U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns announced Nov. 4 the awarding of more than $14 million in grants to universities and private enterprises nationwide to address water supply and water quality issues.

"Improving the quality and availability of our nation's water resources is an important commitment of the Bush Administration," said Johanns. "These projects will expand our knowledge base and help address critical issues of water availability and water quality in rural America."

Johanns made the announcement at the Missouri Farm Bill Forum, the 22nd and final forum that will be hosted by him as part of the nationwide listening tour in which members of the public are invited to express their views about farm and rural policy, in preparation for the development of the next farm bill in 2007. Other USDA officials will continue to hold forums throughout November.

The funds stem from two programs administered by the Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (CSREES); the National Integrated Water Quality Program (NIWQP) and the National Research Initiative (NRI) Watershed Processes and Water Resources Program (WPWRP). NIWQP-funded projects help rural communities and officials with science-based decisions and management practices that improve surface water and groundwater resources in agricultural and rural watersheds. USDA provided 19 awards this year with an average award of $578,000.

The NRI WPWRP aims to explain basic processes that affect the quality and quantity of water resources moving in and from range, forest and agricultural watersheds. Fourteen additional awards were made through the NRI WPWR program with an average award of $307,000 for standard research grants.

Each year, these two programs provide funding for water resources research, education and extension at universities, non-profit organizations and private enterprises.

Descriptions of awarded projects can be found online at: www.csrees.usda.gov/newsroom/releases/fs/water_resources_fs.doc.

CSREES advances knowledge for agriculture, the environment, human health and well-being, and communities by supporting research, education, and extension programs in the Land-Grant University System and other partner organizations. For more information, visit www.csrees.usda.gov.