LANSING — The Michigan Clean Water Corps, a network of volunteer monitoring programs that collect and share surface water quality data throughout the state, is accepting funding proposals for two grant programs.

Under the Volunteer Stream Cleanup Program, $25,000 is available for grants — ranging from $500 to $5,000 — to support local units of government in efforts to clean up garbage from Michigan’s rivers, streams and creeks. This program is funded by fees from the sale of Michigan’s specialty water quality protection license plates, available from the Secretary of State’s office.

Under the Volunteer Stream Monitoring Program, $75,000 is available across three grant types for volunteer benthic macroinvertebrate monitoring and habitat assessment in wadeable streams and rivers. Local units of government and nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply. Grant types are startup grants, implementation grants and maintenance grants.

The request for proposals for each of the grant opportunities can be found at the MiCorps Stream Monitoring and Cleanup Grants at http://micorps.net/stream-monitoring/stream-grants/. With the exception of the startup grants, the grants require a 25% local match commitment.

Grant applications are due by 5 p.m. March 7. Questions about the grant application process should be directed to Dr. Paul Steen, Huron River Watershed Council, at 734-519-0449 or PSteen@HRWC.org; or Tamara Lipsey, Lake Michigan Unit, Surface Water Assessment Section, Water Resources Division, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), at 517-342-4372 or LipseyT@Michigan.gov.