Dominion Energy awards Utah and Wyoming nonprofits with environmental stewardship grants

The Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation recently awarded $1.5 million in environmental stewardship grants to support 115 community-based organizations, including seven in Utah and one in Wyoming. Photo: Ken Cheung.

SALT LAKE CITY — The Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation recently awarded $1.5 million in environmental stewardship grants to support 115 community-based organizations, including seven in Utah and one in Wyoming. These organizations work to promote conservation and a cleaner environment through preservation and education efforts. Over the last 16 years, the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation has donated over $38 million to a wide variety of environmental projects across its footprint.

“We all have a responsibility to be good stewards of the environment,” said Steven Ridge, Vice President and General Manager of Dominion Energy Utah. “These organizations do outstanding work to preserve Utah’s natural resources for future generations, and we’re thrilled to support them.”

These grants support education and stewardship projects that preserve, enhance, or make nature more accessible. This year’s grants include support for:

Friends of Arches and Canyonland Parks, Moab, to continue the Southeast Utah National Parks Volunteer Stewardship Program, focusing on preservation of the area and providing education to visitors.

Grand Staircase of Escalante Partners, Escalante, to repair damage, improve visitation practices to minimize its impact and expand practices to ensure a healthier environment that allows for biological diversity to withstand increased visitation.

Sageland Collaborative, Salt Lake City, to fund stream restoration projects that revitalize critical riparian habitat corridors and increase stream health.

Youth Garden Project, Moab, to support garden-based education to engage youth in environmental lessons, sustainable agriculture techniques, and a connection with the environment.

Trout Unlimited, Green River, to help with the Green River restoration project to increase trout habitat, improve water quality and provide safer and increased public recreation opportunities.

The Nature Conservancy, Salt Lake City, for preserving crucial bird foraging habitat, removal of invasive species, land restoration and management, watershed health and resilience, and public education and outreach to critical preserves in Utah.

Ducks Unlimited, Syracuse, to support habitat enhancement on the Ogden Bay Waterfowl Management Area (WMA) and complete critical infrastructure initiatives to improve the Great Salt Lake ecosystem.

Summit Land Conservancy, Park City, to fund the Merchant Meadows project, which will preserve historic farmland and open space along the Weber River as a public access wetland preserve.

“We are excited to partner with Dominion Energy to preserve waterfowl, wildlife and water resources for the Great Salt Lake,” said Chris Bonsignore, Manager of Conservation Programs with Ducks Unlimited. “With support from Dominion, Ducks Unlimited will increase public recreation and contribute important benefits to the larger Great Salt Lake ecosystem.”

The full list of 2021 Environmental Stewardship Grants and additional program information are available on their website.