Water: 5 Star Wetland Restoration & Grants
Grants & FundingWetlands5 Star Wetland Restoration & GrantsFive Star Restoration Challenge Grant ProgramFive Star Restoration Challenge Grant Program
2003 Awards
California
| Project Name: | Anacapa Island (CA) Eelgrass Restoration |
| Five-Star Funds: | $10,500 |
| Grant To: | Santa Barbara Channelkeeper |
| Project Location: | Santa Barbara, California |
Santa Barbara Channelkeeper will expand their Community-based Eelgrass Restoration Project to include testing of new restoration methods while engaging local volunteer divers and students. Seeds will be harvested from two large donor beds at Santa Cruz Island and then allowed to sprout in aquaria in schools. These sprouts will then be planted in an experimental bed in Frenchy's Cove. The other restoration method will involve transplanting healthy plants from the donor beds to an experimental bed. Teams of volunteer community divers will assist in planting and monitoring the beds. A series of informational meetings utilizing an underwater video of the restoration process will be held to educate the public. Project partners include NOAA Fisheries, Channel Islands Research Program, Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, Laguna Blanca School, a local foundation, and local volunteers and divers. Partial funding for this project is provided by the NOAA Community-based Restoration Program.
| Project Name: | Wanlass Park (CA) Creek Restoration |
| Five-Star Funds: | $10,000 |
| Grant To: | City of San Pablo, Public Works Division |
| Project Location: | San Pablo, California |
The City of San Pablo, Public Works Division will implement a project that will restore ¾ of an acre around Wanlass Park creek and greatly the city's open space/parkland acreage. The creek will serve as a resource for hands-on environmental education for nearby Bayview Elementary School. The site will also be used by the City of San Pablo's Recreation Division to provide after school educational programs for San Pablo youth. Project partners include the Coty of San Pablo Redevelopment Agency, the Contra Costa Flood Control District, the San Pablo Recreation Division, Aquatic Outreach Institute, and Kids for the Bay.
| Project Name: | Upper Sacramento River (CA) Riparian Restoration |
| Five-Star Funds: | $10,000 |
| Grant To: | Upper Sacramento River Exchange |
| Project Location: | Dunsmuir, California |
The Upper Sacramento River Exchange (USRE) will restore approximately 9 acres of riparian area on the Upper Sacramento River in the City of Dunsmuir. The Tauhindauli Park site has been severely impacted historically by highway construction, railroad operations and development over the past 100 years. USRE staff, community volunteers, and students will plant 200 trees in the riparian area and remove invasive species by hand in a 1 acre area. USRE will also develop a community program consisting of two restoration outings and a public media campaign. A school program will also be implemented to include at least eight restoration field trips per year and on-going environmental education. Project partners include U.S. Forest Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, CA Department of Fish and Game, Siskiyou County Office of Education, City of Dunsmuir, Dunsmuir Garden Club, and "Businesses That Care." Partial funding of this project is provided by the NOAA Community-based Restoration Program.
| Project Name: | Nathanson Creek (CA) Restoration |
| Five-Star Funds: | $13,700 |
| Grant To: | Sonoma Ecology Center |
| Project Location: | Sonoma, California |
The Sonoma Ecology Center will actively restore riparian habitat on Nathanson Creek, which runs through Adele Harrison Middle School and Sonoma Valley High School in the city of Sonoma, California. Nathanson Creek is a tributary to San Francisco Bay and is a regionally significant stream for spawning and rearing of anadromous steelhead trout. The project will provide training for students on salmonid and stream ecology and using GPS systems to map a portion of Nathanson Creek. Students will develop a native plants manual, collect and propagate native plant seeds, create a riparian restoration project design, remove trash and non-native vegetation from the restoration site and replant the site with native riparian species. A drip irrigation system will be installed and maintained and newly planted sites will be monitored over time. High school students will prepare a report and presentation on their restoration efforts and survival of the plants. The Sonoma Ecology Center will partner with the City of Sonoma, Sonoma Valley Unified School District, Community Garden, Nathanson Creek Task Force, Stream Stewards, CALFED Watershed Program and the Coastal Conservancy to complete this restoration effort. Funding for this project is provided by the NOAA Community-based Restoration Program.
| Project Name: | Russian River (CA) Restoration |
| Five-Star Funds: | $10,000 |
| Grant To: | Circuit Rider Productions, Inc. |
| Project Location: | Healdsburg, Geyserville, Sebastopol, and Windsor, California |
Circuit Rider Productions, Inc., a non-profit environmental stewardship and education organization, will restore native riparian habitat along salmonid-bearing streams on vineyard property in the Russian River Watershed. The science based restoration and educational program will engage local landowners, grape growers, community groups, and high school students in developing detailed design plans, conducting riparian restoration, and monitoring water quality, vegetation, and biological diversity along restored river reaches. Circuit Rider Productions will implement eight restoration projects in Sonoma County in cooperation with Sonoma County vineyards, Sonoma County Grape Growers Association, and the Sotoyome Resource Conservation District Fish Friendly Farming Program (FFF), a voluntary certification program that encourages local landowners to develop best land management practices that restore and sustain fisheries habitat on their property. The selected sites are FFF projects that were identified as priority fisheries habitat projects through the Farm Conservation Plan. Funding for this project is being provided by the NOAA Community-based Restoration Program.
| Project Name: | Janes Creek (CA) Restoration |
| Five-Star Funds: | $14,500 |
| Grant To: | City of Arcata, California |
| Project Location: | Arcata, California |
The Cypress Grove reach of Janes Creek is home to native fishes such as the coastal cutthroat trout and Chinook salmon. The City of Arcata, California will restore the creek to improve its structure and ecology. Volunteer partners and restoration professionals will remove 5,000 cubic yards of soil to increase floodplain capacity, enhance a half-acre wetland, improve 2,078 feet of fencing, plant 70,000 square feet of riparian vegetation, and place boulders to create diverse in-stream conditions. The project is located in a high-profile area within the city limits of Arcata, and will receive substantial press coverage. The restoration is one of many projects underway within Arcata and the larger Humboldt Bay Watershed. Both immediate and longer-term educational programs will involve members of the Arcata High School Eco Club in restoration and monitoring. The Central Labor Council of Humboldt and Del Norte Counties and the North Coast Restoration Jobs Initiative will use the project to promote professional restoration work as a career opportunity. Other partners include the Redwood Region Audubon Society and Trout Unlimited. Partial funding of this project is provided by the NOAA Community-based Restoration Program.
