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Water: 5 Star Wetland Restoration & Grants

Five Star Restoration Challenge Grant Program

2004 Awards


Alabama

Project Name: Mobile Bay Oyster Gardening Program
Five-Star Funds: $9,100
Grant To: Mobile Bay National Estuary Program
Project Location: Coden and Dauphin Islands, Alabama

The Mobile Bay National Estuary Program will restore oyster reefs at Denton Island and enhance oyster restoration efforts at Mon Luis Island. Volunteers in workshops about the role of oysters in Mobile Bay and train them to grow their own oysters. Project partners include Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium, Gulf of Mexico Foundation, Dauphin Island Sea Lab, and Auburn University Marine Extension and Research Center. Funding for this project is provided by the NOAA Fisheries Community-based Restoration Program.


Alaska

Project Name: Moose Creek Fish Passage Restoration
Five-Star Funds: $15,000
Grant To: Chickaloon Village Traditional Council
Project Location: Sutton, Alaska

The Chickaloon Village Traditional Council will restore fish passage to Moose Creek. The reoccupied stream route will direct salmon around a man-made waterfall, allowing for upstream migration. The restoration of this stream will increase potential spawning habitat by 20 miles and help produce a sustainable subsistence salmon population. The Council will offer community training and education workshops including habitat assessment survey explanations, on-site instruction, data collection and analysis, and a stream restoration presentation. Project partners include the Chickaloon Village Environmental Protection Program, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, University of Alaska Anchorage- Environment and Natural Resources Institute, and representatives from other tribes. Partial funding for this project is provided by the NOAA Fisheries Community-based Restoration Program.


Arkansas

Project Name: Fourche Creek Restoration
Five-Star Funds: $13,000
Grant To: Audubon Arkansas
Project Location: Little Rock, Arkansas

Audubon Arkansas will create and restore approximately 3,000 linear feet of riparian corridors within the Fourche Creek Watershed. Invasive plant species will be removed on 15 acres of stream corridor through volunteer efforts and staff work days. Audubon Arkansas will also work with local schools to educate students on basic hydrology, water chemistry, biodiversity and ecology within the watershed. Project partners include Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Arkansas Forestry Commission, Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality, Little Rock Parks and Recreation, Little Rock Public Works, and J.A. Riggs Tractor Company.


Arizona

Project Name: Santa Cruz River Conservation
Five-Star Funds: $10,000
Grant To: Sonoran Institute
Project Location: Tumacacori, Arizona

The Sonoran Institute will restore 1,000 acres of riparian habitat along the bi-national Santa Cruz River watershed. The project will expand "living fences" in San Lazaro by 200 meters; implement bank stabilization through native sedge plantings; establish a minimum of six vegetation monitoring points in the San Lazaro and Tumacacori restoration areas; and implement 100 meters of living fences along the Tumacacori and Tubac riparian corridor. Sister student teams, located in San Lazaro and Tumacacori, will be given the chance to exchange restoration sites to help promote a greater understanding of riparian health and the varying roles and qualities of water sources. Students will be encouraged to present their findings to local communities. Project partners include the Packard Foundation; Canaculta- Mexico, Sonoran Joint Venture; Ejido Miguel Hidalgo, a communal landownership incorporating 48,000 hectacres and 900 residents; US Forest Service, Flagstaff; Friends of the Santa Cruz River; and Montessori de Santa Cruz.


California

Project Name: Tiburon Tidal Flat Habitat Restoration
Five-Star Funds: $10,000
Grant To: Tiburon Audubon Center and Sanctuary
Project Location: Tiburon, California

The Tiburon Audubon Center and Sanctuary will conduct a year-long wetland restoration project adjacent to Strawberry Point School. Fifty acres of tidal flat and adjacent land will be restored by removing invasive flora and planting and cultivating native flora for resident and migratory bird habitat. Approximately 250 children in grades K to 5 will participate in the restoration process. Wetlands will be evaluated and a restoration plan designed to engage the school and community over the school year. Project partners include San Francisco Bay Restoration Program, Strawberry Point School, Starbucks Green Team, Town of Tiburon, Town of Belvedere, and Marin County. Partial funding for this project is provided by the NOAA Fisheries Community-based Restoration Program.

