September 28, 2018 — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently announced it awarded $2,219,004 to seven nonprofits in southeastern Massachusetts for projects largely dealing with water quality and wastewater cleanup of estuaries.

The funding will enable nonprofits to collaboratively work with towns, universities and regional planning organizations.

Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Deputy Commissioner Gary Moran lauded the regional cooperative programs undertaken by each of the grant recipients, citing their innovative methods and calling it a testament to the infrastructure of environmental groups, activists and municipal organizations actively seeking solutions to the region’s wastewater and water quality problems.

Receiving the he grants were the following:

Association to Preserve Cape Cod, Dennis: $350,000 for restoration of water quality in Three Bays system in Barnstable.


• Buzzards Bay Coalition, New Bedford: $419,000 for research and planning for expansion of Wareham wastewater treatment facility.
  
  
• Cape Cod Commission, Barnstable: $399,998 to develop water quality database and management system.
  
  
• Falmouth Rod & Gun Club, Falmouth: $450,000 for cranberry bog and river restoration in Falmouth and Mashpee.
  
  
• Martha’s Vineyard Commission, Oak Bluffs: $250,000 to install permeable reactive barrier to reduce groundwater pollution to Lagoon Pond.
  
  
• Pleasant Bay Alliance, Harwich: $250,000 for restoration of water quality in Pleasant Bay.
  
  
• Southeast Regional Planning & Economic Development District, Taunton: $100,000 to help restore Taunton River watershed.

“Funding is one of the biggest challenges to towns. There is a lot of need but not much funding,” said April Wobst, a restoration ecologist at the Association to Preserve Cape Cod.