Colorado
| Project Name: | Poudre River (CO) Restoration |
| Five-Star Funds: | $10,000 |
| Grant To: | Colorado State University, Environmental Learning Center |
| Project Location: | Fort Collins, Colorado |
Colorado State University's Environmental Learning Center (ELC) will completely remove invasive salt cedar and Russian olive and plant native trees and shrubs along approximately 2 miles of the Poudre River corridor. Youth from the Larimer County Department of Human Services, Turning Point for Youth, and the ELC will work side by side with natural resource professionals to learn about invasive species ecology and habitat monitoring techniques. This project is part of a larger regional effort to enhance and maintain over 30 miles of degraded river corridor. Lafarge North America, Inc. will provide funding for interpretive signage that informs residents about wetland reclamation, water quality and invasive species. The City of Fort Collins will provide technical assistance for the project and Trees, Water and People, a local non-governmental organization, will contribute seedlings and technical assistance.
| Project Name: | Pioneer Park Colorado River Restoration |
| Five-Star Funds: | $10,000 |
| Grant To: | Town of Hot Sulphur Springs |
| Project Location: | Hot Sulphur Springs, Colorado |
The Town of Hot Sulphur Springs will restore and enhance 220 feet of Colorado River riparian corridor and riverbank in Pioneer Park. This project is Phase I of a three-year restoration plan for Pioneer Park. To stabilize the riverbank and reconnect the Colorado River riparian corridor, 220 feet of log-revetment will be installed utilizing local log materials recovered from construction activities. In addition, root wads will be installed to reduce near-bank velocities and the entire structure will be topped with native willow clumps. Volunteers will be recruited to plant native wetland vegetation as well as re-vegetating adjacent trails. The project site will offer an accessible river park area where the public can learn about the restoration project while enhancing the park's natural resources. Project partners will include the Colorado Division of Wildlife, Grand County Department of Natural Resources, the US Army Corps of Engineers, the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service, Middle Park High School, Headwaters Trails Alliance, Palmer Excavating and Grand Environmental Services.
Florida
| Project Name: | Islamorada (FL) Seagrass Habitat Restoration |
| Five-Star Funds: | $15,000 |
| Grant To: | Monroe County Schools |
| Project Location: | Islamorada, Florida |
Monroe County Schools, more specifically, the Coral Shores High School will implement a project that will restore an area a total of 150 square meters of seagrass divided among 10 injured areas. Components of the project include the identification, selection, and preparation of a damage assessment report, conducting restoration activities, and continued monitoring. The project will provide and foster local natural resource stewardship through the education of students who will provide the labor under the supervision of marine studies experts. The process will be documented and disseminated via the World Wide Web as well as other outlets. Project partners include the NOAA Damage Assessment Team, the Florida Department of Environmental protection, Lady Cyana and Tavernier Dive Centers, and Islamorada, Village of Islands. Partial funding is provided by the NOAA Community-based Restoration Program.
| Project Name: | Cape Florida Restoration |
| Five-Star Funds: | $10,000 |
| Grant To: | American Littoral Society |
| Project Location: | Key Biscayne, Florida |
The American Littoral Society will control invasive plants and plant 27,500 saw palmettos on approximately 27.5 acres of Cape Florida, a state park in Key Biscayne. This project is part of a larger restoration effort that began after the1992 hurricane that decimated the park. Volunteers and students will be involved in the restoration plantings, project monitoring, and site maintenance. Project partners include U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Florida Park Service, South Florida Water Management District, Dade County Department of Environmental Resource Management, Institute for Regional Conservation, and local foundations and businesses.
| Project Name: | Ballard Elementary School Habitat Restoration |
| Five-Star Funds: | $5,000 |
| Grant To: | City of Sarasota for the Sarasota Bay National Estuary Program |
| Project Location: | Sarasota, Florida |
The City of Sarasota will remove non-native vegetation and restore brackish intertidal wetlands within the Sarasota Bay National Estuary Program boundaries on Wares Creek, next to Ballard Elementary School. The creek bank will be sloped to allow access to the water's edge and native vegetation will be planted. The existing stormwater outfall structure may also be changed to improve stormwater runoff quality. The site will serve as an educational aid to the students of the adjacent elementary school and others, providing instruction on estuarine ecology as well as wetland restoration practices. This restoration project will also enhance the juvenile fish habitat and nursery area, as well as increase the fishery production within Sarasota Bay. Project partners include Manatee County, the Wares Creek Group, Ballard Park Homeowners Association, Around the Bend Nature Tours, the City of Bradenton, Manatee County School Board, the Manasota Basin Board, the Surface water Improvement and Management Program, the Florida Dept. of Environmental Protection and the US Army Corps of Engineers. Funding for this project is provided by the EPA Gulf of Mexico Program.
| Project Name: | Project GreenShores |
| Five-Star Funds: | $5,000 |
| Grant To: | Ecosystem Restoration Support Organization, Inc. |
| Project Location: | Pensacola Bay, Florida |
The Ecosystem Restoration Support Organization, Inc. will restore and create oyster reefs, sea grass beds, salt marsh habitat and shoreline buffer. The project involves the removal of marine debris, eradication and control of invasive exotic plant species and replant with native species. The project area will be re-graded to an intertidal elevation (submerged at high tide, but exposed at low tide) and salt marsh vegetation will be planted in the intertidal areas, such as smooth cordgrass, black needlerush and saltmeadow cordgrass. The seagrass plantings will be carried out on an ongoing basis throughout the project. The anticipated area of combined seagrass and salt marsh habitat that will be created is about 27 acres. Oyster reefs will be constructed along the edge of the marsh to serve as habitat for filter-feeding organisms as well as protecting the newly created marsh from erosion. Approximately 14 acres of oyster reef habitat and 13 acres of salt marsh will be created. The project also includes construction of a sidewalk, observation platforms and a nature trail for on-site class lectures. Educational signage will be installed on these trails explaining the important functions of coastal and estuarine habitats. Project partners include the American Star Educational Boat, EW Bullock Associates, the City of Pensacola, the US Environmental Protection Agency, Gulf Power Company, the US Navy, the Northwest FL Water Management District, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, Escambia County, University of West Florida, the Emerald Ocean Engineering Company and the Pensacola Fishing Bridge/Soule Marine. Funding of this project is provided by the EPA Gulf of Mexico Program.
| Project Name: | Okeechobee (FL) Habitat Restoration |
| Five-Star Funds: | $10,000 |
| Grant To: | Waste Management - Okeechobee Landfill |
| Project Location: | Okeechobee, Florida |
Waste Management will work to improve the wildlife site where they have already created and restored 1,000 acres of pine forest uplands, marshlands, aquatic habitat and forested wetland. This project will specifically target a 25-acre lake and wetland area, which will be an expansion of a 241-acre wildlife corridor that is preserved in perpetuity for the threatened Florida Sandhill Crane. Members of the community, along with Boy Scout Troop 911, Girl Scout Troops of the Palm Glades Council and Okeechobee County Schools will participate in replacing invasive plants with native species and constructing nesting boxes on the site. An Eagle Scout will design and install informational signage. The partners will also work on a series of articles for the local newspaper, The Okeechobee News, which highlight the importance of caring for the watershed and protecting the rare flora and fauna of their area. Additional in-kind support is provided by the Audubon Society, Applied Technology and Management Inc. and Goodbread Nurseries.
