Project Grant 84117901

DESCRIPTION:THIS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WILL SUPPORT THE EPA'S GOAL OF PROVIDING CLEAN AIR, LAND, AND WATER FOR EVERY AMERICAN THROUGH THE DELIVERY OF CLEAN WATER-FOCUSED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING FOR LAND TRUSTS. THIS PROJECT WILL BUILD ON RECENT EFFORTS, LED BY THE EPA'S HEALTHY WATERSHEDS PROGRAM, TO STRENGTHEN COORDINATION BETWEEN THE LAND CONSERVATION COMMUNITY AND CLEAN WATER PROGRAMS TO ACCELERATE THE STRATEGIC CONSERVATION OF LANDS TO PROTECT AND RESTORE WATER QUALITY. BY STRENGTHENING COORDINATION WITH THE LAND CONSERVATION COMMUNITY, THE EPA AND ITS PARTNERS ACHIEVE COST SAVINGS BY INCREASING LEVERAGING OPPORTUNITIES WHERE LAND CONSERVATION CAN HELP PROTECT WATER QUALITY, THEREBY AVOIDING THE NEED FOR COSTLY RESTORATION EFFORTS, AND SUPPORT LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND ECONOMIES (E.G., CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUTDOOR RECREATION).ACTIVITIES:THROUGH THE AGREEMENT, THE LAND TRUST ALLIANCE WILL WORK WITH THE EPA TO COMPLETE FOUR TASKS: (1) HOST A WATER SUMMIT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE 2025 NATIONAL LAND CONSERVATION CONFERENCE, (2) DISSEMINATE WEB-BASED CLEAN WATER EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES FOR LAND TRUSTS, (3) PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO LAND TRUSTS DEVELOPING OR EXPANDING CLEAN WATER INITIATIVES WITHIN THEIR ORGANIZATIONS, AND (4) DELIVER CLEAN WATER-FOCUSED SESSIONS AT UP TO 5 IN-PERSON CONFERENCES OR VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS. SUBRECIPIENT:NO SUBAWARDS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT.OUTCOMES:THE ANTICIPATED ENVIRONMENTAL OUTPUTS (DELIVERABLES) ARE: DELIVERY OF A LAND AND WATER SUMMIT AT THE 2025 NATIONAL LAND CONSERVATION CONFERENCE TO ADVANCE THE SKILLS OF LAND TRUST PRACTITIONERS IN STRATEGICALLY PLANNING FOR AND PROTECTING WATER RESOURCES THROUGH LAND CONSERVATION; DISSEMINATION OF WEB-BASED CLEAN WATER EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES FOR LAND TRUSTS, INCLUDING WEBINARS, FACT SHEETS OR CASE STUDY WRITE-UPS; DELIVERY OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUAL LAND TRUSTS SEEKING TO INTEGRATE CLEAN WATER OUTCOMES MORE CENTRALLY IN THEIR LAND PROTECTION ACTIVITIES; AND DELIVERY OF CLEAN WATER-FOCUSED SESSIONS AT UP TO 5 IN-PERSON CONFERENCES OR VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS. THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES IS AN INCREASE IN WATER BODIES ACHIEVING WATER QUALITY STANDARDS RESULTING FROM MORE EFFECTIVE TARGETING OF LAND CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES TO PROTECT AND RESTORE WATERS. THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES ARE THE GENERAL PUBLIC, WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM INCREASED COORDINATION BETWEEN CLEAN WATER PROGRAMS AND LAND CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS IN TARGETING LAND PROTECTION TO PROTECT AND RESTORE WATER QUALITY.