Winchester will receive a $9,789 grant for a four-acre wetland construction project along Town Branch from the 2012 American Water Environmental Grant Program.
“The project will help remove pathogens, metals, sediment and nutrients from storm water as it overflows into the wetlands during storm events,” according to a Kentucky American Water news release. “The restored wetland area will be used for environmental education and research by neighboring universities and area schools.”
Cheryl Norton, president of Kentucky American Water, said the protection and preservation of healthy watersheds and water supplies requires collaboration.
“These projects are wonderful examples of how to bring people together, while also creating opportunities to continue educating future generations about environmental stewardship,” she said.
In March, Bluegrass PRIDE, a non-profit that gives environmental resources and information to local governments in central Kentucky, announced it would award more than $9,000 to Winchester to go toward constructing six wetlands as part of the Town Branch.
The Kentucky American Water grant will go toward the same wetlands project. The wetlands will be constructed on city property near the Winchester-Clark County Industrial Park, and construction will start in the next few months.
