Water: 5 Star Wetland Restoration & Grants
Grants & FundingWetlands5 Star Wetland Restoration & GrantsProjects Funded by Five Star Restoration Program in FY00Projects Funded by Five Star Restoration Program in FY00
Alabama
Project Title: Camp Tukabatchee Riparian Restoration
Five Star Grant: $10,000
Grant to: Tukabatchee Area Council, Boy Scouts of America
Project Location: Prattville, Alabama
Sponsored by the Tukabatchee Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America, the Camp Tukabatchee Restoration Project is designed to incorporate the mission and teaching of the Boy Scout Program into a long-term, active environmental management program. The project partners, which include the Alabama Department of Environmental Management, the Central Alabama Electric Cooperative and others, will remove invasive exotics and restore native plant communities within the floodplain of the Bridge Creek watershed. They will also prepare a comprehensive management plan for the area which will incorporate science-based natural resource management as well as cultural and educational goals of the Boy Scouts. Education materials will be developed to teach visitors about the functions and values of the riparian area.
For additional information, contact Brian Ocepek, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (202)857-0166.
Alaska
Project Title: Anchor River Riparian Restoration
Five Star Grant: $9,362
Grant to: Alaska Dep't of Natural Resources, Div. of Parks and Outdoor Recreation
Project Location: Anchor Point, Alaska
In Anchor Point, staff from Alaska State Parks and the Department of Fish and Game will join students, teachers and members of the local community to restore riparian areas along the banks of the Anchor River, a world-class destination fishery for King, Coho and Pink salmon. State park rangers and a state biologist will oversee the on-the-ground restoration work, and teachers and students from Chapman and Nikolaevsk Elementary Schools will assist with the layout and design of interpretive displays, which will be installed along the river to educate fishermen and other users about the river's ecological functions. Partial funding for this grant is being provided by the National Marine Fisheries Service Community-based Restoration Program.
For additional information, contact Brian Ocepek, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (202)857-0166.
Project Title: Eagle River Watershed Wonders
Five Star Grant: $10,250
Grant to: Anchorage School District
Project Location: Eagle River, Alaska
The Anchorage School District and partners will restore riparian habitat along the banks of the Eagle River which supports all five species of Pacific salmon in addition to resident populations of rainbow trout. The project, known as "Watershed Wonders," will bring together fourth-grade students from Ravenwood Elementary School with experts from Chugach State Park, the Anchorage Waterways Council, federal resource agencies and others to promote stewardship of the Eagle River Watershed through the restoration project. As part of their involvement, students learn scientific methods for collecting water samples and monitoring fish populations, and gain an ecological understanding of human activities that affect the health of the watershed. Partial funding for this grant is being provided by the National Marine Fisheries Service Community-based Restoration Program.
For additional information, contact Brian Ocepek, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (202)857-0166.
California
Project Title: Morro Bay National Estuary Riparian Restoration
Five Star Grant: $14,958
Grant to: Morro Estuary Greenbelt Alliance
Project Location: Morro Bay and Los Osos, California
In Morro Bay and Los Osos, the Morro Estuary Greenbelt Alliance will restore habitat for threatened southern Steelhead in the tributary streams of the Morro Bay National Estuary by stabilizing eroding streambanks along the Los Osos and Chorro Creeks. The project, which also involves the California Conservation Corps, the San Luis Obispo Resource Conservation District and others, will serve as a demonstration project to promote further habitat enhancement at other priority sites throughout the watershed. Project partners will identify and contact local riparian landowners to arrange visits to the demonstration sites and offer them technical expertise for improving stewardship of their lands. Partial funding for this grant is being provided by the National Marine Fisheries Service Community-based Restoration Program.
For additional information, contact Brian Ocepek, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (202)857-0166.
Project Title: Kelp Habitat Restoration
Five Star Grant: $11,000
Grant to: Orange County CoastKeeper
Project Location: Corona Del Mar and Laguna Beach, California
The Orange County CoastKeeper in partnership with the Orange County Regional Occupation Program, the Santa Monica CoastKeeper, Coastal Marine Technology, Alliance to Rescue Crystal Cove, and Environment Now is working to begin a community-based Kelp Habitat Restoration Project. Kelp beds located along the Southern California coasts provide critical habitat for over 800 marine species, but are in severe ecological distress in the region. The project will involve kelp restoration of three to five 1,000-square-feet sections in the Crystal Cove State Park Marine Preserve. A team of trained divers will restore the area with kelp plants grown by students from several Orange County schools. Each section will be maintained and tracked for growth by a team of community divers, as well as by students through underwater and aerial photographs. Partial funding for this grant is being provided by the National Marine Fisheries Service Community-based Restoration Program.
For additional information, contact Abigail Friedman, National Association of Counties (202)942-4225.
Project Title: San Antonio Creek Riparian Restoration
Five Star Grant: $8,000
Grant to: County of Santa Barbara, Parks Department
Project Location: Goleta, California
The County of Santa Barbara Parks Department is working the Santa Barbara Urban Creeks Council, Santa Barbara Audubon Society, University of California and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to restore 1600-feet of the San Antonio Creek and two-and-one-half-acres of stream bank located in a local suburban neighborhood. Sycamore and oak trees will be planted, invasive non-native plants will be removed, a drip irrigation system will be installed, and educational signs will be placed in the area with help from partners and community volunteers. The project will serve as a model for 50 local riparian and wetland restoration projects targeted for the South Coast of Santa Barbara County.
For additional information, contact Abigail Friedman, National Association of Counties (202)942-4225.
