Press Release

Washington, DC – American Rivers is seeking proposals for a variety of projects aimed at protecting and restoring the Potomac Highlands, the headwaters of the river that flows through our nation’s capital, as part of its partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency.  These grants are designed to provide support for local communities in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia that are undertaking projects that emphasize stewardship of the environment, while enhancing the community, quality of life, and economy of the region.

“Rivers and streams in the Highlands have suffered from a long history of harmful logging, mining, and dam construction,” said Stephanie Lindloff, senior director for river restoration at American Rivers. “Thankfully, additional funding through the Potomac Highlands Implementation Grant Program is now available to assist communities in addressing these problems. Protecting and restoring these rivers and streams will boost clean water, recreation, and the local economy."

The competitive grant program will fund the implementation of a wide variety of restoration and protection projects, from acquiring riverside lands for conservation, to removing harmful dams, to cleaning up pollution from abandoned mines. For more details about this new grant program, including the full request for funding and program guidelines, see www.AmericanRivers.org/PotomacHighlands.

Proposals are currently being accepted for 2012 project funding with a deadline of August 5, 2011. Prospective applicants are also strongly encouraged to participate in an informational webinar on Monday, May 23, 2011 at 10-12 p.m. Eastern Time via the Internet or phone, details of which can also be found at the site above.

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American Rivers is the leading organization working to protect and restore the nation’s rivers and streams. Rivers connect us to each other, nature, and future generations. Since 1973, American Rivers has fought to preserve these connections, helping protect and restore more than 150,000 miles of rivers through advocacy efforts, on-the-ground projects, and the annual release of America’s Most Endangered Rivers®.

Headquartered in Washington, DC, American Rivers has offices across the country and more than 100,000 supporters, members, and volunteers nationwide. Visit www.americanrivers.org, www.facebook.com/americanrivers and www.twitter.com/americanrivers.