Two years ago the EPA launched the Urban Waters Federal Partnership in an effort to reconnect urban communities; upon the success of the original seven communities, 11 more have been added to the program.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the expansion of their Urban Waters Federal Partnership, by adding 11 new locations, bringing the total to 18 communities across the country.

Launched in 2011, the program's goal is to reconnect urban communities with their waterways by improving coordination between federal agencies and community-led revitalization efforts.

Urban waterways are used as a source for drinking water, and a variety of activities including boating, fishing and swimming. Revitalizing these urban waterways will not only improve the water quality and restore ecosystems, but will also have a positive economic impact on local businesses, tourism and property values, and create jobs within these communities.

"Since we launched the Urban Waters Federal Partnership we've seen firsthand what the transformation of degraded urban waterways into clean, healthy and treasured centerpieces can do for local communities – not only from an aesthetic standpoint, but also from a public health and economic standpoint," said Acting EPA Administrator Bob Perciasepe. "Restored urban waters can reinvigorate communities, and I am confident the new project locations will see the same success the Partnership's efforts have already supported across the country."

The 11 new project locations are:

• Big River and Meramec River watersheds near St. Louis, Missouri
• Delaware River Basin, which covers Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware
• Grand River in Grand Rapids, Michigan
• Green-Duwamish River in Seattle, Washington
• Mystic River watershed in Greater Boston
• Martin Pena Canal in San Juan, Puerto Rico
• Middle Blue River in Kansas City, Missouri
• Middle Rio Grande in Albuquerque, New Mexico
• Passaic River in Newark, New Jersey
• Proctor Creek watershed in Atlanta, Georgia
• Western Lake Erie Basin near Toledo, Ohio

For more information about the EPA Urban Waterways Revitalization project please visit urbanwaters.gov.

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