SAN FRANCISCO , July 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) this summer approved a pair of grants to the San Francisco Estuary Partnership (SFEP) to advance projects to protect and restore watersheds in Hayward , Richmond , San Pablo , and North Richmond .
Local partners contributed matching funds to supplement the new grants, which were awarded through the EPA San Francisco Bay Water Quality Improvement Fund program. Hosted by the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG), the San Francisco Estuary Partnership is a collaboration of local, state and federal agencies; non-governmental organizations; and academic and business leaders working to protect and restore the San Francisco Bay-Delta Estuary "This combination of local and federal funds not only focuses on supporting projects that improve local water quality, mitigate the impacts of flooding, and strengthen climate resilience for underserved communities, but also looks at ways to expand local and regional expertise in advancing nature-based solutions. Funding for this forward-looking approach allows us to further fortify our efforts to protect and restore the San Francisco Estuary," said SFEP Director Caitlin Sweeney .
The Estuary Partnership's watershed protection and restoration projects include: Restoring Wildcat Creek: Community-Led Watershed Health Update and Priority Project ( $12.2 million — includes $6.1 million from EPA plus $6.
1 million from West County Wastewater) The Wildca.