Hawaii
| Project Name: | Kalihi Stream (HI) Restoration |
| Five-Star Funds: | $11,000 |
| Grant To: | Hawaii's Thousand Friends |
| Project Location: | Kaihua, Hawaii |
Hawaii's Thousand Friends will continue their efforts to restore the Kalihi Stream and educate the public about the stream's former significance to the community. Staff, volunteers, and students will clear trash, remove invasive plants, plant native species, and monitor the restoration site. An interpretative trail will be built to educate residents and visitors about the restoration site and stream. Environmental education materials and stewardship activities will be implemented in the local schools and regular community workdays will engage the local residents. Project partners will include Hawaii State Department of Health, Housing and Community Development Corporation of Hawaii-Kuhio Park, Na Ala Hele Trails and Access Program, Parents and Children Together, Punahou School, Rocky Hill Nursery, and Hawaii Nature Center.
Idaho
| Project Name: | Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout Habitat Restoration (ID) |
| Five-Star Funds: | $10,000 |
| Grant To: | Friends of Teton River |
| Project Location: | Driggs, Idaho |
The Friends of the Teton River will work to increase the amount of quality habitat available for the Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout, a species proposed for Federal listing and designated in Idaho as a "Category A" priority species. The project is a restoration of five privately owned stretches along the Teton River, totaling 2,815 linear feet. The project goals are to stabilize the stream banks and improve in-stream trout habitat. Work will include a combination of bio-engineered techniques: planting of native grasses and willows, fence installation to stabilize the stream banks, and the enhancement of Yellowstone cutthroat trout holding water. The project will help to sustain the Yellowstone cutthroat population throughout the watershed, and represents a constituent part of the Upper Teton Watershed Plan. Furthermore, it will provide educational opportunities for Boy Scouts and local landowners. Project partners include Boy Scout Troop 185, Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, Teton Valley Trout Unlimited, Idaho State University, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Donald C. Brace Foundation and the Peninsula Community Foundation.
| Project Name: | Bear Valley Creek (ID) Riparian Restoration |
| Five-Star Funds: | $5,000 |
| Grant To: | Idaho Department of Fish and Game |
| Project Location: | Lowman, Idaho |
Until recently, upper sections of Bear Valley Creek in Idaho were highly impacted by gold mining and cattle grazing that caused severe bank erosion, soil compaction, and sedimentation. Idaho Dept. of Fish and Game (IDF&G), in partnership with the Trout Unlimited, Boise Valley Fly Fisherman, Borah High School and the Boise National Forest will restore these sections of Bear Creek by implementing a community-driven riparian restoration project. Volunteers and students will plant native willows, sedges, and grasses at fourteen sites along the upper Bear Valley Creek to replace lost native vegetation and stabilize the streambank. The restoration will reduce storm water runoff and improve spawning and rearing habitat for threatened Chinook salmon and steelhead trout. IDF&G staff and volunteers will conduct monitoring and maintenance of the newly planted vegetation to ensure long-term project success. Funding for this project is provided by the NOAA Community-based Restoration Program.
Illinois
| Project Name: | Sylvan Island (IL) Shoreline Restoration |
| Five-Star Funds: | $10,000 |
| Grant To: | River Action |
| Project Location: | Rock Island and Morine, Illinois |
River Action will restore the shoreline of Sylvan Island, a former industrial area in Illinois. The project involves research and execution of daylighting an existing section of an underground storm sewer, a new wetland treatment cell and associated aquatic and native landscape habitats along the redesigned green parking, trail access and other interpretive/open space elements. The new system will also reduce runoff into the Mississippi River. An interpretive marker that details the techniques utilized in the project will also be installed to educate the public. The project will be used as a demonstration project for best management practices in preserving and enhancing natural areas and wildlife habitats on the shorelines of the Mississippi River. Project partners will include the City of Rock Island, the City of Moline Parks Department, the City of Moline Public Works, Sylvan Island Dreamers and Augustana College.
| Project Name: | Springbrook Creek (IL) Restoration |
| Five-Star Funds: | $9,100 |
| Grant To: | Spring Brook Nature Center |
| Project Location: | Itasca, Illinois |
Spring Brook Nature Center will implement a portion of a restoration plan that will re-grade and stabilize approximately 1,500 feet of Springbrook Creek, a tributary of Salt Creek. After re-grading the steep slopes, current deflectors and other control devices will be installed in the creek and the ninety-degree bend will be protected with bioengineered structures. Overstory tree cover will be thinned, invasive plants will be removed, and native grasses, shrubs, and trees will be planted by volunteers and students. An information kiosk and interpretive sign will be posted along the existing trail to explain the restoration project and its long-term goals. Project partners include Itasca School District, National Tree Trust, local Boy Scouts of America chapters, Junior Naturalists 4-H Club, and local volunteers.
| Project Name: | Lake Calumet (IL) Restoration |
| Five-Star Funds: | $10,000 |
| Grant To: | BOLD Chicago Institute |
| Project Location: | Chicago, Illinois |
The Calumet Is My Back Yard (CIMBY) project is an environmental service-learning program for students in three public high schools in the Lake Calumet area. As part of their ongoing environmental stewardship, CIMBY students will restore three acres of dry prairie, one acre of wetlands, and two acres of forest with their teachers. During workdays, participants will remove buckthorn and other invasive plants, install plots of native vegetation, maintain the wetland, and release gallerucella beetles to control highly invasive purple loosestrife. This method has been studied over the last four years and is sponsored by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Natural History Survey, and includes a curriculum on biodiversity, wetlands and biological controls. Additional partners include the Chicago Department of the Environment, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago Department of Planning, the Southeast Chicago Development Commission, BEST Small School, Harlan Community Academy, Washington High School, Polk Bros. Foundation, the Stone Foundation, Kinder Morgan, Inc. and Ashland Chemical.
Indiana
| Project Name: | Southwestway Park (IN) Fen Wetland Restoration |
| Five-Star Funds: | $10,000 |
| Grant To: | Indianapolis Parks and Recreation Department |
| Project Location: | Indianapolis, Indiana |
The Indianapolis Parks and Recreation Department will work to restore a 2.75-acre fen wetland and involve local students in the restoration as well as other educational activities on the site. By eradicating the area of invasive plants, volunteers from the community as well as staff at IUPUI will work to transform this wetland to its natural state. After the implementation of this project, with continued management, the area will be healthy and free of invasive-exotic vegetation. Project partners include IUPUI's Center for Earth and Environmental Science and Department of Geology, Friends of the White River/Sierra Club, Indianapolis Power and Light, Boy Scouts of America, and Decatur Township School District.
