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News Releases from Region 06

EPA Grant Helps Common Ground Relief Increase Environmental Stewardship in Southern Louisiana

12/08/2016
Contact Information: 
Jennah Durant or Joe Hubbard (R6Press@epa.gov)
214 665-2200

DALLAS – (Dec. 8, 2016) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Gulf of Mexico Program recently announced Common Ground Relief, Inc., received a $29,998 cooperative agreement to improve wetlands in Bayou Sauvage, Louisiana, and teach area youth about their local environment. 

Common Ground Relief’s Wetlands Education and Outreach Program will integrate environmental justice strategies to reduce water pollution, improving urban water quality and the resilience of local wetlands in the face of erosion and sea level rise. Local youth will be educated about the function of healthy wetlands and watersheds as well as the vulnerabilities to environmental risks in their neighborhoods and communities. This effort will empower youth to actively participate and be a strong voice in the planning and decision-making processes that impact the region's sustainability.

"Receipt of these funds will allow us to begin the planting of 4,000 bottomland hardwood trees as part of a maritime reforestation effort at Bayou Sauvage, the nation's second largest refuge. It also allows us to create a monitoring protocol using environmental science undergraduates from the University of New Orleans to tag and record the growth rates of eleven different varieties of trees in varying terrain at the refuge,” said Thomas Pepper, Executive Director, Common Ground Relief, Inc.

Ben Scaggs, Director, EPA-Gulf of Mexico Program said, “We’re looking forward to engaging young people around issues impacting wetlands health and water quality. Looking to grow the next generation of environmental leaders!”

This cooperative agreement will further the strategic goals and objectives of Gulf of Mexico Program and lead to a healthy and prosperous ecosystem.

Learn more about the EPA Gulf of Mexico Program: https://www.epa.gov/gulfofmexico

Learn more about EPA’s work with tribes: https://www.epa.gov/tribal/region-6-tribal-program

Connect with EPA Region 6:

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eparegion6  

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/EPAregion6 

Activities in EPA Region 6: https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/epa-region-6-south-central

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