Project Name: Cabrillo Salt Marsh and Dune Enhancement
Five-Star Funds: $8,500
Grant To: Friends of Cabrillo Marine Aquarium
Project Location: San Pedro, California

The Friends of Cabrillo Marine Aquarium will plant native species at the Cabrillo Salt Marsh, provide protection for three acres of coastal wetlands and start vegetation efforts for a 250-square foot vegetated beach dune area. Over 240 members of the community and over 200 students will participate in the restoration. Workshops will be conducted for eighty to 100 teachers to guide educators in incorporating knowledge of natural systems into their teaching frameworks. Project partners include Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, Audubon Yes, Port of Los Angeles, Southern California Marine Institute, and Centers for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence-West. Partial funding for this project is provided by the NOAA Fisheries Community-based Restoration Program.

Project Name: Gina's Orchard Watershed Education Program
Five-Star Funds: $15,000
Grant To: The Bishops Ranch
Project Location: Sonoma County, California

The Bishops Ranch will plant 800 native trees and shrubs along Turtle Creek. The restoration will reduce sediment delivery into the stream system, while adding complex shade cover to cool the water temperature for migrating and over-summering steelhead. In addition, the program will teach students the importance of understanding the complexities within a watershed and all species that are dependent on its health. Project partners include the California Conservation Corps, the California Department of Fish and Game, the Bishops Ranch, Sotoyome Resource Conservation District, and Marty Griffin, the landowner. Partial funding for this project is provided by the NOAA Fisheries Community-based Restoration Program.

Project Name: Salmon River Cooperative Noxious Weed Program
Five-Star Funds: $15,000
Grant To: Salmon River Restoration Council
Project Location: Siskiyou County, California

The Salmon River Restoration Council will restore plant communities in the Salmon River Watershed by removing 1,000 acres of invasive knapweed and implement an education program to avoid future reinvasion. A series of workshops will educate stakeholders about the effects of invasive species on salmonids and riverine ecosystems and methods for preventing their distribution. Local work crews will be trained to manually remove knapweed from gravel bars along the river; community members will be invited to participate in volunteer work days. Project partners include Siskiyou County Resource Advisory Committee, US Forest Service, Siskiyou County Weed Management Area, Americorps, Forks of Salmon Elementary School, Karuk Tribe and California Indian Basketweavers Association. Partial funding for this project is provided by the NOAA Fisheries Community-based Restoration Program.

Project Name: Rutherford Riparian Restoration
Five-Star Funds: $15,000
Grant To: McCormick Sanctuary, Inc. dba Acorn Soupe
Project Location: Napa County, California

McCormick Sanctuary, Inc dba Acorn Soupe will restore a four-mile reach of the Napa River through invasive species removal and planting of native riparian species. Napa County students will map target invasive species populations on the reach using GPS and GIS technology and conduct pre- and post-site assessments. Students and community volunteers in partnership with local property owners will eradicate invasive species and revegetate the riverbanks. The project will provide educational benefits for 150 students as well as restore portions of the river for populations of threatened steelhead trout. Project partners include Napa and St. Helena Unified School District, Rutherford Dust Society Landowners, Napa County Farm Bureau & Agriculture in the Classroom, Napa County Flood Control District, Ellie Insley and Associates and Natural Resources Conservation Services. Partial funding for this project is provided by the NOAA Fisheries Community-based Restoration Program.


Colorado

Project Name: San Miguel Riparian Restoration
Five-Star Funds: $10,000
Grant To: San Miguel Watershed Coalition
Project Location: Telluride, Colorado

The San Miguel Watershed Coalition will restore floodplain and wetland areas at the riparian area of the San Miguel and South Fork confluence through revegetation, conducting weed control, and planting native seeds. The project will help maintain natural flow regimes and transportation of floodwaters and help reclaim National Forest land for public use. Community volunteers will assist with several weed pulling and tree/willow planting events. Project partners include U.S. Forest Service, Telluride Gravel, San Miguel County, and Telluride Institute.


