Iowa American Water Announces 2022 Environmental Grant Recipients
Since the environmental grant program began in Iowa over 15 years ago, over $120,000 has been awarded to projects that improve, restore, and protect local watersheds
DAVENPORT, IA (June 17, 2022) – Iowa American Water announced today eight local watershed
initiatives will be awarded funding through the company’s 2022 Environmental Grant Program.
The recipients will share grant funds totaling $13,500 for community projects that improve,
restore, or protect local watersheds.
“Our Environmental Grant Program is designed to help organizations carry out projects that
benefit our waterways, raise awareness about the importance of water in our lives, and promote
community participation,” said Randy Moore, president of Iowa American Water. “We are pleased
to support these worthwhile endeavors and extend our appreciation to the individuals and
organizations that are making them happen.”
Grant applications were evaluated by a panel of judges based on criteria such as environmental
need, innovation, community engagement, and sustainability. The eight recipients of Iowa
American Water’s 2022 Environmental Grant Program are:
- Gateway ImpACT Coalition/Clinton Substance Abuse Council will be awarded a $3,500
grant for its Vape Disposal Pilot Project – This project will reduce and prevent water
pollution by implementing strategies that address improper electronic cigarette (vape)
storage and disposal by educating and empowering the community about these issues,
developing approaches to build consensus, and setting proper electronic vape
storage/disposal as a priority in Clinton, Iowa.
- Nahant Marsh will be awarded a $2,000 grant for its Reforestation Project – With the
help of volunteers, Nahant Marsh will plant nearly 1,000 trees this year on 30 acres. These
trees will be a diverse mix of 15 species that will replace hundreds of dead ash trees there
were killed by emerald ash borer and silver maples killed during the 2019 flood.
- Keep Scott County Beautiful/XStream Cleanup will be awarded a $2,000 grant to
resupply its volunteer cleanup materials -- XStream Cleanup (XC) will use the grant funds
to purchase cleanup supplies, specifically garbage bags used by more than 1,000 XC
volunteers each year. This purchase will be for a multi-year supply of bags that will enable
XC volunteers to continue its watershed cleanup events for the next several years.
- Davenport Parks & Recreation will be awarded a $1,500 grant for its Vander Veer Park
Stone Bridge Landscape Project -- Horticultural staff plan to improve a problem area near
the stone bridge on the east side of the park. The southwest quadrant of the park drains
through this area and leaves a constant wet area. Vander Veer plans to plant a variety of
native plants to help absorb and clean the stormwater.
- Friends of Fairmount Cemetery will be awarded a $1,500 grant for its Restoring Scott
County’s Original Prairie Project -- Fairmount Cemetery in southwest Davenport is home
to the largest remnant (original) prairie left in Scott County. The 8-acre prairie/savanna is home to over 140 plants, but it is overrun with invasive trees and brush. This project will allow them to enhance biodiversity by removing these invasive plants.
- City of Blue Grass will be awarded a $1,000 grant for its Safety Trail Watershed Enhancement Project -- This project will enhance & clean up an existing drainage area of concern prior to constructing the Blue Grass Trail. The project includes installation of new drain tile, which will allow an outlet and drain subsurface water to an existing culvert. This will enhance the entire 10.4 acres allowing it to drain properly. The area will be seeded and fertilized once the drain tile is installed, which will alleviate drainage and make the trail safe for children commuting to/from the elementary school.
- Partners of Scott County Watersheds will be awarded a $1,000 grant for its Crow Creek Wildlife Management Area Improvement Project -- Partners of Scott County Watersheds and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources are collaborating to improve the sustainability of Crow Creek Wildlife Management Area with an established boat ramp, trail improvements, educational signage, and hillside stabilization. The purpose of these added and improved amenities is to improve local water quality and make the site safer and more sustainable for current and future use.
- River Action, Inc. will be awarded a $1,000 grant to help fund Scholarships for FEMA’s Community Rating System Program -- An Augustana College student will receive in-depth FEMA training (at FEMA's National Emergency Training Center) in Floodplain Management and FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS) and local mentorship, with the goal of increasing community involvement in the CRS program. The trainee's formal and field experience will be applied within communities to submit CRS applications that, when rated, will lower flood insurance costs, include actions to improve floodplain management, and allow them to apply for FEMA grants.
Iowa American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water services to approximately 213,000 people. For more information, visit www.iowaamwater.com and follow Iowa American Water on Twitter and Facebook.
About American Water
With a history dating back to 1886, American Water (NYSE:AWK) is the largest and most geographically diverse U.S. publicly traded water and wastewater utility company. The company employs more than 6,400 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and regulated-like drinking water and wastewater services to more than 14 million people in 24 states. American Water provides safe, clean, affordable and reliable water services to our customers to help keep their lives flowing. For more information, visit amwater.com and diversityataw.com.Follow American Water on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
DAVENPORT, IA (June 17, 2022) – Iowa American Water announced today eight local watershed
initiatives will be awarded funding through the company’s 2022 Environmental Grant Program.