Louisiana
| Project Name: | Bayou Duplantier Watershed (LA) Restoration |
| Five-Star Funds: | $10,000 |
| Grant To: | Baton Rouge Green Association, Inc |
| Project Location: | Baton Rouge, Louisiana |
Baton Rouge Green Association, Inc. (BRG) joins Robert E. Lee High School to address the impact of urbanization on the Bayou Duplantier Watershed. Together, they will work to educate the public about their watershed through creation of an outdoor learning facility, programs to engage youth in local restoration projects, and a coalition between community stakeholders to participate in stewardship workshops. They will implement a riparian restoration project, which includes the planting of aquatic vegetation and more than 200 trees, as well as litter abatement projects in three affected areas within the watershed. The partners in this project are: Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality's NonPoint Source Division, Keep Baton Rouge Beautiful, Federation of Greater Baton Rouge Civic Association, Louisiana National Guard Youth Challenge Program, Department of Public Works' Office of Landscape & Forestry, Robert E. Lee High School, Louisiana State University's Department of Environmental Engineering and the Mississippi River Basin Alliance.
| Project Name: | Point Platte (LA) Wetland Restoration |
| Five-Star Funds: | $20,000 |
| Grant To: | Friends of Louisiana Wildlife Refuges |
| Project Location: | Lacombe, Louisiana |
The Friends of Louisiana Wildlife Refuges will create 10-15 acres of vegetated wetland and stabilize and protect 3,200 yards of shoreline at the interface of Lake Pontchartrain and the intermediate marsh at Point Platte on Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge. The Friends group will restore marsh habitat by using natural organic "soft structures" of hay bales, coir logs, discarded Christmas trees, and straw wattles to create brush fences that slow fetch and trap sediments. The soft structures will also be placed in the interior ponds to allow sedimentation to accumulate and marsh emergent vegetation to become established. A public outreach campaign will be developed to raise local awareness of coastal wetland loss and this restoration project. Project partners include U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, and local volunteers. Funding for this project is provided by the NOAA Community-based Restoration Program and the EPA Gulf of Mexico Program.
Maine
| Project Name: | Sebasticook River (ME) Restoration |
| Five-Star Funds: | $11,000 |
| Grant To: | Town of Newport, Maine |
| Project Location: | Newport, Maine |
The Town of Newport, Maine, in partnership with the Sebasticook River Watershed Association, Kleinschmidt Associates, the Maine Coastal Program, Penobscot Soil and Water Conservation District, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service, will restore 800 feet of a channelized portion of the East Branch Sebasticook River and 6 acres of riparian wetlands. With the removal of Guilford Dam in 2002, the channelized reach of river has resulted in an unstable channel with a lack of instream cover and riparian buffer. This project will provide direct benefits to anadromous alewives through the planting and reestablishment of native vegetation both in the channel and along the adjacent riparian floodplain. The river's run of alewives will swim upstream through a stable channel with acceptable velocities due to the reestablished aquatic and floodplain vegetation. This river restoration project is taking place in downtown Newport, near public parks and trails, which will provide opportunities for community outreach and stewardship. Funding for this project is provided by the NOAA Community-based Restoration Program.
Maryland
| Project Name: | Evitts Stream (MD) Restoration |
| Five-Star Funds: | $10,000 |
| Grant To: | Allegany Soil Conservation District |
| Project Location: | Cumberland, Maryland |
The Allegany Soil Conservation District will implement a project that will stabilize a severely eroding stream bank and establish a riparian forest buffer along Evitts Creek. Upon the completion of the project, rock vanes will be installed which will provide stabilization for the stream channel as well as a habitat for fish. 500 lineal feet of stream bank will be restored with plant material, and 500 feet of riparian forest buffer will be established. Students from Fort Hill and Allegany High Schools will participate in planting the bioengineering materials as well as the native trees and shrubs in the buffer areas. Project partners include the Nemacolin Chapter of Trout Unlimited, the Allegany County Department of Public Works, Chesapeake Bay Trust, Allegany/Fort Hill High School Science Classes, and NRCS. Partial funding for this project is provided by the EPA Gulf of Mexico Program.
Massachusetts
| Project Name: | Pequot Pond (MA) Shoreline Restoration |
| Five-Star Funds: | $10,000 |
| Grant To: | Hampton Ponds Association, Inc. |
| Project Location: | Westfield, Holyoke, and Springfield, Massachusetts |
The Hampton Ponds Association will pilot a unique educational program serving disadvantaged and at-risk youth in the context of a shoreline restoration project. The project area is a 400 foot length of shoreline surrounding a boat launch and public access area on Pequot Pond that has been severely eroded by boat traffic and shoreline fishing. The area will be made off-limits for fishing and "no-wake" signs will be installed. The steep pond banks will be re-graded, coir logs installed, and other bioengineering techniques implemented to stabilize the shoreline. The installation will be performed by youth workers to provide as much educational opportunity as possible. Project partners will include Hampton Ponds State Park, Living Classrooms Foundation, and the Center for Human Development.
Michigan
| Project Name: | Big Garlic River (MI) Restoration |
| Five-Star Funds: | $10,000 |
| Grant To: | The Cedar Tree Institute |
| Project Location: | Marquette, Michigan |
The Cedar Tree Institute will restore over 1.5 miles of degraded aquatic habitat on the Big Garlic River and its tributaries before they enter Lake Superior. The Cedar Tree Institute will stabilize the streambanks, plant native trees, remove unnatural stream obstructions, and install in-stream large woody debris to facilitate more natural streamflow and improve cold-water trout habitat. Students from the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, Upper Peninsula Children's Museum, and Native American Student Association will not only receive in-depth environmental education but they will also be involved in the restoration plantings and project monitoring. Project partners include Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Michigan Department of Natural Resources-Fisheries Division, Northern Michigan University, Marquette County, Marquette County Conservation District, Central Lake Superior Watershed Partnership, Keeweenaw Bay Indian Community, Upper Peninsula Children's Museum, and Native American Student Association.
Minnesota
| Project Name: | Floodplain and Stream Habitat Restoration (MN) |
| Five-Star Funds: | $10,000 |
| Grant To: | Meadowview Elementary/Community Education Center |
| Project Location: | Farmington, Minnesota |
The Meadowview Elementary Community Education Center will implement a project that will: restore 8 acres of flood plain including 2 acres of wetland, 5 acres of riparian buffer, and enhance stream channel length by doubling its length. Using volunteers and children from Meadowview School, the restoration project will use principals of natural stream design to create a stable and naturally meandering stream. Visitors to the Community Education Center will have the opportunity to lean about effective ways to protect and enhance water quality as well as restore wildlife habitat. Project partners include Farmington Independent School District #192, Dakota County Soil & Water Conservation District, Dakota Habitat Alliance, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, City of Farmington, and the Dakota County Extension Environment Education Program.
Mississippi
| Project Name: | Oyster Bayou (MS) Restoration |
| Five-Star Funds: | $10,000 |
| Grant To: | Beauvoir |
| Project Location: | Biloxi, Mississippi |
Beauvoir will implement a demonstration project involving restoration activities to improve the function of Oyster Bayou, MS and to distribute peak streamflows to adjacent bayhead swamp areas. Beavoir will remove invasive plants from two distinct demonstration areas, reintroduce native vegetation, remove bayou sediment and install sediment control blankets for stabilization, and construct stormwater management devices to manage the large quantities of urban stormwater that negatively impacts the bayou. In-kind labor provided by community volunteers and students will provide not only hands-on environmental education, but also media opportunities to increase public awareness of the need for improved stormwater management systems and to enhance appreciation for natural resources situated in urban environments. Project partners include Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, Land Trust for the Mississippi Coastal Plain, Mississippi State University Extension Service, and Mississippi Master Naturalists. Partial funding for this project is provided by the EPA Gulf of Mexico Program.