Project Title: Ballona Lagoon Wetland Restoration
Five Star Grant: $15,000
Grant to: City of Los Angeles, Department of Public Works
Project Location: Los Angeles, California
The Ballona Lagoon Wetland Restoration Project represents the third phase of a multi-year effort to restore the banks of the Ballona Lagoon, an area of scarce estuarine and intertidal habitat for 9 species of marine fish and nearly 60 species of birds, including the endangered California least tern. The project is sponsored by the City of Los Angeles' Department of Public Works, and partners include the Port of Los Angeles, Heal the Bay, and others. The project will result in the development of a diverse salt marsh habitat in the intertidal area of the lagoon which will contribute to the overall health of the lagoon as a more complete ecosystem. The restoration efforts will be complemented by a community outreach component as ongoing educational tours of the lagoon are offered by local environmental groups to local school children and the general public. Partial funding for this grant is being provided by the National Marine Fisheries Service Community-based Restoration Program.
For additional information, contact Brian Ocepek, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (202)857-0166.
Project Title: Norton Creek Wildlife Area Riparian Restoration
Five Star Grant: $5,462
Grant to: McKinleyville Parks and Recreation
Project Location: McKinleyville, California
In Humbolt County, a pilot project has been designed to integrate restored wildlife habitat into a suburban neighborhood setting while enhancing local school and community environmental education programs. McKinleyville Parks and Recreation, in partnership with the California Department of Fish and Game, McKinleyville High School and others, will conduct on-the-ground restoration activities and create an outdoor classroom within the Norton Creek Wildlife Area, a 1.7-acre tract of emergent wetlands and riparian forest that provides critical habitat for coastal cutthroat trout and several species of neo-tropical migratory birds. The enhancement of the area will reinforce the attitudes of the residents of McKinleyville and surrounding communities concerning the significance of habitat restoration, community involvement, and the value of natural open space. Partial funding for this grant is being provided by the National Marine Fisheries Service Community-based Restoration Program.
For additional information, contact Brian Ocepek, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (202)857-0166.
Project Title: Crissy Field Wetland Restoration
Five Star Grant: $10,000
Grant to: San Francisco Conservation Corps
Project Location: San Francisco, California
The Crissy Field Wetland Restoration Project, sponsored by the San Francisco Conservation Corps, represents the final phase of a massive three-year, community-based effort to restore Crissy Field and other critical wetland and riparian habitats of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Project partners include the Golden Gate National Parks Association, AmeriCorps, and others. The restoration of Crissy Field will result in 20 acres of tidal wetlands, 15 acres of sand dunes, picnic areas, interpretive trails, and field education sites. The school stewardship component of the project offers field-based environmental education curriculum and a sense of ownership in the project to local middle school and high school students who are given the opportunity to "adopt" certain sites within the park for their continuous educational use throughout the year.
For additional information, contact Brian Ocepek, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (202)857-0166.
Colorado
Project Title: Sombrero Marsh Restoration
Five Star Grant: $10,000
Grant to: Thorne Ecological Institute
Project Location: Boulder, Colorado
In Boulder, the Thorne Ecological Institute will restore wetlands and uplands and construct an outdoor learning center in the Sombrero Marsh, the only naturally-occurring depressional wetland of its size (20 acres) in Boulder Valley. Project partners include the City of Boulder Open Space, the Boulder Valley School District, and others. Students, who will receive community service credit for their efforts, will be encouraged to use the marsh for research on wetland functions. The project will serve as a model for community involvement in the protection and management of a valuable natural resource in an urban environment.
For additional information, contact Brian Ocepek, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (202)857-0166.
Project Title: Yampa River Restoration
Five Star Grant: $10,000
Grant to: The Nature Conservancy of Colorado
Project Location: Hayden, Colorado
In the Yampa Valley, The Nature Conservancy of Colorado will conduct riparian restoration efforts in the Morgan Bottoms reach of the Yampa River between Mt. Harris and the Town of Hayden. The Yampa River Restoration Project, which will also involve the Rocky Mountain Youth Corps, the Yampa Valley Community Foundation, and others, will increase habitat for a diverse community of birds and mammals that breed, forage, and winter in the forests and shrublands along the river, including bald eagles, sandhill cranes, river otter, and mink. The bank protection afforded by the woody vegetation will also reduce the amount of sediment in the channel, thus improving water quality and increasing agricultural productivity for local farmers and ranchers. Local community volunteers and students will participate in the on-the-ground restoration work, and a four-day teacher workshop will be held focusing on local river issues.
For additional information, contact Brian Ocepek, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (202)857-0166.
District of Columbia
Project Title: Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Restoration in the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers
Five Star Grant: $ 10,000
Grant to: Alliance for Chesapeake Bay, Inc.
Project Location: Washington, D.C.
Restoration of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAVs), which serve as critical feeding, nursery, and refuge habitats for a number of ecologically and economically valuable species, is a priority in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay in partnership with the District of Columbia, the Living Classrooms Foundation, the Conservation Corps, and the Underwater Adventure Seekers Dive Club, will restore SAVs in the lower Anacostia River and in the Potomac River. The project involves training teachers and students from at least three schools in the District of Columbia to grow approximately 1,500 aquatic plant seedlings. Students will receive classroom education on SAV restoration as well as participate in transplanting the seedlings they raised in the classroom.
For additional information, contact Abigail Friedman, National Association of Counties (202)942-4225.
Florida
Project Title: Engstrom Lake Wetland Reclamation
Five Star Grant: $10,000
Grant to: CSR Rinker
Project Location: Clermont, Florida
CSR Rinker, in partnership with Florida Audubon, Valencia Community College, and others, will conduct wetland reclamation activities along Engstrom Lake in the Green Swamp, an area of Critical State Concern. In an effort to address the deterioration of significant wildlife habitat in the area caused by the operation of a sand mine, the project will involve kindergarten through college-age students working with local Audubon Society members and Rinker employees to restore, preserve and manage the lake and its adjacent wetlands.
For additional information, contact Al Cottone, Wildlife Habitat Council (301)588-8994.
