Arizona Department of Environmental Quality officials announced on Monday a $412,000 Water Quality Improvement Grant to the Arizona Game and Fish Department to improve water quality in the San Pedro River, Little Colorado River and Oak Creek.
Arizona Game and Fish Department AZGFD will provide more than $274,000 in matching funds.
Arizona Department of Environmental Quality’s (ADEQ) first formal agreement committing funds from both partnering agencies to specific projects in shared priority areas will also further the goals of multiple state and federal initiatives. Eligible projects will protect and restore water quality, grass and rangeland health and wildlife habitats in priority areas identified by ADEQ and AZGFD in the state Nonpoint Source Management Plan and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Regional Conservation Partnership Program and National Water Quality Initiative.
ADEQ will evaluate the effectiveness of these projects for improving water quality. Matching funds for projects will be provided by a combination of AZGFD state funding, landowner contributions, in-kind services, and Arizona Department of Agriculture Livestock Crop Conservation Grant Program.