Florida

Project Name: Santa Fe River & Poe Springs Riparian Restoration
Five-Star Funds: $11,300
Grant To: Alachua County Board of Commissioners
Project Location: Alachua County, Florida

The Alachua County Board of Commissioners will restore approximately 450 feet of shoreline on the Santa Fe River. This restoration project will serve as a demonstration site to teach the community the importance of shoreline restoration and its effect on the overall water quality of the river. Workshops, signage, and outreach materials will also be used to educate the community about their role in watershed protection and restoration. Project partners include the Alachua County Environmental Protection and Public Works Departments, the University of Florida Extension Service, Current Problems, Inc., North Central Florida YMCA, and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

Project Name: Golf Course Pond Riparian Restoration
Five-Star Funds: $33,700
Grant To: Bonita Bay Properties, Inc.
Project Location: Lee and Collier Counties, southwest Florida

Bonita Bay Properties, Inc. will restore littoral shelves on eight ponds on four golf courses. The project will serve as an example of how urbanized areas can incorporate ecologically functional wetlands that provide habitat for water birds. A University of Florida graduate student will document response of water birds, prey base, and vegetation in restored areas against baseline data. Project partners include The Bonita Bay Group, University of Florida, U.S. Gold Association, Audubon International, and South Florida Water Management District. Partial funding for this grant is being provided by the Gulf of Mexico Program, a partnership underwritten by EPA.

Project Name: Manatee River Watershed Wetland Restoration
Five-Star Funds: $10,000
Grant To: Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Project Location: Ellenton, Florida

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection, in cooperation with volunteer groups, will restore 1.5 acres and enhance four acres of wetlands at a 30-acre site recently donated to the Manatee Audubon Chapter. The Department will work closely with Manatee Audubon Society to develop and implement restoration plans. Close to the Terra Ceia Bay, the site will provide significant habitat and regional water quality benefits. Future plans include the construction of an education center and interpretive trails. Project partners include the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Manatee Audubon Society. Partial funding for this grant is being provided by the Gulf of Mexico Program, a partnership underwritten by EPA.


Georgia

Project Name: Forty Oaks Riparian Restoration
Five-Star Funds: $9,000
Grant To: DeKalb County
Project Location: DeKalb County, Georgia

DeKalb County will restore the Forty Oaks Nature Preserve riparian corridor forest to a sustainable, healthy ecosystem and train volunteers from the community to control non-native invasive plants. When completed, the project site may be utilized as an outdoor classroom. Project partners include the DeKalb County Natural Resource, Parks, and Greenspace Offices, Atlanta Audubon, Emory University, Atlanta Outward Bound EcoWatch, the Clarkston Family Refugee Center and Georgia Organic Gardening.


Hawaii

Project Name: Kihapai Marsh Restoration
Five-Star Funds: $10,000
Grant To: Kihapai Marsh Ecosystem Restoration and Community Development
Project Location: Kailua, Hawaii

Kihapai Marsh Ecosystem Restoration and Community Development Project will restore 10 acres of native wetland habitat. The wetland will provide habitat for four endangered Hawaiian waterbirds and numerous species of migratory waterfowl and shorebirds. The project will: restore the natural hydrologic function of the marsh through grading and excavation, remove invasive plant species and plant native Hawaiian wetland plants, and finally, provide a living classroom for teachers to teach students about wetlands. Project partners include State of Hawaii, Division of Forestry and Wildlife, Hawaii Pacific University, The Wildlife Society, Natural Resource Conservation Service, City and Count of Honolulu, Kalama Land Company, Ltd., and Clean Waterways Across Kailua. Partial funding for this project is provided by the NOAA Fisheries Community-based Restoration Program.


Iowa

Project Name: Synder Bottoms Wetland Restoration
Five-Star Funds: $13,000
Grant To: Johnson County Soil and Water Conservation District
Project Location: Iowa City, Iowa

The Johnson County Soil and Water Conservation District will increase wetland diversity on 56 acres of wetlands by replacing the existing monoculture of reed canary grass and bulrushes with native species. In cooperation with area schools, an "Adopt-a-Wetland" program will be established to promote wetland restoration, as well as educate students and other members of the community about the importance of wetlands. Project partners include Saddlebrook Estates, Farm Service Agency, the National Resource Conservation Service, and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.


Idaho

Project Name: Orofino Creek Riparian Habitat Restoration
Five-Star Funds: $10,000
Grant To: County of Clearwater
Project Location: Orofino, Idaho

Clearwater County will restore the natural stream function and improve habitat to a highly-visible 500-foot section of Orofino Creek. Native species will be planted in the floodplain and along the stream bank. Habitat improvements will benefit threatened and endangered species that inhabit the Clearwater River and Orofino Creek. The site will also further enhance local partnerships by serving as an educational resource for local land owners, students, teachers, and general citizens to learn about the benefits of habitat restoration through various workshops and fairs. Project partners include the various representatives serving on the Clearwater County Project Impact Steering Committee, and Orofino High School.


