NRWC Awarded Funding to Conduct Manure Management Outreach and Education

The Niantic River Watershed Committee, Inc. has been awarded funding from the Dominion Foundation to conduct manure management outreach and education to small farms and livestock owners in the Niantic River watershed.

Nitrogen and fecal bacteria are the two main pollutants that affect water quality in the Niantic River, Niantic Bay and Long Island Sound. Shellfishermen know that the presence of fecal bacteria in the river and bay, especially after a heavy rain, results in the closure of shellfish beds.  Nitrogen, a necessary plant nutrient, causes excessive aquatic plant and algae growth, degrading the quality of the aquatic habitat for the many species that call the Niantic River home.  Both pollutants can be derived from many sources, animal waste among them.  NRWC will demonstrate, through an on-farm workshop and distribution of informational material, how livestock owners can reduce the impacts of manure on water quality through simple manure best management practices.

The Dominion Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Dominion Power, is dedicated to improving the physical, social and economic well-being of the communities served by Dominion companies. Dominion and the Foundation annually award about $20 million to causes that protect the environment, promote education and help meet basic human needs. Click here to read more about recent grant recipients.