WAQUOIT – Governor Charlie Baker’s Administration has awarded $542,354 in environmental grants to 16 projects across the state, including several here on Cape Cod.
Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton said the grants are meant for “the preservation of watersheds, waterways, conservation efforts, ecological restoration efforts, protection of sea turtles, and of North Atlantic Right Whales.”
As part of the allotment, the Association to Preserve Cape Cod has been awarded $50,000, The Associated Scientists at Woods Hole received $6,000 and the Coonamessett Farm Foundation received $17,060.
The Sporting Safety Conservation and Education Fund of Falmouth was awarded $59,810, and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution was allotted $74,274.
Funding for these programs was raised through the sale of the state’s specialty environmentally-themed specialty license plates.
“We have the Right Whale and the jumping Brook Trout, and the Blackstone River plate as well. That brings in about $800,000 a year to allow us to make these awards for some very important projects,” said Beaton.
Since its funding back in 1988, as part of the Boston Harbor cleanup, the Massachusetts Environmental Trust has awarded more than $20 million in grants to organizations statewide.
The presentation of this year’s funds took place Thursday at the Waquoit Bay Estuary, and Watershed.
By JOHN BONDAREK, CapeCod.Com News Center
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