EATON — On Thursday, Oct. 20, the Preble Soil and Water Conservation District was one of 16 Ohio watershed groups to receive grants from Dominion and the nonprofit Western Reserve Land Conservancy.

The Preble Soil and Water Conservation District was awarded $1,500 to build a permanent, educational rain garn and rain barrel display at the Preble County Fairgrounds.

The grants awarded totaled $35,025. The grants will be used for marketing, promotions and outreach efforts as well as project-specific restoration or water quality improvement project expenses. The ceremony took place at the Land Conservancy’s Conservation Center in Moreland Hills.

“Dominion is proud to partner with the Western Reserve Land Conservancy for the second year of the Watershed Mini Grants Program,” said Tracy Oliver, director of media and local affairs for Dominion. “Funding meaningful projects that encourage the understanding, appreciation and preservation of our environment is a key focus for us. Congratulations to all of the award winning watershed organizations across Ohio.”

Through the support of Dominion, Western Reserve Land Conservancy launched the Watershed Mini Grant Program last year to serve organizations working to protect and improve land around rivers, lakes and streams throughout Ohio.

“Everyone lives in a watershed. We depend on our lakes, rivers and streams to provide clean water for drinking, irrigation and industry as well as habitat for wildlife,” explained Rich Cochran, president and CEO of the Land Conservancy. “We thank Ohio’s watershed groups for recognizing potential threats, devising plans, taking corrective actions and educating the public about the importance of our watersheds. We also thank Dominion for their partnership in supporting these efforts.”

In a press release, the groups noted, healthy watersheds benefit people, animals and plants. Water quality can be affected by many things – human and non-human – but habitat degradation and nonpoint source pollution are two of the biggest continuing problems. The quality of our water is affected by alterations to the land – mining, roadways, agriculture, urban development, deforestation and the everyday activities of the people within the watershed.

Cochran said the Land Conservancy’s goal is to build long-lasting relationships with watershed groups.

For more information about the Land Conservancy, visit the nonprofit’s website at www.wrlandconservancy.org. For more information about Dominion, visit the company’s website at www.dom.com.