Maine, N.H., Ohio to Participate in Water Protection Project
Because they demonstrated a high level of commitment to source water protection, Maine, New Hampshire and Ohio will be the first states to participate in a project designed to align state water quality protection and land use programs and policies to better protect drinking water sources.
The project is being coordinated by the Trust for Public Land, the Smart Growth Leadership Institute, the Association of Drinking Water Administrators and River Network. The U.S. EPA is funding the project, which is called “Enabling Source Water Protection: Aligning State Land Use and Water Protection Programs.”
EPA will provide the states with recommendations based on state-specific program reviews, consultation with experts on best practices from around the country, exposure to other state examples and strategies, strategies for improving funding for water protection, and a support network (both within and outside government) for implementation.
A second Call for Entries is planned for this summer, and the team expects to select three additional states following that process. For more information on the project details, the project team, and the next round of applications, visit www.landuseandwater.org