The Okanagan Basin Water Board is now accepting applications to its 2015 water conservation and quality improvement grant program.
The program, in its ninth year, has $300,000 available for projects that conserve water in the Okanagan or improve its quality.
Eligible recipients include non-profit community groups, local governments (regional districts or municipalities), and irrigation or improvement districts. Successful applicants can receive up to $30,000 for their project. The grants are distributed according to the percentage of tax each region pays into the program. This year, there is $56,850 available to the North Okanagan.
Last year, OBWB conducted a review of all previous grants and created a new grant database at www.obwb.ca/wcqi_project/.
“The projects were organized into 18 categories from drought planning to xeriscape,” said project manager James Littley, adding that there are eight categories for special consideration during this grant cycle.
These include drought planning, groundwater, irrigation, metering, restoration, source protection, water system improvement (quantity and quality), and water flow monitoring.
But the OBWB encourages applications in all conservation and quality improvement categories.
This year’s grant application deadline is 4 p.m. Feb. 6, 2015. The complete program guide and application forms can be found at www.obwb.ca/wcqi.