Project Title: Blind Creek Park - Sea Turtle Habitat Restoration
Five Star Grant: $8,000
Grant to: St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners
Project Location: Fort Pierce, Florida
Blind Creek Park consists of approximately 408.6-acres of coastal barrier island, which has been identified as a biodiversity "hot spot" for a variety of species in Florida including the West Indian Manatee and the Atlantic green turtle. The coastal barrier islands have been particularly disturbed by the spread of invasive non-native species which has impacted habitat for the Atlantic loggerhead turtle, the Atlantic green turtle, and shorebirds. St. Lucie County, with support from the South Florida Water Management District and federal agencies, will work with local citizen groups, Girls and Boy Scouts Programs, and schools to remove non-native plants and revegetate the native dune and coastal strand vegetation of Blind Creek Park. Through this project the community will learn about the importance of protecting critical habitat and water quality. Partial funding for this grant is being provided by the National Marine Fisheries Service Community-based Restoration Program.
For additional information, contact Abigail Friedman, National Association of Counties (202)942-4225.
Project Title: Pepper Cove Impoundment Marsh Restoration
Five Star Grant: $12,816
Grant to: Brevard County Environmentally Endangered Lands
Project Location: Melbourne Beach, Florida
Brevard County Environmentally Endangered Lands, along with the Florida Institute of Technology, the Marine Resources Council and others, will enhance wildlife habitat on the Pepper Cove impoundment located on the barrier island of Brevard County. The project partners will re-connect this historic salt marsh to the Indian River Lagoon in an effort to increase the area's biodiversity and improve its water quality. Local community volunteers will assist in the on-the-ground restoration work, and graduate students from Florida Tech will assist with the collection of data critical for developing and implementing the restoration plan. Partial funding for this grant is being provided by the National Marine Fisheries Service Community-based Restoration Program.
For additional information, contact Brian Ocepek, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (202)857-0166.
Project Title: Wellspring Wetland Restoration Initiative
Five Star Grant: $8,000
Grant to: North Florida Educational Development Corporation
Project Location: Quincy, Florida
The North Florida Educational Development Corporation, partnering with the City of Quincy, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and others, will employ at-risk youth during a six-week summer session to restore wetlands along Quincy Creek. The wetlands are located along a three-acre former industrial site that is currently being redeveloped as an organic food processing plant. Youth will remove large debris, trash, and invasive non-native plants that have overtaken the area. In addition to the work experience and job skills gained, the Florida Department of Water Management and the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical College Institute of Environmental Equity and Justice will provide an environmental education component to the project. In the long term, the area is envisioned to serve as the City of Quincy's only downtown park, a place where the citizens can walk, bicycle, enjoy the outdoors, and come together for community events.
For additional information, contact Abigail Friedman, National Association of Counties (202)942-4225.
Project Title: Frannie's Preserve Invasive Species Control
Five Star Grant: $5,000
Grant to: Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation
Project Location: Sanibel, Florida
The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation will eradicate invasive plant species from Frannie's Preserve, a 167-acre tract of undeveloped land along the Sanibel River that contains some of the most important wetland and riparian areas on Sanibel Island. Frannie's Preserve was purchased by the Foundation as the keystone property of a larger conservation effort by the Foundation and the City of Sanibel known as the Sanibel River Corridor Acquisition and Restoration Project. Project partners include the City, USDA-Natural Resource Conservation Service, Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program and the Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge. Signs will be placed at highly visible locations (e.g., a public beach access, a parking area and two well-traveled bike paths) to explain to the community the threats invasive plants pose to native wildlife and the importance of the restoration activities. Funding for this grant is being provided by the Gulf of Mexico Program, which is a partnership underwritten by EPA.
For additional information, contact Brian Ocepek, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (202)857-0166.
Georgia
Project Title: Active Riparian Commensal Habitat (ARCH) Education Network
Five Star Grant: $10,000
Grant to: Chattahoochee High School
Project Location: Alpharetta, Georgia
Chattahoochee High School students in partnership with Fulton County Government, Georgia Institute of Technology, and other private and state organizations, will construct a wetland treatment system as part of a larger Active Riparian Commensal Habitat Education Network to raise awareness about habitat and water quality protection in the Chattahoochee River Watershed. The overall project will involve building an education center that will include constructed wetlands, environmental education stations, amphitheatre, and stormwater treatment pond. The area will be an outdoor classroom for the community and the school. Students will be involved in project design, site plan layout, tree protection, and wetland planting activities.
For additional information, contact Abigail Friedman, National Association of Counties (202)942-4225.
Hawaii
Project Title: Hanalei Watershed Riparian Restoration
Five Star Grant: $13,000
Grant to: Hanalei Heritage River Program
Project Location: Hanalei, Hawaii
The Hanalei Heritage River Program, in partnership with the University of Hawaii, the Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge and others, will develop riparian restoration techniques for the lower Hanalei River watershed in order to reduce significant bank erosion and flood damage caused by non-native riparian weeds. Project partners will remove these exotic species and plant native vegetation using several different experimental techniques. The local school and community groups will derive educational benefits by participating in the propagation and planting of the native riparian plants, monitoring of experimental areas, and interpretation of the river and riparian vegetation. The results of the work will be used to develop and implement a comprehensive riparian management plan for the Hanalei River, an American Heritage River. Partial funding for this grant is being provided by the National Marine Fisheries Service Community-based Restoration Program.
For additional information, contact Brian Ocepek, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (202)857-0166.
Iowa
Project Title: Nahant Marsh Restoration and Educational Field Station
Five Star Grant: $10,000
Grant to: River Action, Inc.
Project Location: Davenport, Iowa
In Davenport, River Action, Inc. will undertake on-the-ground restoration work as well as conservation education activities at the Nahant Marsh, a unique 513-acre urban wetland locatd adjacent to the Mississippi River in the southwest corner of the city. Restoration of the wetlands is an integral part of the management plan for cleaning up this contaminated "brownfield" site. Project partners, including the City of Davenport, the Scott County Regional Authority, local schools and others, will plant native trees and shrubs in order to improve the water quality and wildlife habitat of the marsh, and will renovate an existing building at the site into a classroom and research laboratory for educational programming for all levels of students. Local community residents will be informed about the importance of wetlands through the use of a public-access boardwalk and interpretive signs.
