Federal Agencies Partner to Revitalize Urban Waterways In Communities Across The U.S. (PA)
June 24, 2011
Federal Agencies Partner to Revitalize Urban
Waterways In Communities Across The U.S.
Anacostia River Watershed to Get Greater
Focus
BALTIMORE– A new federal partnership
aims to stimulate regional and local economies, create local jobs,
improve quality of life, and protect Americans’ health by
revitalizing urban waterways in under-served communities across the
country. The Urban Waters Federal Partnership (UWFP), an innovative
federal union comprised of 11 agencies, will focus its initial
efforts on seven pilot locations: the Patapsco Watershed
(Maryland), the Anacostia Watershed (Washington DC/Maryland), the
Bronx & Harlem River Watersheds (New York), the South Platte
River in Denver (Colorado), the Los Angeles River Watershed
(California), the Lake Pontchartrain Area (New Orleans, LA), and
the Northwest Indiana Area. Each of the pilot locations already has
a strong restoration effort underway, spearheaded by local
governments and community organizations. Lessons learned from these
pilot locations will be transferred to other cities in the
country.
Led by the Environmental Protection Agency,
the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Department of
Agriculture and coordinated by the White House Domestic Policy
Council, the Urban Waters Federal Partnership closely aligns with
and advances the work of the other White House place-based efforts
such as the Partnership for Sustainable Communities by revitalizing
communities, creating jobs and improving the qualities of life in
cities and towns across the nation. The partnership also supports
President Obama’s America’s Great Outdoors Initiative
aimed at making the Federal Government a better partner with
communities that are working to provide safe, healthy and
accessible outdoor spaces. Like these other efforts, the UWFP
represents another example of how the Obama Administration is
promoting more efficient and effective use of federal resources
through better coordination and targeting of federal
investments.
U.S. EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson, U.S.
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, White House Domestic Policy
Council Director Melody Barnes, Council for Environmental Quality
Chair Nancy Sutley and representatives from the U.S. Department of
Agriculture and the Department of Housing and Urban Development
announced the partnership along the Patapsco River in Baltimore
today where they participated in environmental education activities
with Baltimore students. Americans use urban waterways like the
Patapsco River as sources of drinking water and for a variety of
activities including boating, fishing and swimming. Cleaning up and
restoring these water resources is essential to protecting
Americans’ health and improving their overall quality of
life. Revitalizing these urban waterways will also reconnect
citizens to open spaces, and will have a positive economic impact
on local businesses, tourism and property values, as well as spur
private investment and job creation in these
communities.
“There is a range of health and environmental challenges facing our urban waters today -- but each challenge is matched by an incredible opportunity to transform distressed urban waterfronts into centerpieces for community revitalization,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “Urban waters have the potential to support healthy environments, growing business and educational and recreational activities. By bringing together the experience and expertise of multiple federal partners, we have a chance to reconnect local residents, young people and community groups with the environmental resources all around them.”
“Water is the lifeblood of our
communities and we must care for our watersheds and urban waterways
around the nation,” said Secretary of the Interior Ken
Salazar. “Through this partnership and President
Obama’s America’s Great Outdoors initiative, Interior
is committed to increasing public access to river resources,
helping restore and protect habitat and wildlife, educating and
employing our youth, and assessing and helping safeguard water
quality.”
"Conserving our natural heritage is an objective
shared by all Americans,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom
Vilsack. “The Urban Waters partnership will not only give
thousands of urban Americans access to the great outdoors in a way
they haven’t had before, it also creates partnerships between
the federal government and American communities on conservation
issues. At USDA, the Forest Service and Natural Resources
Conservation Service are working in thousands of communities across
the country to conserve and revitalize forests and watersheds, many
impacting urban areas. At the same time, we’re connecting
people with our land and resources by promoting outdoor activities
and healthier lifestyles.”
“This important partnership is yet another
example of the way that the Obama Administration is changing the
way that government does business,” said DPC Director Melody
Barnes. “At a time when every dollar the federal government
invests in jumpstarting the economy is critical, we are finding
ways to create unprecedented collaboration among the federal
agencies, invest American’s tax dollars more wisely and
efficiently, and act as better partners with local
communities.”
“Too often, pollution, lack of access, and other barriers don’t allow urban residents to reap the health and economic benefits of rivers and other nearby waterways,” said Nancy Sutley, Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality. “As called for by President Obama’s America’s Great Outdoors Initiative, the Urban Waters Federal Partnership increases Federal coordination with local communities to support their work towards cleaner, healthier rivers and waters.”
“The Urban Waters Federal Partnership marks a significant step towards revitalizing an often overlooked resource in our urban communities,” said HUD Deputy Secretary Ron Sims. “Urban waterways have the potential to significantly improve urban communities, so I am pleased that HUD has a role in providing these pilot cities with the necessary tools to spur the creation of local jobs, economic development and protect Americans’ health.”
"The partnership offers an opportunity to
realize urban waterway and watershed revitalization goals that are
larger than, and beyond the resources of any individual community,
agency, or mission. We can deliver solutions to help urban
communities enjoy and prosper from healthy waters through
collaboration with other agencies and the communities we
collectively serve, said Ms. Jo-Ellen Darcy, Assistant Secretary of
the Army for Civil Works, one of the initiative’s 11 federal
partners, “The Department of the Army for Civil Works is
committed to the vision, mission, and principles of this
partnership. We are ready to assist in securing more vibrant and
sustainable urban waters.”
For more information, visit www.urbanwaters.gov
11 Agencies of the Urban Waters Federal Partnership
Environmental Protection Agency
· Use statutory authority to protect and preserve water quality and provide assistance in assessing and addressing legacy contamination.
Department of Interior
· Assist in building trails; increase public access to river resources; help restore and protect habitat and wildlife; educate and employ urban youth; and assess and help safeguard water quality.
United States Department of Agriculture
· Help communities to plan, manage, and sustain farm and forest landscapes on public and private ownership along a complex rural to urban gradient to promote watershed health and protect water resources, from the source to the faucet.
Corporation for National and Community Service
· Recruiting, organizing and maximizing the impact of community volunteers.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
· CDC/ATSDR will serve to offer guidance and technical assistance to local health officials and community members in conducting community-based environmental health assessments and creating an accurate and verifiable profile of communities' environmental health status.
Department of Commerce/Economic Development Administration
· Foster the creation of high-skill jobs and the generation of private capital investment in distressed communities.
Department of Commerce/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
· Provide unique scientific products and services designed to boost economic vitality, restore habitat, and mitigate hazards and contamination in coastal, Great Lakes, and other locations.
Army Corps of Engineers
· Offer engineering services, research and technical support to stakeholders during the planning, design, construction and operation of water resources and associated environmental infrastructure.
Department of Transportation
· Help the community in designing improved transportation corridors, bikeways, walkways
Housing and Urban Development
· Help the community improve access to affordable housing.
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
· Assist with health studies related to community environmental conditions.