Missouri
| Project Name: | Little Blue River (MO) Restoration |
| Five-Star Funds: | $9,500 |
| Grant To: | Little Blue River Watershed Coalition |
| Project Location: | Kansas City and Independence, Missouri |
The Little Blue River Watershed Coalition will plant 1,500 feet of the Little Blue River with a buffer filter strip of native prairie wildflowers and grasses. The project also includes the mitigation of storm water runoff from Pink Hill Road by converting 300 feet of ditch into a wider vegetated swale planted with natives to slow erosion. In addition, between the trail and river, a small, 0.3 acre wet prairie/emergent wetland will be constructed to filter pollutants. Interpretative signage will be installed at the project site to explain the benefits of native plants as stream buffers and storm water filters, as well as discuss flood control methods and land uses in the past, present and future. On- and off-site educational presentations will be offered to area planners, resource professionals, developers, business owners, community groups, schools and local residents. There will also be classroom presentations and ten field trips to the site to develop youth involvement in community restoration activities. Project partners will include the Mid-America Regional Council, Adaptive Ecosystems, Inc., KC Wildlands, Friends of Lakeside Nature Center, Missouri Department of Conservation, Arrow Printing and Shrout Honda.
New Hampshire
| Project Name: | Contoocook River (NH) Restoration |
| Five-Star Funds: | $15,000 |
| Grant To: | New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Water Division - Dam Bureau |
| Project Location: | Henniker, New Hampshire |
The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Water Division - Dam Bureau in partnership with the Town of Henniker, Henniker Conservation Commission and New England College, as well as various other organizations, will work to remove the 18-foot high, 137-foot long West Henniker Dam. This dam removal is a priority project of the New Hampshire River Restoration Task Force, comprised of various local, state, and Federal entities. As a result of the removal, 15 miles of the Contoocook River will be restored to free-flowing condition and high quality riverine habitat to trout, Atlantic salmon and American eel. In addition, this project will eliminate a public safety hazard, increase river-based recreational opportunities, educate the general public about rivers and river restoration, and result in the reclamation of an unsightly Brownfield site into a riverfront community park. Partial funding for this project is provided by the NOAA Community-based Restoration Program.
New Mexico
| Project Name: | San Pedro Creek (NM) Riparian Restoration |
| Five-Star Funds: | $10,000 |
| Grant To: | Talking Talons Youth Leadership |
| Project Location: | Sandia Park, New Mexico |
Talking Talons Leadership will head this restoration of critical wildlife habitat near the Sandia/Manzano Mountain range and adjacent to a National Scenic Byway. Grazing and the invasion of non-native species, as well as contamination and erosion have degraded the watershed. This project aims to preserve the unique biodiversity found in the stream through occlusion of cattle and removal of invasive plant species. Campbell Corporation has parceled the site and other stretches on the creek under conservation easements. The effort will be planned by members of the Talking Talons Youth Conservation Corps and East Mountain High School. Additional support is provided by Ecological Interpretations, who are assisting in creating a species inventory for the project site.
New York
| Project Name: | Shellfish Spawning Sanctuaries (NY) |
| Five-Star Funds: | $10,000 |
| Grant To: | Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County |
| Project Location: | Cutchogue, New York |
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County will establish spawning sanctuaries for the bay scallop, hard clam, and eastern oyster at a site in Wickham Creek, NY. These sanctuaries will help to sustain the bivalve populations of the Peconic Estuary and improve the bivalve fishery as part of a larger regional effort to restore shellfish populations, improve water quality, and provide opportunities for community members to engage in environmental stewardship. Through spawning, growing, and monitoring 15,000 hard clams, 5,000 bay scallops, and 5,000 oysters, the project will provide hands-on training and science education for students and other members of the community, including curriculum development for local schools and training in aquaculture and habitat monitoring methods. Partners include the Cornell Cooperative Extension Marine Program, SPAT (Suffolk Project in Aquaculture Technology) community volunteers, Save Open Spaces, Southold Town Trustees, New Suffolk School, and the Suffolk County Department of Parks and Recreation. Partial funding is provided by the NOAA Community-based Restoration Program.
| Project Name: | Caring for Creeks Conference and Restoration (NY) |
| Five-Star Funds: | $12,700 |
| Grant To: | Water Education Collaborative |
| Project Location: | Bergen, Byron, and Riga, New York |
The Water Education Collaborative (through the Rochester Museum Science Center) will restore and protect about 2,000 feet of streambank along Black Creek and educate landowners through a two-day conference. Two streambank buffers will be planted and protected along stretches of Black Creek that flow through dairy farms in Monroe and Genesee County. The goal is to demonstrate that vegetated buffers protect water quality, prevent soil erosion, and complement dairy farm operations. A two-day conference entitled Caring for the Creeks will be held to increase public awareness of water resources in the region and increase volunteer participation in existing, successful water quality programs. Project partners will include Natural Resource Conservation Service, Genesee County Soil and Water Conservation Service, Monroe County Soil and Water Conservation District, Community Water Watch, Great Lawns/Great Lakes, Monroe County Department of Health, and local landowners.
| Project Name: | Sterling Creek (NY) Wetland Restoration |
| Five-Star Funds: | $9,900 |
| Grant To: | Friends of Sterling Nature Center |
| Project Location: | Sterling, New York |
The Friends of Sterling Nature Center will restore natural hydrology to 60 acres of wetland that was ditched and drained for agricultural use. Ditch plugs will be installed to raise the water level in the soil and native plants will be planted to control erosion and sedimentation. The invasive plant, purple loosestrife, will be controlled using a beetle (Galaruchella sp.) and other invasive plants will be controlled by a licensed pesticide applicator. Student interns and volunteers have been assisting with the initial assessment work and will participate in post-project monitoring. Project partners will include U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Partners for Fish and Wildlife, Institute for the Application of Geospatial Technology, Cayuga Park LLC, and the Environmental Research Center-SUNY Oswego.
| Project Name: | Sucker Brook Stream (NY) Restoration |
| Five-Star Funds: | $12,000 |
| Grant To: | Canadaigua Lake Watershed Council |
| Project Location: | Canadaigua, New York |
The goals of this project are to establish a two-acre stormwater wetland and to stabilize and restore 3,000 feet of Sucker Brook on a 35-acre parcel that is destined to become a highly visible community park. In particular, the project will prevent further damage to the brook that has resulted from erosion and pollution. Restoration efforts will include planting 10,000 trees, the use of bioengineering techniques, and the establishment of a new channel. The project is part of a larger initiative to restore the 174 square mile Canadaigua Lake Watershed. The restoration will provide important educational opportunities for students from the Canadaigua and Marcus Whitman School Districts, Finger Lakes Community College, and Rochester Institute of Technology. Much of the restoration work will be completed by the Town of Canadaigua Highway Department, and will be overseen by the Watershed Manager at the Canadaigua Lake Watershed Council.
| Project Name: | Little Wappinger Creek (NY) Restoration |
| Five-Star Funds: | $10,000 |
| Grant To: | Town of Clinton Conservation Advisory Council |
| Project Location: | Town of Clinton, New York |
The Town of Clinton Conservation Advisory Council will implement a project that will restore several miles of riparian zone along the east side of the Little Wappinger Creek. The project will improve the water quality of the creek and improve the ability of wildlife, including cold-water species to survive in the creek. Educational programs for youth and community members will include participation in the restoration of the creek and the development of maps, diagrams, photographs, and other materials to illustrate the function of a riparian zone. The project will become a demonstration for town residents as the town seeks healthy restoration of riparian areas for all waterbodies in the town. Project partners include the Dutchess County Soil and Water Conservation District, Dutchess County Environmental Management Council, Trout Unlimited, Rhinebeck Central School District and Hyde Park Central School District.
