EPA Awards Grants To Napa, Sonoma Counties

NORTH BAY, CA — Napa and Sonoma counties have received grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to restore wetlands and streams in their jurisdictions. Napa County will receive $822,000 for restoration work along the Napa River through the EPA's San Francisco Bay Water Quality Improvement Fund to use more than 91,000 native plants to re-vegetate and enhance 11 acres of riparian forest and five acres of freshwater wetlands.

The grant will also assist the restoration of an additional 36 acres of riparian forest, eight acres of freshwater wetlands and 6,800 linear feet of streambank.

The project is part of Napa County's effort to restore 14 miles of the Napa River and improve flood protection and steelhead trout habitat.

Sonoma County received $91,601 to develop mapping methods to more accurately identify the location of streams and adjacent conservation areas and allow the county to refine zoning maps used in regulations that protect riparian corridors.

The EPA awarded more than $2.1 million in grants to restore wetlands and streams across California and improve water quality, fish and wildlife habitat, flood protection and recreational opportunities.

By Bay City News Service

Image via Epa.gov