First Selectman Gordon Joseloff has announced that Westport has been awarded a matching grant of $49,990 from the Connecticut Department of Agriculture. 

The project’s scope of work consist of a water quality monitoring program providing data on indicator bacteria levels identifying areas of contamination that have an impact on recreational and commercial oyster and clam fisheries.   

The application for the grant was submitted by Westport’s Conservation Department and the Harbor Watch/River Watch (HW/RW) program of Earthplace.  Funding will allow HW/RW to expand a shoreline survey of the Saugatuck and Norwalk estuaries started in 2008.   

State funding for this grant to Westport has increased in 2009 from the 2008 award of $47,943.   

Conservation Director Alicia Mozian said, “I am pleased that Westport has received State funding to continue the water quality monitoring program now in its second year.”