North Carolina
| Project Name: | North River Farms (NC) Restoration |
| Five-Star Funds: | $8,300 |
| Grant To: | North Carolina Coastal Federation |
| Project Location: | Williston, North Carolina |
This project, directed by the North Carolina Coastal Foundation, will restore one acre of farmland to native tidal freshwater marsh. It is part of a larger restoration to improve the buffer capabilities of the 6000-acre North River Farms, purchased with assistance from the North Carolina Clean Water Management Trust Fund. The overall goal of this larger project is to improve water quality in downstream tidal creeks and sounds, which is expected to result in a revival of the local oyster fishery. The one-acre site will be chosen in cooperation with staff from the North Carolina Wetlands Restoration Program, Clemson University, and North Carolina State University. Restoration will include planting 400 cypress saplings at the site. Sixty students from two Carteret County high schools will assist with planting, investigate wetland habitats and marine life, and receive training for making pre- and post-project evaluations of the project, including water quality monitoring. Partial funding of this project is provided by the NOAA Community-based Restoration Program.
| Project Name: | Chaney Creek (NC) Restoration |
| Five-Star Funds: | $15,000 |
| Grant To: | New River Foundation, Inc. |
| Project Location: | Jacksonville, North Carolina |
Recent efforts by the City of Jacksonville have worked to successfully bring back bald eagle populations to their area. Chaney Creek Restoration Project hopes to attract native wildlife by restoring an acre of wetlands and planting 3500 bivalves as a long-term solution for improving water quality in this small urban stream. Decayed bulkhead material will also be removed to strengthen the creek's ability to sustain wildlife. The Jacksonville-Onslow Volunteer Center and the New River Foundation, which are committed to involving minority youth in environmental stewardship, will train their volunteer teams of local young people in plant propagation and habitat monitoring techniques. Progressive Energy has committed to protect the site, which will be a model for future restoration projects and act as a template for Waterkeeper Alliance's Riverkeeperâ organizations. Additional partners include Onslow County, North Carolina State University, Blue Land Water Infrastructure, and Larry Hobbs. Partial funding for this project is provided by the NOAA Community-based Restoration Program.
North Dakota
| Project Name: | Living Laboratory Demo Site (ND) |
| Five-Star Funds: | $10,000 |
| Grant To: | River Keepers |
| Project Location: | Fargo, North Dakota |
The River Keepers will develop a management plan to create a riparian corridor restoration demonstration site on the Red River of the North. This project will be the first phase of a multi-year project to restore 1,500 feet of river edge and create an educational outreach campaign. The River Keepers will produce a detailed plan outlining native tree and grass plantings that will stabilize the stream banks, reduce erosion, and increase habitat for local and migrating wildlife. They will also create a walking trail with interpretative signage and educational materials to raise public awareness of the need for restoration and stewardship. Project partners will include the Red River Basin Riparian Project, North Dakota State University Natural Resources Management Club, the City of Fargo, Cass County Soil Conservation District and Fargo-Moorhead Area Foundation.
Ohio
| Project Name: | Darby Creek (OH) Restoration |
| Five-Star Funds: | $10,000 |
| Grant To: | Darby Creek Association |
| Project Location: | Columbus, Ohio |
Both Big Darby Creek, OH and its tributary, Little Darby Creek, are recognized as ecologically valuable streams that provide habitat for a wide diversity of fishes, freshwater mussels, and other species including three that are federally listed as endangered. The goal of this project is to create 150 ft buffers, consisting of native tree and shrub species, along 2 miles of stream that have been impacted by runoff from neighboring farms and residential areas. The restoration, overseen by the Darby Creek Association, will provide important educational opportunities for members of the Hellbranch Residents Association, students at Franklin Heights High School, and other local citizens through hands-on tree plantings and media coverage. Other partners providing important technical and financial resources include the Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, and The Nature Conservancy.
Oklahoma
| Project Name: | Beaver Creek (OK) Wetland Restoration |
| Five-Star Funds: | $15,000 |
| Grant To: | Kaw Nation of Oklahoma |
| Project Location: | Kaw City, Oklahoma |
Historically recognized as "The Wind People," the Kaw Nation now has 2,661 members in Kay County, Oklahoma. In conjunction with U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service, the Kaw Nation of Oklahoma is constructing a wetland to collect runoff before it enters Beaver Creek, which flows into Kaw Lake. Restoration will entail planting native wetland grasses and trees in the constructed 2-mile wetland and placing informational signs and posters within the site to educate visitors about the newly constructed wetland and its importance to the Kaw Nation. The site now contains a seasonal pool, and the project will create a pond to remain as a permanent wetland. The Beaver Creek Watershed sustains a number of endangered species and attracts many migratory birds yearly.
Oregon
| Project Name: | Swamp Creek (OR) Hardwood & Wetland Restoration |
| Five-Star Funds: | $14,200 |
| Grant To: | Wallowa Resources |
| Project Location: | Enterprise, Oregon |
Wallowa Resources will implement a project that will improve a section of Swamp Creek while educating local youth. This project will serve as a pilot project and precursor to a high school field studies course being developed with local educators and natural resources experts. Along with restoring Swamp Creek, students involved will be able to earn both high school and college credits by taking the newly designed course and working in the field on the restoration. Project partners include Wallowa County, Whitman College, US Forest Service, Grande Ronde Model Watershed and Bonneville Power Administration. Partial funding for this project is provided by the NOAA Community-based Restoration Program.
Pennsylvania
| Project Name: | Deep Creek (PA) Restoration |
| Five-Star Funds: | $10,000 |
| Grant To: | Montgomery County Conservation District |
| Project Location: | Upper Frederick Township, Pennsylvania |
The Montgomery County Conservation District will implement a project that will aid in addressing the severe water quality issues that currently exist in the Deep Creek stream system, Deep Creek lake, and Knight Lake. Component of the project include the enhancement of .25 acres of wetlands, the creation and enhancement of a 4000 linear foot forested buffer, and public outreach aspects including signage and publications. Also, volunteers will help implement the project and public workshops will be held to educate the community about the benefits of riparian buffers, natural landscaping, and native plants. Project partners include the Montgomery County Parks Department, Perikomen Watershed Coalition, Philadelphia Suburban Water Company Upper Perikomen High School, Montgomery County Planning Commission, Upper Frederick Township, St. Luke's Lutheran Church, and the Green Lane Nature Center.
