The Friends of Marsh Creek Watershed (FOMCW) is in the running for a $25,000 grant, and needs a vote from you to help make it happen.

FOMCW was recently named as one of six national finalists in MillerCoors River Network Watershed Protection Grant Competition. MillerCoors, in partnership with River Network, will award nearly $60,000 in grants to nonprofit organizations that fund projects focused on water conservation, education and protection. The winning organization will be chosen by the public through an online voting contest.

“This is a great opportunity for Friends of Marsh Creek Watershed to highlight our wonderful program and to raise awareness about watershed issues,” said FOMCW Executive Director Diane Burgis. “We hope that people will go online and vote for us and then learn about their own watersheds and go out and get involved. We are grateful to MillerCoors and River Network for this opportunity.”

The organization with the most votes will receive a $25,000 grant. The five remaining projects will also receive funds: the second-place project will receive a $15,000 grant, third place $10,000, and the three remaining projects $2,000 each.

Established in 2004, FOMCW – the competition’s only west coast finalist – is asking the community to go online to vote for the organization in its quest to protect local water resources.

Despite operating in a less populated area of the Bay Area, FOMCW has accomplished much since becoming a nonprofit a little over two years ago. The group has removed more than 40 tons of trash from Marsh Creek, trails and local parks, planted hundreds of plants and trees throughout the community and raised more than $1.25 million in funding toward restoration projects including the Marsh Creek Fish Ladder and the upcoming Creekside Park Restoration Project in Oakley.

Burgis said funding from this grant would underwrite more than a dozen service projects and education events to increase understanding and raise awareness about local water quality issues, while advancing stewardship activities within the Marsh Creek Watershed. These projects would also support California’s efforts to protect the San Joaquin Delta ecosystem.

Online voting for the grant award concludes Monday, March 19 at 5 p.m. To vote, visit www.rivernetwork.org/millercoors-river-network-grant-contest-2012. For more information about FOMCW, visit www.fomcw.org.