For additional information, contact Brian Ocepek, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (202)857-0166.
Idaho
Project Title: Winchester Lake and Upper Lapwai Creek Watershed Restoration
Five Star Grant: $11,243
Grant to: Nez Perce Tribe
Project Location: Winchester, Idaho
The Nez Perce Tribe, with assistance from Winchester State Park, Palouse Audubon and others, will restore 11 acres of a wetland meadow on Tribal land within the Winchester Lake and Upper Lapwai Creek Watershed. Project partners will enhance wildlife habitat through the reintroduction of native herbs and shrubs, the removal of invasive grasses, the creation of vegetated buffers, and the construction of bird nesting boxes for migratory songbirds. The partners will also educate members of the local community about ongoing watershed restoration efforts by erecting interpretive signs on an old Tribal trail along the creek. A volunteer monitoring effort will be coordinated among the Tribe's Water Resources Division and local landowners after the restoration work is completed.
For additional information, contact Brian Ocepek, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (202)857-0166.
Project Title: Plant a Tree, Save a Fish Project
Five Star Grant: $12,273
Grant to: Earth Conservation Corps-Salmon Corps
Project Location: Lewiston, Idaho and Toppenish, Washington
The Earth Conservation Corps-Salmon Corps, in partnership with the Nez Perce Tribe, Umatilla Tribe, Grays Harbor College and others, will restore riparian habitat along the mainstem of the Yakima River and the confluences of the Clearwater and Snake Rivers. Partners in this "Plant a Tree, Save a Fish" project will propagate and plant 3,000 native willow, dogwood, and cottonwood trees on the riverbanks and in greenhouses on the campuses of local high schools and universities. The project will provide increased awareness of the characteristics and value of a healthy riparian community, as well as ecosystem protection, to students, teachers, and local citizens. Partial funding for this grant is being provided by the National Marine Fisheries Service Community-based Restoration Program.
For additional information, contact Brian Ocepek, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (202)857-0166.
Illinois
Project Title: Oak Openings Riparian Restoration
Five Star Grant: $10,000
Grant to: Liberty Prairie Conservancy
Project Location: Grayslake, Illinois
In Grayslake, the Liberty Prairie Conservancy will undertake restoration efforts on an intermittent stream that flows from the Oak Openings Illinois State Nature Preserve in the Bull Creek Watershed. The Preserve provides critical habitat for two state endangered birds, the yellow-headed blackbird and the great egret. In addition to the on-the-ground restoration work, the project partners, including the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Warren Township High School and others, will also create a self-guided interpretive trail through the area and work with adjacent landowners and local youth to establish a community watershed education program.
For additional information, contact Brian Ocepek, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (202)857-0166.
Project Title: R.E.S.T.O.R.E. Wetland Restoration and Outdoor Classroom
Five Star Grant: $7,634
Grant to: Riverdale School District
Project Location: Port Byron, Illinois
Sponsored by Riverdale School District and in partnership with the Golden Seed Company, the Riverdale Parent Teacher Association and others, the RESTORE project (Riverdale Environmental Schoolyard Teams for Outdoor Restoration Explorations) is an innovative, collaborative conservation project that will enhance student academic performance and provide a greater understanding of local wildlife and environmental issues. The project partners will construct a wetland on the school property where students, teachers and the community can conduct hands-on learning about water, wildlife, the environment, and conservation. In particular, teachers will use the wetland to integrate teaching across multiple disciplines including science, math, social studies and the arts.
For additional information, contact Brian Ocepek, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (202)857-0166.
Indiana
Project Title: White River Riparian Restoration
Five Star Grant: $9,960
Grant to: Indiana University, Research and Sponsored Programs
Project Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
In downtown Indianapolis, Indiana University/Purdue University will restore native plant communities along 8½ acres of the White River and create an outdoor classroom in order to complete the last key component of a conservation corridor through Marion County. Project partners, including the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, the City of Indianapolis Department of Public Works and others, will work with local students and community members in the planting, maintenance, and monitoring of the project. Teacher workshops will be held in order to promote the integration of conservation education and experiential learning into middle and high school curricula.
For additional information, contact Brian Ocepek, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (202)857-0166.
Project Title: Wabash River Corridor Riparian Restoration
Five Star Grant: $10,000
Grant to: Eli Lilly and Company
Project Location: Lafayette, Indiana
Eli Lilly and Company will work with Purdue University, the Tippecanoe County Historical Society and others to restore riparian vegetation along a 1.75-mile stretch of the Wabash River located on Eli Lilly's wildlife habitat acreage. The goal of the project is to reestablish permanent riparian vegetation that will help protect the river bank, slow the natural erosion processes, reestablish Indiana native wildflower and prairie species, and provide an attractive natural area for future recreational use. The project will compliment upstream restoration efforts that have been enrolled in the USDA Buffer Strip Program, and will be integrated into local school environmental education curricula.
For additional information, contact Al Cottone, Wildlife Habitat Council (301)588-8994.
Louisiana
Project Title: Lake Pontchartrain Marsh Restoration
Five Star Grant: $10,000
Grant to: Southeast Louisiana National Wildlife Refuges
Project Location: Lacombe, Louisiana
St. Tammany Parish and the Southeast Louisiana National Wildlife Refuges will restore wetlands along the northern shores of Lake Pontchartrain in the second phase of a larger effort to stabilize the eroding shoreline of the lake. Other project partners include the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, the Youth Challenge Program and the Friends of Southeast Louisiana Refuges. The partners will re-vegetate 13 acres of coastal wetlands along the shoreline that were created during the first phase of the overall project. Local community volunteers, area youth, and environmental education groups will monitor the results of the project annually thereafter. The project will reduce shoreline erosion, improve water quality, and provide significant increases in submerged aquatic vegetation in the area. Funding for this grant is being provided by the Gulf of Mexico Program, which is a partnership underwritten by EPA, and Lockheed Martin Corporation, whose employees will also participate in the restoration work.
