Contact: Ernie Blazar 202.224.7627 Shana Stribling 202.224.0309
Friday, May 2, 2003

WASHINGTON, DC –– U.S. Senator Kit Bond today announced that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved $300,000 in federal dollars for extensive improvements to the Upper White Watershed located in Southwest Missouri.

"We must preserve this watershed for future generations,” said Bond, a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. “This award recognizes their current achievements and will also give local leaders the resources needed to continue. We will all be grateful for the cleaner water provided through their efforts.”

EPA will send the Upper White River Basin Foundation $300,000 to continue their efforts in addressing the problem of decreasing water quality along the Upper White. Located in Southwest Missouri and Northwest Arkansas, the Upper White River Basin encompasses an area of over 14,000 square miles. With over a million people within its 21 counties, it is quickly becoming one of the most rapidly growing areas in both states. Through these dollars the River Foundation will integrate separate watershed plans, conduct poultry litter removal and relocation, upgrade septic systems, and conduct a water quality summit to encourage public involvement.

The Upper White River Basin Foundation competed nationally against more than 176 nominations and was one of only twenty watershed organizations selected as a part of the EPA’s new Watershed Initiative. These recipients demonstrated the ability to achieve on-the-ground environmental results in a short time frame, exhibited strong partnerships with a wide variety of support, showed innovation, and displayed compatibility with existing governmental programs.

Congress appropriated nearly $15 million this year to be distributed through the EPA in an effort to meet President Bush’s goal of supporting community-based approaches to clean up the nation’s watersheds.

Kit Bond is Missouri’s senior Senator and is now in his third term after having served the state previously during two terms as Governor.