California American Water Accepting Applications for 2016 Environmental Grant Program

CORONADO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--California American Water announced today that applications are now being accepted for its 2016 Environmental Grant Program.

The company will award several grants for a combined total of $10,000 to innovative community-based environmental projects that improve, restore or protect watersheds and drinking water supplies within the state.

A wide variety of conservation projects are eligible for funding, such as watershed cleanups, educational programs, biodiversity projects, waterway restoration projects, wellhead protection initiatives and hazardous waste collection efforts.

“We are all environmental stewards in protecting California’s diverse watershed, and this program is one way we help communities play an active role in this important effort,” said Rob MacLean, president of California American Water. “I encourage municipalities, schools, environmental organizations and civic groups to apply for a grant to support projects that will benefit their local water ecosystem.”

To qualify, proposed projects must:

• Be located within one or more of California American Water's service areas;
• Address a source water or watershed protection need in the community;
• Be completed between May 1, 2016 and November 30, 2016;
• Be a new or innovative program for the community, or serve as a significant expansion to an existing program;
• Be carried out by a formal or informal partnership between two or more organizations; and
• Provide evidence of sustainability (continued existence after grant monies are utilized).

Projects will be judged based on criteria that include clarity of project goals, projected impact, and strength of collaboration with other community and/or municipal organizations and evidence that the project will provide sustainable environmental results after California American Water’s funding ends.

In 2015, the Yolo Basin Foundation was awarded $5,000 to fund its Discover the Flyway Outdoor Environmental Science Education Program. The program promotes conservation of the wetlands for the next generation, provides hands-on education to students on the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area in the Sacramento River Basin. Since its start in 1997, more than 53,000 students from K-12 have participated in the program’s science-based field trips that helps educate students on the wetlands and the wildlife habitat.

The second recipient was WildCoast, which was awarded $5,000 for their South San Diego Watershed Enhancement Project. As part of the project, WildCoast will work with community volunteers to clean up the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge and the Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge. The project aims to clean up more than 4,913 acres of sensitive coastal ecosystems in San Diego County. Along with the preservation of the refuges, WildCoast will foster community engagement through community clean-ups as the areas provide important educational and recreation opportunities for the community. In addition, WildCoast will also look to promote bilingual outreach for wetland and watershed conservation.

Grant information and application forms can be found by visiting www.amwater.com/water-quality-and-stewardship/environmental-grants-program.

Applications must be postmarked by Friday, April 1, 2016 and mailed to:

California American Water
8657 Grand Avenue
Rosemead, CA 91770
Attention: Brian Barreto

California American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), provides high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to more than 600,000 people. Information regarding California American Water’s service areas can be found on the company’s website www.californiaamwater.com.

Founded in 1886, American Water is the largest publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility company. With headquarters in Voorhees, N.J., the company employs approximately 6,800 dedicated professionals who provide drinking water, wastewater and other related services to an estimated 15 million people in 47 states and Ontario, Canada. More information can be found at www.amwater.com.