Rhode Island
| Project Name: | Mountaindale Pond (RI) Wetland Restoration |
| Five-Star Funds: | $5,000 |
| Grant To: | Town of Smithfield |
| Project Location: | Town of Smithfield, Rhode Island |
The Town of Smithfield will restore approximately 10,000 square feet of wetland buffer. The riparian area adjacent to the Woonasquatucket River will be planted and the wetland slopes will be re-graded and planted. This project will re-establish a contiguous riparian and wetland buffer along a portion of the Mountaindale Pond wetland system and ultimately facilitate the improvement of water quality of the Woonasquatucket River. Volunteers and school children are involved in the plantings and educational opportunities. Project partners will include the Smithfield Land Trust, Smithfield Middle and High Schools, Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, Kleinschmidt Associates, and EPA River Navigator.
| Project Name: | Eelgrass Transplant Program (RI) |
| Five-Star Funds: | $9,100 |
| Grant To: | Save the Bay, Inc |
| Project Location: | North Kingstown, Rhode Island |
Save the Bay will work with the Davisville Middle School, University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography, Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and Town of North Kingston to establish a School-based Eelgrass Transplant (SET) Program in Narragansett Bay. Using a model, Save the Bay has identified hundreds of locations in Narragansett Bay with the potential to support eelgrass transplants. The suitability of these sites is tested using small-scale eelgrass transplants. By partnering with schools, Save the Bay will be able to test a wider range of sites while offering students a unique learning opportunity. Students will select a test transplant site, harvest and plant eelgrass at the site, and monitor the sites pre and post transplant. Transplant sites will be evaluated and used to select new sites for future large-scale eelgrass transplants. Funding for this project is provided by the NOAA Community-based Restoration Program.
Texas
| Project Name: | Goose Island (TX) Shoreline Restoration |
| Five-Star Funds: | $15,000 |
| Grant To: | Friends of Goose Island State Park |
| Project Location: | Goose Island, Texas |
Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) has spearheaded a project to protect, enhance, and restore wetland habitats vital to both the estuarine health of Aransas Bay and to the continued functionality of the Gulf of Mexico commercial and recreational fisheries. Goose Island is a 321.4-acre barrier island state park located 12 miles northeast of Rockport, Texas. From 1969 to 1995, the island lost over 17 acres of marsh and shoreline to erosion along its southern edge; through installation of a 4300-foot long rock breakwater, TPWD hopes to halt this erosion, protecting not only the island itself, but also the intertidal marsh and oyster reef resources lying behind it. The lagoon effect created by the breakwater's construction will further encourage the reestablishment of seagrasses along this shoreline and the expansion of protective marsh fringe along the water's edge. Additionally, using the dredge material from two nearby channels, TPWD proposes to restore 22 acres of intertidal marsh habitat on the north side of Goose Island, providing refuge, nursery, and foraging habitat for the shrimp, crabs, fish, and birds that live in Aransas Bay. Partners include the Texas General Land Office, Aransas County, the Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program, the US Fish & Wildlife Service, and the Neptune Harbor Canal Owners Association. Funding for the project is provided by the NOAA Community-based Restoration Program and the EPA Gulf of Mexico Program.
| Project Name: | Clear Creek (TX) Restoration |
| Five-Star Funds: | $10,000 |
| Grant To: | Clear Creek Environmental Foundation |
| Project Location: | Webster, Texas |
Clear Creek Environmental Foundation (CCEF) is committed to conserving Clear Creek and educating the public on the creek's ecological importance. This project will focus on planting bulrush species native to Texas in six acres of a 25-acre tidal mud flat within the Galveston Bay Watershed. The project continues the work already begun by CCEF to restore cordgrass species in saline Bay waters and compliments the 1995 Galveston Bay Plan, which specifically calls for habitat restoration of the Bay's marshes. The water quality in Galveston Bay further affects Gulf of Mexico ecology, as Gulf fish spend part of their life cycle in the Bay. Advisors on the project include U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service and Reliant Energy. In-kind support comes from the City of Webster and Exxon-Mobil Corporation. Funding for this project is provided by the NOAA Community-based Restoration Program and the EPA Gulf of Mexico Program.
| Project Name: | Deep Tributary (TX) Riparian Restoration |
| Five-Star Funds: | $14,600 |
| Grant To: | Eastwood Homeowners Association |
| Project Location: | Dallas, Texas |
The Eastwood Homeowners Association will direct a grassroots effort to restore a quarter mile of the Deep Tributary of the Dixon Branch Creek. The major goals of the restoration, which include stream bank stabilization and erosion reduction, will be accomplished by implementing bioengineering techniques, planting a buffer of native grasses, shrubs, and trees, and removing invasive species. Through hands-on opportunities and informational signs, the project will provide an educational benefit to members of the community both during and following restoration. Furthermore, it will serve as a model for future riparian restorations in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Partners include the North Central Texas Council of Governments, Dallas Parks and Recreation, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Division, Dallas Floodplain Management, and the Redeemer Bible Church's Youth Group and Boy Scouts.
Vermont
| Project Name: | Missisquoi River (VT) Restoration |
| Five-Star Funds: | $10,000 |
| Grant To: | Enosburgh Town Selectboard |
| Project Location: | Enosburg Falls, Vermont |
The Town of Enosburgh will restore approximately 30 acres of riparian floodplain forest to its original natural forest community type and protect 3,200 feet of the Missisquoi River shoreline. The riparian area will be planted with native trees. Ice deflectors will be installed at intervals along the shoreline to protect the restoration plantings from ice jams that back up behind the electricity-generating dam. The project will provide recreation and education opportunities for over 600 students in the Enosburg school system and the 1500 residents of the village as well as the users of the regional rail trail that is adjacent to the river. Project partners will include Natural Resources Conservation Service, USFWS Partners for Fish and Wildlife, VT Department of Fish and Wildlife, VT Trails Grant Program, local schools, Cold Hollow Career Center Vocational School, Enosburgh Town Conservation Commission, Enosburg Falls Village Trustees, Missisquoi River Basin Association, and Brownway Real Estate.