Louisiana

Project Name: Cajun Prairie Plant Propagation and Restoration
Five-Star Funds: $10,00
Grant To: Coastal Plain Conservancy
Project Location: Southwestern Louisiana

The Coastal Plain Conservancy will collect, preserve and plant native grasses and wildflowers of the Louisiana coastal prairie. University students and volunteers will collect native seed to be used in foundation breeder blocks, which will be released to certified growers to increase the availability of native plants. Children in grades K through 12 will receive hands-on stewardship education and actively participate in the planting of native grasses and wildflowers. A minimum of 10 coastal prairie restoration projects will be implemented in cooperation with public and private landowners. Project partners include the U.S. Geologic Survey, U.S.D.A - Natural Resources Conservation Service, Calcasieu Parish Schools, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Partial funding for this grant is being provided by the Gulf of Mexico Program, a partnership underwritten by EPA.


Maryland

Project Name: Lower Beaverdam Creek Restoration
Five-Star Funds: $16,100
Grant To: Friends of the Beaverdam Watershed
Project Location: Prince George's County, Maryland

The Friends of Beaverdam Watershed will conduct outreach and remove invasive species from Woodworth Park, which surrounds a 1,700 foot section of the Lower Beaverdam Creek, the most polluted tributary of the Anacostia River. Volunteers from town and partnering organizations will clean-up debris, remove invasives, and plant native trees and shrubs in riparian areas to stabilize stream banks and prevent the return of invasives. A brochure with a map of the mini-watershed, with locations of stormwater inlets which drain into the stream, will be distributed to watershed residents. Recommendations for watershed restoration activities will be compiled and distributed to town, county and state officials. Project partners include the Town of Cheverly, Maryland Native Plant Society, Anacostia Watershed Society, Safe Passages, Prince George's Heritage, Inc., and Cheverly United Methodist Church. Partial funding for this project is provided by the Chesapeake Bay Program.


Massachusetts

Project Name: Thompson Island Salt Marsh Restoration
Five-Star Funds: $15,000
Grant To: Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center
Project Location: Boston, Massachusetts

The Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center will restore approximately six acres of degraded salt marsh in Boston Harbor. Tidal flow will be restored by dredging the marsh and stabilizing channel bank. Invasive common reed will die back as a result and be replaced by native salt marsh grasses, thereby creating habitat for native fish species. Educational materials for middle school students will be created, including a salt marsh observation guide and a field kit for collecting data; laminated informational cards will be designed for the general public. Partners involved in this project include Thompson Island Outward Bound, Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management/ Wetland Restoration Program, Corporate Wetland Restoration Partnership, Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, and the National Park Service. Partial funding for this project is provided by the NOAA Fisheries Community-based Restoration Program.

Project Name: Agrilla Road Salt Marsh Restoration
Five-Star Funds: $5,000
Grant To: The Trustees of Reservations
Project Location: Ipswitch, Massachusetts

The Trustees of Reservations will restore one-acre of salt marsh along Argilla Road in Ipswitch, Massachusetts. The restoration is part of the larger Great Marsh ecosystem and will involve removal of fill from the marsh surface. Volunteers and local students will re-plant the area with salt marsh vegetation at this highly visible site. Project partners include the Wetland Restoration Program, Corporate Wetland Restoration Program, and Ipswitch Department of Public Works. Partial funding for this project is provided by the NOAA Fisheries Community-based Restoration Program.


Michigan

Project Name: Historic Charlton Park Wetland Restoration
Five-Star Funds: $10,000
Grant To: Historic Charlton Park
Project Location: Hastings, Michigan

Historic Charlton Park will assess, protect and enhance a designated wetland area within the Park. Following the wetland inventory and assessment, on-the-ground wetland restoration activities will be implemented to provide more open water for waterfowl. Three waterfowl ponds will be created in a two-acre of wetland area; educational programming tied to the wetland assessment and monitoring activity will be developed. Project partners include Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Southern Michigan Street Rod Association, Potawatomi Resource and Development Council, Barry Conservation District, Thornapple River Watershed Council, Michigan White-tail Deer Unlimited, and the United States Marine Corps.