The recipients will share grant funds totaling $13,500 for community projects that improve,
restore, or protect local watersheds.
“Our Environmental Grant Program is designed to help organizations carry out projects that
benefit our waterways, raise awareness about the importance of water in our lives, and promote
community participation,” said Randy Moore, president of Iowa American Water. “We are pleased
to support these worthwhile endeavors and extend our appreciation to the individuals and
organizations that are making them happen.”
Grant applications were evaluated by a panel of judges based on criteria such as environmental
need, innovation, community engagement, and sustainability. The eight recipients of Iowa
American Water’s 2022 Environmental Grant Program are:
- Gateway ImpACT Coalition/Clinton Substance Abuse Council will be awarded a $3,500 grant for its Vape Disposal Pilot Project – This project will reduce and prevent water pollution by implementing strategies that address improper electronic cigarette (vape) storage and disposal by educating and empowering the community about these issues, developing approaches to build consensus, and setting proper electronic vape storage/disposal as a priority in Clinton, Iowa.
- Nahant Marsh will be awarded a $2,000 grant for its Reforestation Project – With the help of volunteers, Nahant Marsh will plant nearly 1,000 trees this year on 30 acres. These trees will be a diverse mix of 15 species that will replace hundreds of dead ash trees there were killed by emerald ash borer and silver maples killed during the 2019 flood.
- Keep Scott County Beautiful/XStream Cleanup will be awarded a $2,000 grant to resupply its volunteer cleanup materials -- XStream Cleanup (XC) will use the grant funds to purchase cleanup supplies, specifically garbage bags used by more than 1,000 XC volunteers each year. This purchase will be for a multi-year supply of bags that will enable XC volunteers to continue its watershed cleanup events for the next several years.
- Davenport Parks & Recreation will be awarded a $1,500 grant for its Vander Veer Park Stone Bridge Landscape Project -- Horticultural staff plan to improve a problem area near the stone bridge on the east side of the park. The southwest quadrant of the park drains through this area and leaves a constant wet area. Vander Veer plans to plant a variety of native plants to help absorb and clean the stormwater.
- Friends of Fairmount Cemetery will be awarded a $1,500 grant for its Restoring Scott County’s Original Prairie Project -- Fairmount Cemetery in southwest Davenport is home to the largest remnant (original) prairie left in Scott County. The 8-acre prairie/savanna is home to over 140 plants, but it is overrun with invasive trees and brush. This project will allow them to enhance biodiversity by removing these invasive plants.
- City of Blue Grass will be awarded a $1,000 grant for its Safety Trail Watershed Enhancement Project -- This project will enhance & clean up an existing drainage area of concern prior to constructing the Blue Grass Trail. The project includes installation of new drain tile, which will allow an outlet and drain subsurface water to an existing culvert. This will enhance the entire 10.4 acres allowing it to drain properly. The area will be seeded and fertilized once the drain tile is installed, which will alleviate drainage and make the trail safe for children commuting to/from the elementary school.
- Partners of Scott County Watersheds will be awarded a $1,000 grant for its Crow Creek Wildlife Management Area Improvement Project -- Partners of Scott County Watersheds and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources are collaborating to improve the sustainability of Crow Creek Wildlife Management Area with an established boat ramp, trail improvements, educational signage, and hillside stabilization. The purpose of these added and improved amenities is to improve local water quality and make the site safer and more sustainable for current and future use.
- River Action, Inc. will be awarded a $1,000 grant to help fund Scholarships for FEMA’s Community Rating System Program -- An Augustana College student will receive in-depth FEMA training (at FEMA's National Emergency Training Center) in Floodplain Management and FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS) and local mentorship, with the goal of increasing community involvement in the CRS program. The trainee's formal and field experience will be applied within communities to submit CRS applications that, when rated, will lower flood insurance costs, include actions to improve floodplain management, and allow them to apply for FEMA grants.
Iowa American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water services to approximately 213,000 people. For more information, visit www.iowaamwater.com and follow Iowa American Water on Twitter and Facebook.
About American Water
With a history dating back to 1886, American Water (NYSE:AWK) is the largest and most geographically diverse U.S. publicly traded water and wastewater utility company. The company employs more than 6,400 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and regulated-like drinking water and wastewater services to more than 14 million people in 24 states. American Water provides safe, clean, affordable and reliable water services to our customers to help keep their lives flowing. For more information, visit amwater.com and diversityataw.com.Follow American Water on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.