The federal government is granting the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) $500,000 to help fund a project that aims to reduce the amount of litter in the state’s waterways.
ADEM’s initiative is called “Help Keep Our Waters Clean,” and the federal money comes from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
“This grant will help the Department preserve, enhance and develop the area’s resources for present and future generations of Alabamians,” said ADEM Director Lance LeFleur.
One aspect of the project is informational. ADEM will be placing signs that inform motorists that they are entering a watershed.
The grant will also help pay for the creation of litter collection sites at rest stops and other deliberately chosen locations. The collection sites will be marked by colorful statues of fish, turtles and birds.
An additional component of the Help Keep Our Waters Clean project is educational outreach to disadvantaged communities with anti-littering messages.
ADEM says they will be targeting “specific locations and schools in its efforts.”
A key goal of ADEM’s project is cutting down on the pollution entering the Gulf of Mexico from Alabama’s waterways.
The grant announced Thursday is one of 17 handed out by the EPA with the goal of cleaning up pollution in the Gulf of Mexico region.
“ADEM has a long history of fostering good stewardship of the Gulf’s vast natural resources,” commented LeFleur.
“Preventing trash from entering the waterways will have an immediate impact on the Gulf’s ecosystem,” added EPA administrator Andrew Wheeler.
The EPA says the majority of marine trash originates as discarded consumer goods.
“Investing in efforts to eliminate trash from entering waterways is critical for the protection of our streams, rivers, lakes and oceans and essential for healthy drinking water. From a healthy ecosystem, to an economic boom, to flood protection, the benefits of trash-free waters are endless,” advised EPA Region 4 administrator Mary S. Walker.
Henry Thornton is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can contact him by email: [email protected] or on Twitter @HenryThornton95
Don’t miss out! Subscribe today to have Alabama’s leading headlines delivered to your inbox.