EPA Awards $175,000 to the Cherokee Nation to Support Its Water Quality Program

Press release:

EPA Awards $175,000 to the Cherokee Nation

to Support Its Water Quality Program

(DALLAS – July 11, 2012) The Environmental Protection Agency has awarded the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma $175,000 to provide continued support for the Tribe’s water pollution control program. The funds will be used to take water samples to assess surface water quality on Tribal lands and compile data which may show changes over time and to determine if a more thorough watershed management program is needed. Sampling data will determine whether water quality standards are being met, note any changes in the quality or condition of the Cherokee Nation’s water and provide planning tools to improve the function and health of stream ecosystems.

The mission of the EPA is to protect public health. The EPA supports our nations’ tribes in all aspects of the work needed to improve the water quality of tribal land watersheds. This cooperative spirit supports work to protect water quality that ensures the health of watersheds that cross state and tribal boundaries.

Additional Information on EPA grants is available at http://www.epa.gov/region6/gandf/index.htm

More about activities in EPA Region 6 is available at http://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/region6.html

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