IRWP to apply for Gentry, Springtown grant

— Delia Haak, executive director of the Illinois River Watershed Partnership, addressed the Gentry City Council Monday regarding the possibility of applying for a $20,000 grant to be used to help the cities of Gentry and Springtown plant trees along streams and waterways to help prevent erosion and excessive runoff into Flint Creek and its tributaries.

The Arkansas Forestry Commission is making Urban and Community Forestry Assistance Grants available to facilitate recovery efforts following the 2009 ice storm which destroyed many trees, according to the Forestry Commission Web site. The funds are to be used for "assessment, planning, recovery and restorative activities," the site says. "The goal of the program is to create healthy, sustainable forests, and improve natural resource management within the community."

Should grant funds be received, a tree inventory would be provided to the city as a part of the program.

IRWP will apply for the grant and administer it on behalf of the cities, Haak said. No matching funds are required should the grant be received.

Council members passed a resolution authorizing Haak to pursue the grant on behalf of the city, and Haak said she would prepare the application and sub-

mit it for review to the city at

torney and mayor.

Haak said she will be visiting

with the city of Springtown

about the grant as well. Flint

Creek, a tributary of the Illinoisriver, passes through both towns.

The city of Gentry has been a member of IRWP, and Hogue said it would yet send in the $100 government-organization membership fee for 2009.

Additional types of memberships are available to individuals, students, senior citizens, families and organizations. More information on IRWP is available at www.irwp.org.

News, Pages 1, 2 on 08/05/2009