Project Name: Ecorse Creek Water Quality Improvement
Five-Star Funds: $10,000
Grant To: Lincoln Park High School Agriscience Program
Project Location: Lincoln Park, Michigan

The Lincoln Park High School Agriscience Program students will use Restorer Living Machines- a biological system that employs pollutant eating microbes to rid water systems of contaminants - to clean up of 5,000 feet of Ecorse Creek. Students will study the Creek ecosystem, design and implement a Restorer machine, and monitor the restoration results. Partners for this project include the Lincoln Park High School Agriscience Program; the Friends of the Detroit River; the Ecorse Stream Team, a volunteer high school program; DTE Energy; and the City of Lincoln Park, Parks and Recreation Department.


Minnesota

Project Name: Tamarack Swamp Restoration
Five-Star Funds: $8,000
Grant To: Ramsey County Parks and Recreation Department
Project Location: Ramsey County, Minnesota

The Ramsey County Parks and Recreation Department will restore five acres of a tamarack swamp and the Tree Trust Youth Corp will plant 1,500 native trees and shrubs at the Tamarack Nature Center. The restored site will enhance environmental education programs at the Center while providing students and visitors an opportunity to experience and learn about a natural tamarack swamp. Project partners include Ramsey County Corrections, St. Paul Audubon, and Tree Trust.

Project Name: Saint Paul Youth Watershed Restoration Corps
Five-Star Funds: $10,000
Grant To: Saint Paul Parks and Recreation
Project Location: Saint Paul, Minnesota

The Saint Paul Parks and Recreation will train eight to ten minority youth from economically disadvantaged family situations on watershed restoration planning and implementation. Subsequently, this group of young people will conduct peer training for 480 youth from project partners during weekly volunteer events where they will install a variety of restoration practices. Over 20,000 native grasses, forbs, shrubs and trees will be planted by the Youth Restoration Corps and community volunteers to anchor eroding shoreland and river riparian slopes. Project partners include Capitol Region Watershed District, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Saint Paul Youth Corps, Como Environment Committee, West Side Bluffs Task Force, and Transformation Not Tolerance.


Mississippi

Project Name: Tchula City Park Wetland Restoration
Five-Star Funds: $13,500
Grant To: City of Tchula
Project Location: Tchula, Mississippi

The City of Tchula will restore 1.5 acres of wetland in the northeast corner of Tchula City Park. Located within one mile of Morgan Brake National Wildlife Refuge, the site will serve as an outdoor classroom for students in grades K to 12. Technical assistance and design will be provided by the Natural Resource Conservation Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Other project partners include Mississippi Partners Program, Mississippi Wildlife Fisheries and Park, and the City of Tchula.


North Carolina

Project Name: Bogue Sound Riparian Buffer and Wetland Creation
Five-Star Funds: $10,000
Grant To: Carteret Community College
Project Location: Morehead City, North Carolina

The Carteret Community College will restore one-half acre of wetlands on 500 feet of shoreline along Bogue Sound. This shoreline component is part of a larger restoration project that will help to restore degraded shellfishing-approved waters, improve water quality, and protect primary nursery areas. Marsh establishment along the degraded shoreline will create new nursery areas for fish and shellfish. Project partners include North Carolina Clean Water Management Trust Fund, North Carolina Coastal Federation, North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries, and North Carolina State University Center for Marine Science. Partial funding for this project is provided by the NOAA Fisheries Community-based Restoration Program.


Nebraska

Project Name: Agro-Environmental Nature Trail
Five-Star Funds: $10,000
Grant To: University of Nebraska
Project Location: Ithaca, Nebraska

The University of Nebraska will create an environmental trail that will educate visitors on the relationship between agriculture and the environment through the use of applied practices and signage. The project will create wetlands to hold and filter stormwater run-off and demonstrate Best Management Practices. Approximately four acres of wetlands in a lowland area will be restored and nearly two miles of Silver Creek will be enhanced. Project partners include the University of Nebraska, Audubon Nebraska, Lower Platte North Natural Resource District, Nebraska Games and Parks Commission, National Park Service, U.S.D.A.- Natural Resource Conservation Service.