For additional information, contact Brian Ocepek, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (202)857-0166.
Project Title: Jefferson Parish Marsh Restoration
Five Star Grant: $10,000
Grant to: Jefferson Parish Environmental and Development Control
Project Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
Jefferson Parish Environmental and Development Control will work with the Louisiana Army National Guard, the Texaco Corporation and others to restore coastal wetlands in Jefferson Parish. The project partners will use 200 tons of recycled Christmas trees to construct wave breaks along eroding shorelines and to fill abandoned, dead-end canals within the Barataria Basin, the fastest eroding area of Louisiana's coast. In ten years, the program has diverted over 500,000 Christmas trees from local landfills and used them to restore hundreds of acres of valuable wetlands, while saving valuable landfill space and increasing public awareness of the importance of wetland conservation. Funding for this grant is being provided by the Gulf of Mexico Program, which is a partnership underwritten by EPA, and the National Marine Fisheries Service Community-based Restoration Program.
For additional information, contact Brian Ocepek, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (202)857-0166.
Maryland
Project Title: Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge Wetland Restoration
Five Star Grant: $10,210
Grant to: National Aquarium in Baltimore
Project Location: Queen Anne's County, Maryland
The National Aquarium in Baltimore will work with the Chesapeake Bay Trust, the Aquarium Conservation Team and others to restore a four-acre salt marsh on the Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge. The project will establish a working partnership between community-based volunteer organizations and the scientific community to enhance salt marsh restoration efforts within the Chesapeake Bay. Project partners will train a dedicated corps of volunteers to collect and manage information on salt marsh restoration activities that can potentially be expanded to other restoration sites throughout the Chesapeake Bay.
For additional information, contact Brian Ocepek, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (202)857-0166.
Project Title: Community-Based Coastal Bays Restoration
Five Star Grant: $10,000
Grant to: Assateague Coastal Trust
Project Location: Ocean City, Maryland
The Assateague Coastal Trust will work with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the University of Maryland and others to restore wetlands and oyster habitat in Maryland's coastal bays. Project partners will train interested volunteers to become "oyster gardeners," who will subsequently create a sanctuary site near Ocean City where young oysters will be transplanted and their survival rates studied. University professors will oversee the workshops at which the volunteers are trained, and staff from the Trust will administer and monitor the project, the results of which will be published in the Trust's quarterly newsletter. Partial funding for this grant is being provided by the National Marine Fisheries Service Community-based Restoration Program.
For additional information, contact Brian Ocepek, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (202)857-0166.
Massachusetts
Project Title: Marstons Mills Herring Run Restoration
Five Star Grant: $12,800
Grant to: Three Bays Preservation, Inc.
Project Location: Marstons Mills, Massachusetts
In Marstons Mills, Three Bays Preservation, Inc. will work with the Town of Barnstable, the Liberty Hall Club and others to continue efforts initiated in 1992 to maintain and improve the Marstons Mills River and its adjacent Middle Pond. The objectives of this year's project are to rebuild the river's 1,200 foot-long fishway in a location that allows migrating herring to pass through during times of low water levels and to construct a dam that will prevent the herring from passing into adjacent cranberry bog ditches where they often become trapped and die. The exclusion of the herring from the bogs will enable higher numbers of breeding fish to reach their spawning habitat in the Middle Pond. Partial funding for this grant is being provided by the National Marine Fisheries Service Community-based Restoration Program.
For additional information, contact Brian Ocepek, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (202)857-0166.
Michigan
Project Title: Central Lake Superior Watershed Partnership Youth Project
Five Star Grant: $10,000
Grant to: Michigan Works! The Job Force Board
Project Location: Marquette, Michigan
Michigan Works! The Job Force has partnered with the Central Lake Superior Watershed Partnership, Northern Michigan University, and the Marquette Community Foundation to support 12 family court youth to work on high priority erosion sites in the Lake Superior Watershed. Erosion is noted as one of the major contributors of sediment which is damaging fish habitat in the area. In addition to gaining experience in restoration activities, the youth will also gain job skills training from student teachers at the University of Michigan. The overall project will provide at-risk youth and future teachers the opportunity to get involved with existing community efforts of the Central Lake Superior Watershed Partnership that will improve local watershed conditions and protect Lake Superior.
For additional information, contact Abigail Friedman, National Association of Counties (202)942-4225.
Mississippi
Project Title: Pelican Landing Coastal Wetland Restoration
Five Star Grant: $15,000
Grant to: City of Moss Point
Project Location: Moss Point, Mississippi
The City of Moss Point will work with the Crosby Arboretum, Moss Point High School, the Nature Conservancy and others to restore a coastal wetland along the shoreline at Pelican Landing, a new conference facility that will serve as the focal point of an award-winning waterfront revitalization campaign. Students from Moss Point High School's "Tiger Tales" program, which provides educational and vocational training, will be involved in restoring native wetland plants to the site which had previously been used as a dumping ground for junked cars and other debris. Interpretive signs will allow the area to be used as an outdoor classroom for local students and visitors to learn about the diversity and benefits of coastal Mississippi wetlands. The project is considered the first significant step in the City's efforts to enhance the local economy through the revitalization of its waterfront. Funding for this grant is being provided by the Gulf of Mexico Program, which is a partnership underwritten by EPA, and the National Marine Fisheries Service Community-based Restoration Program.
For additional information, contact Brian Ocepek, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (202)857-0166.
Missouri
Project Title: Green Center Urban Wetland Restoration
Five Star Grant: $10,000
Grant to: The Friends of the Green Center
Project Location: University City, Missouri
In University City, the Friends of the Green Center will work with the Missouri Department of Conservation, the University City School District and others to restore wetland and riparian habitat. The St. Louis inner-city wetland is part of the "triangle of special places" of the Green Center, a multi-site, geographically-linked outdoor classroom. This restored wetland will serve as an additional outdoor classroom space and regional resource to educate students and members of the community about the function and value of wetlands to filter runoff, provide habitat and stabilize riparian corridors in an urban environment.
