Nineteen projects were selected for funding under the Puyallup/Chambers-Clover Small Grants Program. The program, which was sponsored by Pierce County Surface Water Management, Pierce Conservation District and the City of Lakewood, was designed to award small grants to organizations, schools and individuals for water quality and habitat enhancement projects in the Puyallup River and Chambers-Clover watersheds.

Funded projects include riparian planting, invasive species removal and community outreach and education. The projects will be completed during the coming year.

“We were extremely pleased with the high number of good project applications,” said Dan Wrye, watershed services manager with Pierce County Surface Water Management. “It’s clear that many people and organizations are interested in improving water quality and habitat in Pierce County’s watersheds. With a little help, a lot of good can be done to protect our water resources.”

The grants program was made possible by a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the Salmon Recovery Funding Board with contributions from Pierce County Surface Water Management, Pierce Conservation District and the City of Lakewood. A total of $45,000 was distributed in small grant amounts ranging from $500 to $2,500.

The program is in its first year and was patterned after the Lu Winsor Grant Program, which has successfully funded water quality and habitat projects in the Key Peninsula/Gig Harbor area.

Additional information is available at http://www.piercecountywa.org/srfb .