WASHINGTON, D.C. (WKZO AM/FM) – Tuesday, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich), Chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, announced a new $3,429,770 investment to improve water quality and fishing habitats in Ottawa County.
Senator Stabenow says the funding will be matched by private investments, and that this partnership is one of three projects in Michigan with similar investments.
Senator Stabenow said that this partnership was made possible by the Farm Bill’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program, authored by Stabenow.
“Bringing together local leaders to work with farmers on the ground will improve water quality in our rivers and streams and provide new opportunities for fishing and boating in West Michigan,” Stabenow said in a statement. “This new partnership will build on historic investments in land and water conservation already made across the state that are protecting our Great Lakes and creating new opportunities for hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation.”
The project, led by the Ottawa Conservation District, will bring together local partners with landowners to identify the areas where conservation practices will have the greatest impact on water quality.
The project will target the Macatawa, Lower Grand, and Pigeon River watersheds.
Stabenow created the Regional Conservation Partnership Program in the bipartisan 2014 Farm Bill to form locally led partnerships between agriculture and conservation groups to preserve land and water, improve hunting and fishing, and protect the Great Lakes.
These local projects leverage private and public dollars to address regional conservation issues.
Eleven Michigan projects have already received $130 million in funding from the Farm Bill’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program. Three additional projects totaling over $16 million were added in this latest round of funding.
Other areas include Midland and Gladwin Counties, along with the Lake Erie region.
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