For additional information, contact Brian Ocepek, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (202)857-0166.
Montana
Project Title: Elk Creek Restoration
Five Star Grant: $10,000
Grant to: Lewis and Clark Conservation District
Project Location: Augusta, Montana
The Lewis and Clark Conservation District will work in partnership with private landowners, teachers from Augusta school, Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to restore three-miles of stream banks and one-and-one-half-miles of Elk Creek. The project will involve restoring and realigning the stream channel, as well as protecting and re-planting native vegetation along streambanks. In addition, private landowners and ranchers will have the opportunity to learn about long-term grazing management techniques to protect Elk Creek. Other community partners are the Augusta school students, who will help with revegetation work, including willow plantings and grass sod mat placement, and will also learn about stream restoration and protection issues in their classes.
For additional information, contact Abigail Friedman, National Association of Counties (202)942-4225.
Nebraska
Project Title: Saline Wetland Restoration and Interpretive Park
Five Star Grant: $10,000
Grant to: City of Lincoln, Public Works & Utilities
Project Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
The City of Lincoln in partnership with Lancaster County, Lower Platte South Natural Resources District and a private landowner are working together to restore 54-acres of a saline wetland area. These wetlands, and the plants they support, are very rare in Nebraska and their restoration will expand current knowledge of saline wetland systems. In addition to completing the restoration, an interpretive trail that explains the origin and ecology of saline wetland systems, history of the salt industry in Lincoln, history of the railroad in Nebraska, and facts about wetland restoration methods will be developed and constructed.
For additional information, contact Abigail Friedman, National Association of Counties (202)942-4225.
New Jersey
Project Title: Great Egg Harbor River Wetland Restoration
Five Star Grant: $10,000
Grant to: South Jersey Land Trust
Project Location: Pitman, New Jersey
The South Jersey Land Trust will work with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, the New Jersey Conservation Foundation, Ducks Unlimited and others to restore 42 acres of wetland habitat within the Cedar Lake headwaters of the Great Egg Harbor Wild and Scenic River. The project will provide critical nesting and feeding habitat for various species of resident and migratory waterfowl and shorebirds. Project partners are actively promoting watershed protection in the local community through educational programs and by providing volunteer opportunities for residents to monitor the project site.
For additional information, contact Brian Ocepek, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (202)857-0166.
New York
Project Title: Utica Marsh Restoration
Five Star Grant: $20,000
Grant to: Utica Community Action, Inc.
Project Location: Utica, New York
Utica Community Action, Inc. will work with the Utica Area Chamber of Commerce, the Utica Zoo, New York Department of Environmental Conservation and others to restore the Utica Marsh and enhance public appreciation of this significant wetland. The marsh has been listed as one of the 100 best places to view wildlife in the state. Project partners will improve existing nature trails in order to make the entire trail network accessible to the public and develop a nature interpretation trail system for marsh visitors that will enhance public understanding of its value. Partners will also remove invasive plants, trash and other debris from the marsh to enhance its wildlife habitat value. In addition to promoting conservation education and tourism, the project will generate economic development opportunities for the local community.
For additional information, contact Brian Ocepek, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (202)857-0166.
Project Title: Bronx River Restoration
Five Star Grant: $10,000
Grant to: New York Restoration Project
Project Location: New York, New York
The Bronx River Restoration Project will be the first-ever joint national service project undertaken by over 60 state and local youth conservation corps from around the country. The project will restore and revitalize a five-mile stretch of the Bronx River within the South Bronx Empowerment Zone, an impoverished area designated for special economic and social programs. This project is being sponsored by the New York Restoration Project which was founded by Bette Middler to carry out her dream of a cleaner and more beautiful New York. Project partners include the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, National Association of Service and Conservation Corps, Partnership for Parks, Neighborhood Open Space Coalition as well as several corporations and foundations. Partial funding for this grant is being provided by the National Marine Fisheries Service Community-based Restoration Program.
For additional information, contact Brian Ocepek, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (202)857-0166.
North Carolina
Project Title: New River Riparian Restoration
Five Star Grant: $10,000
Grant to: New River Community Partners
Project Location: Sparta, North Carolina
The New River Community Partners will work with the New River State Park, North Carolina State University, Future Farmers of America, local schools and others to establish a demonstration site for streambank stabilization techniques along the New River, an American Heritage River. Eroding banks within New River State Park and elsewhere along the river constitute both a safety hazard to the general public and a sedimentation problem for fish habitat. As part of the overall effort, the project partners will implement workshops to educate local landowners on how to address similar problems with riverbanks along their own properties. Local high school students and members of a local community youth program will participate in the growing and planting of some of the native plants that will be used to anchor the streambank.
For additional information, contact Brian Ocepek, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (202)857-0166.
Oklahoma
Project Title: Muscogee (Creek) Nation Outdoor Learning Center
Five Star Grant: $10,000
Grant to: Cross Timbers Resource Conservation and Development
Project Location: Okmulgee, Oklahoma
The Cross Timbers Resource Conservation and Development Service will work with the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, the Okmulgee County Conservation District, federal agencies and others to restore a wetland and a riparian area that will be used as an outdoor learning center by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. Historically the Mucogee (Creek) Nation has lived close to water and has developed culturally important uses for many aquatic plants. Much of their culture has disappeared with the loss of healthy wetland and riparian areas near their homes. Both tribal youth and elders will participate in the restoration of the wetland and stream bank areas, as well as in the development of interpretive signage in both English and Muscogee. The signs will include information on the tribe's earlier use of various plant species. The learning center will be a focal point for cultural learning and will offer the entire community the opportunity to enjoy nature while visiting a bit of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation's past heritage.
For additional information, contact Abigail Friedman, National Association of Counties (202)942-4225.
