Upper Columbia United Tribes Receive Upper Columbia River Basin Toxics Reduction Funding

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Published: Wednesday, 03 July 2024 17:08

EPA awarded the Upper Columbia United Tribes (UCUTs) approximately 5.5 million dollars over five years to form and manage the Upper Columbia United Tribes Columbia River Toxics Reduction Lead Entity (CRTRLE) program.  This funding extends the reach of EPA’s Columbia Basin Restoration Program and engages the five member tribes of UCUT, selected NGOs, state and federal agencies, and the communities in reducing toxic pollution entering waterways and ecosystems of the Upper Columbia Basin Watershed.

CRTRLE’s overarching goal is to recover the ability for tribal communities to access and connect to traditional foods, recreation, fisheries, plants and animals of the aboriginally occupied landscapes.  Resulting toxics reduction will benefit all communities living in the Upper Columbia River Watershed.

This is a multi-phased, large-scale program leveraging partnerships to implement toxic reduction projects with five focus areas. The largest focal area is construction of a comprehensive toxics reduction strategic plan for the Upper Columbia Basin.  Four additional areas include agricultural assistance for Best Management Practices, a lead fishing gear exchange, funding for education and outreach, and a publicly accessible historic mining inventory.

UCUT will be awarding funding packages annually to UCUT Tribes and NGOs for projects that accomplish the goals of toxics reduction planning and implementation.  Requests for proposals will occur in the late summer of 2024, 2025, and 2026.

The 2024 window for NGOs to submit proposals will begin September 2nd and run until September 30th.  Those interested in finding out more about the program or want to submit a proposal, contact Project Manager Caroline Keever at caroline@ucut-nsn.org or Jerry White, CRTRLE Project Coordinator at jerry@ucut-nsn.org