Department of Environmental Quality Director Steven E. Chester announced today the availability of grant funds under Michigan’s Volunteer River, Stream, and Creek Cleanup Program. A total of $25,000 is available in FY 2005 for small grants to local units of government to help implement cleanup of trash and debris within or along the banks of rivers, streams, and creeks. Local units of government may partner with nonprofit organizations or other volunteer groups to carry out the cleanups. There is a 25 percent local match requirement of the total project costs for the cleanup grants.

The Grant Application Package for the cleanup grants is available online at http://www.glc.org/streamclean/. The deadline for submitting grant applications for the FY2005 program is February 28. The grant awards will be announced in April 2005.

Michigan’s Volunteer River, Stream, and Creek Cleanup Program grants began in 1998. The grant program is currently funded through fees collected from the sale of Water Quality Protection license plates (Public Act 74 of 2000).

“This program is a prime example of the value that our citizens place on clean water and waterways in Michigan,” said Director Chester. “It offers citizen volunteers the opportunity to participate in the community waterway cleanup efforts.”

Additional information on Michigan’s Volunteer River, Stream, and Creek Cleanup Program is available online at http://www.glc.org/streamclean/.

Editor’s note: DEQ news releases are available on the department’s Internet home page at www.michigan.gov/deq.