State-initiated water resources program finds advocate in Sewer District
Posted January 16, 2009
Local agencies receive funding based on Sewer District's participation, Sewer District customers see stormwater benefits
Cleveland - The Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District added to its list of environmentally friendly practices by becoming a sponsor in the state-initiated Water Resource Restoration Sponsor Program (WRRSP). The program is designed to provide funding for environmental improvements - both restoration and preservation - across the state.
"The District's focus has always been protecting the environment," stated Darnell Brown, President of the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD) Board of Trustees. "When the opportunity to become a WRRSP sponsor presented itself to the District, it was absolutely apparent to us that the program would be hugely beneficial to those receiving funds, to the environment and to our customers."
In 2009, the Sewer District will sponsor the following projects:
- Portage Park District - Upper Cuyahoga Bog Preserve
- Geauga Park District - Orchard Hills Restoration and Preservation Project
- Ohio Department of Natural Resources - Gott Fen State Nature Preserve Expansion
- Metro Parks Serving Summit County - Springfield Bog Project
- Cleveland Museum of Natural History - Grand River/Trumbull Creek Corridor Protection Project
- Cleveland Metroparks - Rocky River East Branch Ecosystem Protection
- West Creek Preservation Committee - West Creek Confluence
"The District chose to sponsor the projects because they are in Northeast Ohio and either send stormwater directly to our service area or provide great training and partnership opportunities for the District staff as we move into our stormwater management program," stated Kyle Dreyfuss-Wells, NEORSD Manager of Environmental Programs. "As we all know, stormwater runoff ignores community boundaries. The more we can do to support the preservation and enhancement of natural stormwater sinks - open spaces, wetlands, and floodplains - the fewer stormwater problems our customers will have."
The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency developed the WRRSP in 2000. It funds the design and implementation of stream and wetland protection and restoration projects that counter the loss of ecological function and/or preserve biological diversity of Ohio's water resources. Funding dollars are obtained through the interest paid on the State Water Pollution Control Loan Fund.
"As a project sponsor, the Sewer District is not committing any funding to these projects but simply providing access to State funding," stated NEORSD Executive Director Julius Ciaccia. "However, sponsors like the Sewer District will receive an interest rate reduction on loans, thereby reducing overall costs paid by District customers. So the more projects sponsored by the District, the greater opportunity we have to save customers' dollars."
A project will be considered for funding by the Ohio EPA if it is sponsored by an entity who uses the State Water Pollution Control Loan Fund for financing of sewer infrastructure improvements, like NEORSD, represents a long-term solution to identified water quality problems; and addresses specific water resource concerns.
"At the end of the day, our job is to continually capitalize on the District's 36 years of leadership in water quality improvements while being fiscally responsible with our customers' dollars," stated Ciaccia. "This program clearly obtains both goals."
For additional information, please contact Public Information Specialist Jeannie Chapman at 216-881-6600 ext. 6853.
