzer, Board Chair of the Whitewater River Watershed Project. “This new funding will help private landowners practice conservation while protecting the water quality in our public water.”

Other major benefits include improved community safety and health, flood mitigation, and sediment control.

“In addition to the installation of various conservation practices that will certainly enhance wildlife habitat and conserve water in the watershed, the funding will also be used to, install filter strips and soil erosion control practices, enhance stream corridor and floodplain functions, and construct small flood control dams providing for safer communities,” said Hunt.

Funding provided through the ARRA of 2009 is part of the Obama Administration’s plan to modernize the nation’s infrastructure, jumpstart the economy and create jobs. For more information on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, visit www.usda.gov.

To learn more about the Whitewater River Watershed project visit www.whitewaterwatershed.org. 

 

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