Oregon
Project Title: Ladd Marsh Wetland and Riparian Restoration
Five Star Grant: $10,000
Grant to: Training and Employment Consortium
Project Location: La Grande, Oregon
The Training and Employment Consortium is working with Union County, Ducks Unlimited, the Grande Ronde Bird Club, state partners, and others to restore three-miles of riparian habitat, 500-acres of wetland habitat, and 154-acres of upland habitat in the Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area. The Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area, originally consisted of 240- acres of the last remaining wetlands in the area, now covers more than 3300-acres of wetlands, stream habitat and forests, and supports a variety of wildlife species. Restoration work will be completed by a paid youth crew, who receive restoration and general job skills training. In addition the project will involve a Community Day at Ladd Marsh to raise awareness and educate local citizens about the importance of wetlands protection.
For additional information, contact Abigail Friedman, National Association of Counties (202)942-4225.
Project Title: Applegate Watershed Riparian Restoration
Five Star Grant: $10,000
Grant to: Applegate River Watershed Council
Project Location: Jackson and Josephine Counties, Oregon
The Applegate Watershed Tree Planting and Riparian Restoration Program is a community-based program that targets treeplanting on private lands along rivers and streams in the Applegate Watershed. The Applegate River Watershed Council is working in partnership with landowners, Josephine and Jackson Counties, American Forests Global Releaf, state and federal agencies and others to plant 40,000 trees and shrubs in priority areas. Landowners and a variety of community and school groups will be involved in the actual planting events and learn about the importance of restoration activities. Additional educational activities for local citizens include lessons on monitoring tree growth and seed collection. Partial funding for this grant is being provided by the National Marine Fisheries Service Community-based Restoration Program.
For additional information, contact Abigail Friedman, National Association of Counties (202)942-4225.
Pennsylvania
Project Title: Fairless Works Wetland Restoration
Five Star Grant: $10,000
Grant to: U.S. Steel-Fairless Works
Project Location: Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania
Sponsored by U.S. Steel's Fairless Works, in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, the Pennsbury School District, and others, the Fairless Works Wetland Restoration Project will improve wildlife habitat surrounding a ten-acre pond on the site of the facility. The pond itself will be deepened to provide additional fish habitat and improved water quality, and the on-the-ground restoration work along the banks will benefit local waterfowl and several endangered species. The project is part of a larger wildlife management plan implemented by the Fairless Works, and the project site will serve as an outdoor classroom for local school students and community residents to enhance their environmental education.
For additional information, contact Al Cottone, Wildlife Habitat Council (301)588-8994.
Project Title: Chartiers Creek Wetland and Riparian Restoration
Five Star Grant: $10,000
Grant to: Chartiers Nature Conservancy, Inc.
Project Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Chartiers Nature Conservancy, Inc. will work with the Bayer Corporation, St. Philip Elementary School, and others to restore wetland and riparian habitat along Chartiers Creek on CNC's 13-acre Idlewood tract. The project will demonstrate how wetland and riparian enhancement can be accomplished in an urban setting. The project partners will also build a learning center, the first of four of its kind, that will serve as an outdoor environmental education facility to be used by local schools and community groups. The project is part of a larger effort by CNC to examine the ecological, economic, cultural, and aesthetic conditions of the entire Chartiers Creek watershed.
For additional information, contact Al Cottone, Wildlife Habitat Council (301)588-8994.
South Carolina
Project Title: South Carolina Oyster Habitat Restoration
Five Star Grant: $10,000
Grant to: South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
Project Location: Charleston, Beaufort and Georgetown, South Carolina
The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources will partner with the University of South Carolina, the South Carolina Coastal Conservation League and community volunteers to establish multiple demonstration projects to restore and enhance oyster habitat along the South Carolina coast. Through this effort, the partners hope to increase public awareness of the importance of oyster habitat for stabilizing shorelines, improving water quality and enhancing critical fish and wildlife habitat, in addition to the oyster's commercial value. This project will establish and train a core group of teachers, students and local citizens who will assist others in expanding oyster habitat restoration efforts throughout the coastal zone. Partial funding for this grant is being provided by the National Marine Fisheries Service Community-based Restoration Program.
For additional information, contact Brian Ocepek, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (202)857-0166.
Texas
Project Title: Koch Wetland Restoration
Five Star Grant: $10,000
Grant to: Koch Petroleum Group, L.P.
Project Location: Corpus Christi, Texas
In Corpus Christi, the Koch Petroleum Group, L.P. will work with the Koch Wildlife Council, Robstown High School, and others, to restore 112 acres of wetlands near the Corpus Christi Refinery. Specific restoration activities will benefit several species of waterfowl, wading birds, and shorebirds, including whistling ducks, snowy plovers, and osprey. Additionally, visitors to the site will enter at a Wildlife Learning Center and will be able to visit the wetlands or and other habitat via improved trails, footbridges and observation platforms. Identification signs will educate visitors about the vegetation. Employees from KPG will participate in the restoration.
For additional information, contact Al Cottone, Wildlife Habitat Council (301)588-8994.
Project Title: Galveston Bay Wetland Restoration
Five Star Grant: $10,000
Grant to: Scenic Galveston, Inc.
Project Location: Galveston County, Texas
Scenic Galveston will restore and enhance 16 acres of intertidal wetlands at the confluence of Highland Bayou and Galveston West Bay adjacent to Interstate 45. Project partners include the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory, the Galveston Bay Estuary Program, Texas Parks and Wildlife, Reliant Energy and others. Restoration work involves removing 1 acre of fill material, re-establishing wetland plants, and enhancing tidal flow to 15 acres of degraded wetlands to enhance its wildlife values. The project will further priority goals of the Galveston Bay Plan, a regional comprehensive management plan for the Galveston Bay System. Funding for this grant is being provided by the Gulf of Mexico Program, which is a partnership underwritten by EPA, and the National Marine Fisheries Service Community-based Restoration Program.
For additional information, contact Brian Ocepek, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (202)857-0166.