Virginia
| Project Name: | Toms Creek (VA) Riparian Corridor Restoration |
| Five-Star Funds: | 11,700 |
| Grant To: | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University |
| Project Location: | Town of Blacksburg, Virginia |
Several departments within Virginia Tech will collaborate to restore approximately 2 acres of bottomland hardwood forest, rehabilitate and plant about 1,500 feet of degraded riparian corridor, and restore wetland hydrology within this area. Volunteers, environmental groups, students, and project partners will assist in the restoration plantings. They will also develop a detailed rehabilitation and restoration plan for the Toms Creek corridor. A Toms Creek Restoration Workshop will provide information about wetland and riparian conservation opportunities and restoration techniques to landowners and local groups. Project partners will include Natural Resources Conservation Service, Virginia Department of Conservation Resources, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, Virginia Department of Forestry, Virginia Museum of Natural History, Montgomery County Public Schools, Montgomery County, Town of Blacksburg, Foresters Incorporated, and New River Land Trust.
| Project Name: | Rappahannock River (VA) Habitat Restoration |
| Five-Star Funds: | $10,000 |
| Grant To: | Friends of the Rappahannock, Inc. |
| Project Location: | Stafford County, Virginia |
The Friends of the Rappahannock (FOR) will establish a submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) restoration program to establish and maintain high-quality shad, herring, and alewife spawning habitat in the lower reaches of two tributaries to the Rappahannock River. This effort is being undertaken in anticipation of the removal of Embry Dam in 2005 that has served as a barrier to the historical migration of these fish. FOR will implement SAV growing projects in three schools, educate the students on the relevance of the SAV habitat and the significance of the removal of Embrey Dam, and involve a subset of students in two planting days. Field assessments and monitoring will aid in the development of a protocol for replicating the approach on other Rappahannock tributaries and in the identification of five additional sites suitable for SAV plantings during the next season. Project partners will include Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Stafford County Schools, Stafford County Planning Department, and Rappahannock Senior Environment Corps. Partial funding for this project is provided by the EPA Gulf of Mexico Program.
Washington
| Project Name: | Nicks Lagoon (WA) Restoration |
| Five-Star Funds: | $15,000 |
| Grant To: | Pals of the Pacific |
| Project Location: | Kitsap County, Washington |
Pals of the Pacific will restore and manage 35 acres surrounding Nicks Lagoon including approximately 3 miles of salmon and trout stream and 15 acres of intertidal wetlands and tidal channels. Pals of the Pacific will place large woody debris and gravel enrichments in streams and create pools to mimic beaver ponding in the channels that unite Nicks Lagoon and Seabeck Creek. Shoreline residents, community volunteers, and students will be involved in the restoration and will attend educational workshops. This project serves as a model restoration effort for the Puget Sound Region. Project partners will include Pt No Pt Treaty Council, Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe, Kitsap County Parks, Central Kitsap Schools, and Rice Construction. Partial funding for this project is provided by the NOAA Community-based Restoration Program.
| Project Name: | Portage Creek (WA) Restoration |
| Five-Star Funds: | $15,000 |
| Grant To: | Stilly-Snohomish Fisheries Enhancement Task Force |
| Project Location: | Arlington, Washington |
Stilly-Snohomish Fisheries Enhancement Task Force will re-establish riparian buffers along Portage Creek, a tributary to the lower Stillaguamish River, WA, to enhance habitat for coho salmon and other wildlife. A buffer approximately 50 feet wide will be planted along 3,500 feet of Portage Creek and large woody debris will be placed within the buffer and in-stream to provide habitat complexity. Volunteers and students will be educated on the salmon life cycle and the importance of riparian buffers and will assist in the plantings and project monitoring. Project partners will include Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Snohomish County Surface Water Management, City of Arlington, Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians, and local Arlington schools and business. Partial funding for this project is provided by the NOAA Community-based Restoration Program.
Washington
| Project Name: | Nicks Lagoon (WA) Restoration |
| Five-Star Funds: | $15,000 |
| Grant To: | Pals of the Pacific |
| Project Location: | Kitsap County, Washington |
Pals of the Pacific will restore and manage 35 acres surrounding Nicks Lagoon including approximately 3 miles of salmon and trout stream and 15 acres of intertidal wetlands and tidal channels. Pals of the Pacific will place large woody debris and gravel enrichments in streams and create pools to mimic beaver ponding in the channels that unite Nicks Lagoon and Seabeck Creek. Shoreline residents, community volunteers, and students will be involved in the restoration and will attend educational workshops. This project serves as a model restoration effort for the Puget Sound Region. Project partners will include Pt No Pt Treaty Council, Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe, Kitsap County Parks, Central Kitsap Schools, and Rice Construction. Partial funding for this project is provided by the NOAA Community-based Restoration Program.
Wisconsin
| Project Name: | Milwaukee River (WI) Restoration |
| Five-Star Funds: | $10,000 |
| Grant To: | The Ozaukee Washington Land Trust, Inc. |
| Project Location: | Towns of Trenton, Fredonia, and Cedarburg, Wisconsin |
The Ozaukee Washington Land Trust will implement a project that will restore and re-vegetate 8 acres of wetland and grasslands. The restoration work will focus on removing and controlling exotic, invasive species and planting and maintaining native vegetation. The Land Trust will utilize "service days" and special events/programs to educate and train the volunteers and the general public. The project will also provide educational programs for Shorewood High School's "Watershed Wisdom" class. Project partners include the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Ozaukee County Land Planning, Resources and Land Management Department, Dragonfly Farm Design, Casper Consulting, RW Braid & Company, Charter Manufacturing, NOVA Services, Cedarburg Boy Scout Troop #835, Volunteer Centers of Ozaukee and Washington Counties, Cedarburg High School, and the University of Wisconsin.
| Project Name: | Wetland, Prairie, and Savanna Restoration (WI) |
| Five-Star Funds: | $6,400 |
| Grant To: | City of Middleton |
| Project Location: | Middleton, Wisconsin |
The City of Middleton will implement a project that will restore .5 acres of prairie, .5 acres of savanna, and .25 acres of wetland and aquatic vegetation for use as outdoor classrooms, laboratories, and public enjoyment on Tiedeman Pond. The restorations will improve the health of Tiedeman Pond, lake Mendota, and Pheasant Branch Creek and will decrease flooding within the watershed. More than 100 students will receive hands-on training in ecological restoration and their efforts will be used as outdoor classrooms and laboratories by several hundred more students each year. Project partners include Elm Lawn Public School, Friends of the Kettle Ponds, Friends of Pheasant Branch, BioLogic Environmental Consulting, LLC, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and the Stonefield Neighborhood Association.
Wyoming
| Project Name: | Garden Creek (WY) Wetland Restoration |
| Five-Star Funds: | $5,200 |
| Grant To: | Audubon Wyoming |
| Project Location: | Casper, Wyoming |
The Audubon Center at Garden Creek will team up with students at Dean Morgan Junior High to restore six-acres of the Garden Creek, WY wetland. Students from Challenge Classes at the school have already located the wetland on the Center's property and will diagram water flow, create an inventory of plants and wildlife, plan additional plantings and design measures to protect the wetland from damage by pedestrian traffic. The wetland ecosystem will compliment the diverse array of ecological habitats represented at the Center and will allow nearby students of all ages to learn about wetlands and their functions. Project partners include Wyoming State Engineer's Office, the Wyoming Environmental Quality Office, U.S. Bureau of Land Management, Wyoming Game and Fish Department and the Challenge Classes of Dean Morgan Junior High School.