None The Nature Conservancy in New York Press Releases Search All Press Releases Sharon Pickett Philanthropy Coordinator Eastern New York Chapter Phone: (914) 244-3271 x27

Eastern U.S. Freshwater Program and partners receive $287,000 grant from U.S. EPA

Troy, NY—May 31, 2005—The Nature Conservancy's Eastern U.S. Freshwater Program and two partners—Tufts University and the Stockholm Environment Institute—recently received a $287,434 grant under a new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency program to help protect people and the environment and to sustain economic growth. The grant program, called the "Collaborative Science and Technology Network for Sustainability", is designed to encourage innovative thinking on practical applications of science and engineering. "The grant will fund a project which addresses a question central to environmental sustainability:  how to manage water supplies so they can meet both human and environmental needs," said Colin Apse, the Freshwater Program's Deputy Director.

The project team will develop a computer model for decision support that integrates information on the flow needs of aquatic ecosystems, water demand management, and water supply planning. The approach will allow water resource managers to simultaneously maximize use of water storage capacity, strategically use drought management measures to optimize their effectiveness and meet key ecological flow needs based on seasonal water availability conditions. Added Apse, "Most of the rivers in the world are affected by dams, water withdrawals and other modifications. It is essential that we develop user-friendly approaches to address these threats in a manner that balances human use with ecological protection".

The Nature Conservancy’s Eastern U.S. Freshwater Program works across fourteen states with Conservancy chapters to develop and implement freshwater conservation strategies that have impacts at multiple river systems and that create innovative models for large-scale conservation. The Program’s efforts are focused on streamflow protection policy development, habitat protection for headwater streams and along rivers and the mitigation of the impacts of dams and culverts. Learn more about the Environmental Protection Agency grants program and the proposed work of The Nature Conservancy and its partners on this project.