Project Title: Little Linnville Wildlife Area Wetland Enhancement
Five Star Grant: $10,000
Grant to: Phillips Petroleum Company
Project Location: Old Ocean, Texas
Phillips Petroleum Company will work with the Vernor Materials Company, the Sweeny and Wild Peach Independent School Districts, and others, to enhance wetlands in the Little Linnville Wildlife Area on the site of the Sweeny Refinery. The project will provide feeding and resting areas for waterfowl and shorebirds, and will serve as an outdoor classroom for use by local schools, community groups, and Phillips employees to enhance their environmental education. The school districts will develop educational curricula that will be used during tours of the site
For additional information, contact Al Cottone, Wildlife Habitat Council (301)588-8994.
Vermont
Project Title: Bartlett Brook Riparian Restoration
Five Star Grant: $10,000
Grant to: Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation
Project Location: South Burlington, Vermont
The Bartlett Brook Riparian Restoration project is the first phase of a two-phase demonstration project to restore water quality and wildlife habitat in a highly urbanized stream in South Burlington. The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation will work with the City of South Burlington, the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps, local high school students and community volunteers to restore about 100 meters of the most eroded reach of the brook using innovative bio-engineering techniques. Among the project's many benefits, restoration of the brook will benefit a small population of Mottled Sculpin, a rare fish species in Vermont.
For additional information, contact Brian Ocepek, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (202)857-0166.
Virginia
Project Title: Potomac Basin Wetland Restoration
Five Star Grant: $10,000
Grant to: Alexandria Seaport Foundation
Project Location: Alexandria, Virginia
The Alexandria Seaport Foundation will work with local at-risk youth and adult volunteers to build on past shoreline stabilization and wetlands restoration efforts on two highly polluted streams in the Potomac Basin and a section of the Potomac shoreline. Overall, the project will enhance and restore a total of 140-acres of streambank and 4,500-feet of tidal shoreline and is expected to result in significant reductions in sediment, nitrogen and phosphorous loadings to the Potomac River, an American Heritage River. Youth and community volunteers will aid in reseeding and planting water-filtering plants, cutting vines and other invasive non-native plant species, and planting trees. Some youth with special interests and needs will be offered an opportunity to become paid environmental apprentices, who will work on wetland projects, perform greenhouse duties, and work in Alexandria Seaport Foundation's water quality lab. Overall, the project will heighten the community's awareness of the values and functions of wetland and stream ecosystems through direct involvement in restoration activities. Partial funding for this grant is being provided by the National Marine Fisheries Service Community-based Restoration Program.
For additional information, contact Abigail Friedman, National Association of Counties (202)942-4225.
Project Title: Wyndham Forest/Twin Hickory Riparian Forestation and Protection Project
Five Star Grant: $9,000
Grant to: County of Henrico, Department of Public Works
Project Location: Henrico County, Virginia
Henrico County will work with H. H. Hunt Corporation (a local developer), citizen groups and local high school students to reforest a two-acre riparian area located in a new housing subdivision in the Chickahominy River watershed. In addition to reforestation activities, a 100-foot buffer area along streams in the new development will be identified, protected and marked as an Environmental Protection Zone by volunteers. A brochure will be developed and distributed by H.H. Hunt Corporation to educate new homeowners on the importance of maintaining streambanks as a natural buffer to pollutants that might otherwise enter local streams. This project will be used as a model for protection of forested areas along streams in new and existing developments. It will also serve as a model for citizen education on the importance and need for riparian restoration and protection in the County.
For additional information, contact Abigail Friedman, National Association of Counties (202)942-4225.
Washington
Project Title: Methow Summer Restoration Team
Five Star Grant: $10,000
Grant to: The Methow Conservancy
Project Location: Okanogan County, Washington
In this project at-risk high school students will be brought together with experienced restoration professionals to form a crew that will work on a variety of on-going restoration projects in the Methow Watershed. Restoration activities will include stream bank restoration, native seed collection, collecting data for long-term vegetation monitoring studies, and restoring vegetation on the 44-acre Winthrop National Fish Hatchery Site. The Methow Conservancy is partnering with a range of local, state and federal partners in this project including Methow Natives, Pacific Watershed Institute, Methow Valley School District, Okanogan County Job Corps, Methow Field Institute, Okanagan National Forest, the National Fish Hatchery, and Americorps.
For additional information, contact Abigail Friedman, National Association of Counties (202)942-4225.
Project Title: Lorenzan Creek Salmon Enhancement
Five Star Grant: $11,000
Grant to: Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group
Project Location: Skagit County, Washington
The Lorenzan Creek Salmon Enhancement project seeks to improve habitat for native salmon and trout species in Lorenzan Creek, a tributary of the Skagit River in northwest Washington. The Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group (SFEG) is a non-profit community organization dedicated to the enhancement of salmon resources through education, restoration and public involvement. SFEG will work with People for Salmon, local members of the Boy Scouts of America, and others to re-vegetate riparian areas with native plants and to install log structures to add habitat complexity to the stream. Members of the local community will participate in post-project monitoring after being trained by the project partners to identify returning adult salmon. Partial funding for this grant is being provided by the National Marine Fisheries Service Community-based Restoration Program.
For additional information, contact Brian Ocepek, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (202)857-0166.
Project Title: Hamm Creek Estuary Restoration
Five Star Grant: $15,000
Grant to: King County World Conservation Corps
Project Location: King County, Washington
The King County World Conservation Corps (KCWCC) will work with the King County Department of Natural Resources, the People for Puget Sound, and others, to conduct wetland restoration activities on a salt marsh of Hamm Creek, a tributary of the Duwamish river. The Hamm Creek Estuary has been identified as prime habitat for chinook salmon, which have recently been listed under the Endangered Species Act. This project will result in two acres of restored estuarine habitat, and will serve as an outdoor classroom for KCWCC's 30 corpsmembers. Volunteers from the local community will participate in three separate events for the project, and will assist in planting shrubs and trees and removing invasive plants. Partial funding for this grant is being provided by the National Marine Fisheries Service Community-based Restoration Program.
For additional information, contact Brian Ocepek, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (202)857-0166.