Cleanup Grants Available for Rivers, Streams, and Creeks

Grant applications are available for local units of government for cleaning up rivers, streams, and creeks, the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the Great Lakes Commission (GLC) have announced. Through the Grant Application Package for Michigan's Volunteer River, Stream, and Creek Cleanup Program, a total of $25,000 is available from the DEQ from fees collected from the sale of the State's Water Quality Protection license plates.

Local units of government may partner with nonprofit organizations or other volunteer groups to carry out the cleanups. There is a minimum local match requirement of 25% of total project costs.

The application package is available online at the following Web site: www.glc.org/streamclean/ ap08. The application deadline is January 25 and grant decisions are anticipated in March.

For questions regarding the application process, contact John Hummer of GLC at (734) 971- 9135 or jhummer@glc.org; or John Wuycheck of DEQ at (517) 335-4195 or wuychecj@ Michigan.gov.