This action approves an award in the amount of $1,444,519 to groundwork new orleans INC

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 4 awarded Groundwork New Orleans a $1,444,519 cooperative agreement under the CFDA 66.475 Gulf of Mexico Program to enhance habitat and improve water quality in the Gulf of Mexico. The project will demonstrate innovative bioremediation techniques to reduce nutrients in urban runoff at sample sites in Mobile, New Orleans, and Dallas. Key activities include training citizen scientists, implementing bioremediation applications, disseminating project results, and conducting community outreach and education. The anticipated deliverables include improved water quality, enhanced community resilience, replicable outreach and education programs, and scalable biostimulant treatment plans across a 27,500 square mile watershed area. Additionally, Groundwork New Orleans received a $484,678 cooperative agreement from EPA Region 4 to remove trash from urban drainage systems and provide community education on trash prevention in three Gulf of Mexico watersheds.

The purpose of this award is to enhance habitat and improve the water quality of the gulf of mexico through the demonstration of innovative bioremediation techniques to reduce nutrients in urban runoff.activities:four sample sites will be identified (two point source and two non-point source) in mobile, new orleans, and dallas, where baseline testing will be conducted and the use of bioremediation technology will be demonstrated. Through outreach and training workshops, citizen scientists will be trained to perform sediment and water testing. Additionally, an educational series summarizing the results of the three-year study will be presented to each community.subrecipient:subaward activities include implementing bioremediation applications, developing a quality assurance project plan, disseminating project results, and conducting community outreach and education.outcomes:anticipated deliverables and expected outcomes include improved water quality, enhanced community resilience, replicable outreach and education programs, and replicable/scalable BIO-stimulant treatment plans. Nutrient levels (specifically nitrogen and phosphorus) will be reduced at each project site, for a total combined watershed area of 27,500 square miles. Aquatic habitats will be protected and restored, which consequently will improve and protect the gulf of mexico. Intended beneficiaries are three underserved communities, students of all ages, and the gulf south region as a whole, who will benefit from enhanced habitat and community resilience and improved water quality.