The federal government is providing $900,000 to protect and restore the basin of the Marais des Cygnes, Marmaton and Little Osage rivers.
The basin, south of Kansas City, is a vital resource to 13 counties, including Johnson, Linn, Douglas and Miami in Kansas and Cass and Bates in Missouri.
About 125,000 residents live in the area, and the Environmental Protection Agency says the water quality and supply is rapidly decreasing because of a growing population.
“Protecting our nation’s watersheds is a top priority for EPA,” said John B. Askew, EPA Region 7 administrator.
The money will help upgrade failing septic tanks, plant vegetation along shorelines and establish watering facilities for livestock.
A news conference will be at 11:45 a.m. Monday at Shelter 1 at Hillsdale Lake near Paola.
Askew will speak as well as Roderick L. Bremby, secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment; Karl Fett, director of the Kansas City office of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, and Maj. Michael Fitzgerald, deputy commander of the Kansas City District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
To learn more about the Targeted Watersheds Grant Program, visit http://epa.gov/twg/implementation.html
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