This agreement provides funding under the inflation reduction act (IRA)

The agreement provides funding to chickasaw nation. Specifically, the recipient will enact a long-term citizen science watershed-based stream monitoring program within the chickasaw nation treaty territory with the goal of establishing water quality baselines and an early warning system for quality impacts. This project will provide communities within the chickasaw nation treaty territory with a clearer understanding of environmental and public health issues related to water sustainability, as well as increased engagement opportunities related to these issues. Furthermore, the proposed project will aid the chickasaw nation in developing broad-spectrum partnerships to address water quality concerns with the arbuckle simpson aquifer (ASA), thereby allowing for the development of tribal, state and federal communication geared toward water quality impairments. The ADA jobs foundation, a community-based nonprofit organization (CBO), will partner with the chickasaw nation for this project and assist with establishing a web-based environmental justice water quality mapping tool and data collection system to ensure transparency and encourage public engagement. Activities:the activities include community-led pollution monitoring through the citizen science watershed-based stream monitoring program to address stream water quality impairment issues. Collaborative efforts will be established to improve communication between federal, tribal and state agencies. This will help in ongoing environmental monitoring, prevention, or remediation projects within the chickasaw nation. The objective is to maximize local resources and reduce duplication of efforts. Chickasaw nation will plan and develop a environmental justice mapping tools and methodologies to determine potential impacts on underserved communities from environmental water quality issues. This will help in identifying and addressing potential environmental risks to vulnerable communities. Chickasaw nation will also monitor nonpoint and point source releases of stream water pollutants in underserved communities because IT's crucial to ensure clean and safe water for all. This will help in identifying and controlling any environmental hazards and promoting public health. Subrecipient:ADA job foundation will develop a website tailored to the areas of impact to allow for accessible educational materials for communities, tribes, and impacted families. The ADA job foundation will also oversee the day-to-day operations which includes managing the environmental data website development, assist with community engagement, education, and outreach programs. East central university will oversee the project's ground-up approach to developing methodology that promotes local community participation in assisting with the identification of water security issues. East central university will identify issues and ensure the proper resources are utilized to develop a locally driven solution. The east central university water quality coordinator will be responsible for the development of all quality assurance project plans necessary for each water monitoring site during the project period. Murray state college will be responsible for the development of water monitoring programs for their region in south-central oklahoma. The monitoring plan will identify sampling locations and adhere to the sampling protocols taught by the citizen science training contractor. Cameron university will be responsible for the development of water monitoring programs for south-western oklahoma. The monitoring plan will identify sampling locations and adhere to the sampling protocols taught by the citizen science training contractor. Outcomes:the project anticipated deliverables includes a citizen science watershed-based stream monitoring program, an environmental justice mapping tool, methodologies to determi