New Jersey

Project Name: Mine Brook Park Stream Restoration
Five-Star Funds: $10,000
Grant To: North Jersey Resource Conservation and Development
Project Location: Flemington, New Jersey

The North Jersey Resource Conservation and Development will restore 1,630 feet of Walnut Brook in Mine Brook Park. The project will stabilize 400 feet of eroding stream banks, enhance in-stream fish habitat, create a 400-foot riparian forest buffer, and improve wildlife habitat in the riparian corridor. Walnut Brook will be the site of the 2004 annual stream restoration workshop, hosted by Trout Unlimited and the North Jersey RC&D. The workshop, which generally attracts 50-60 participants, will focus a half-day on classroom instruction and a half-day on hands-on experience. Project partners include North Jersey Resource Conservation & Development Council, South Branch Watershed Association, Partners for Fish and Wildlife, the New Jersey Trout Unlimited, Hunterdon County Soil Conservation District, Raritan Township, and Princeton Hydro, LLC.


New Mexico

Project Name: Long Canyon Riparian Restoration
Five-Star Funds: $10,000
Grant To: Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
Project Location: Datil, New Mexico

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation will restore two miles of riparian habitat in the Long Canyon riparian area located on the 100,000 acre Double H Ranch. The project will serve as model for other local riparian restoration projects and educate the general public about conservation techniques. The applicant will remove and relocate two miles of roads from creek bottoms; install 18 roaded channel structures, 62 gullied stream channels, and four rocked stream crossings; plant native vegetation; and identify and protect seeps and springs in side canyons to supply water for local wildlife. Student groups will participate in hands-on restoration and benefit from a new field trip site. Project partners include the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Partners Program, Boy Scouts of America; Ecological Interpretations, Mule Deer Foundation, Quivera Coalition, Albuquerque Academy, and Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation High Schools for Habitat.


Nevada

Project Name: Oasis Valley Tamarisk Abatement & Restoration
Five-Star Funds: $7,500 Grant To: Southern Nye County Conservation District
Project Location: Nye County, Nevada

The Southern Nye County Conservation District will implement a tamarisk and Russian-olive eradication project. The cutting and removal of these non-native weeds will be implemented in conjunction with an education and outreach program, designed to raise public awareness of the importance of weed control in relation to water quality. Students and other volunteers will be trained to monitor the success of the project. Project partners include the Nye County Board of Commissioners, Nevada Division of Forestry and Department of Agriculture, the US Bureau of Land Management, the Center of Invasive Plan Management, the US Bureau of Reclamation, and the National Resource Conservation Service.


New York

Project Name: SEAC Creek Wetland Restoration
Five-Star Funds: $15,000
Grant To: Mahopac Central School District
Project Location: Putnam County, New York

The Mahopac High School will create a half-mile of wetlands along SEAC Creek in front of Mahopac High School by re-contouring the stream corridor and planting native trees and shrubs. The project will serve as a local example of ecological restoration and will be designed as an outdoor classroom for student educational use. Long-term management of the site will be undertaken by students of Mahopac High School and project partners. Partners include Putnam County, Putnam-Westchester Industry & Science Teacher Alliance, John Jay Land Management, Westchester Laboratories and Research, Mahopac Central School District, and Teatown Lake Reservation.

Project Name: Idlewild Park Salt Marsh Restoration
Five-Star Funds: $10,000
Grant To: Eastern Queens Alliance, Inc.
Project Location: Queens County, New York

The Eastern Queens Alliance, Inc. will plan and implement a two-day Idlewild Park Wetland Restoration Workshop for community youth and adults in Southeast Queens. The workshop will provide an overview on aquatic and wetland ecology and restoration, an introduction to removal of invasive plant species and freshwater wetland planting techniques as well as a hands-on community participation component. One acre of wetlands will be restored through the elimination of exotic species and planting of 5,500 freshwater emergent marsh and 50 shrub/swamp plants. Project partners include New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, City Parks Foundation, Queens Coalition of Parks, Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program, and University partners.

Project Name: Owasco Flats Wetland Restoration
Five-Star Funds: $12,320
Grant To: Owasco Flats Nature Reserve, Inc.
Project Location: Cayuga County, New York

The Owasco Flats Nature Reserve, Inc. will restore a wetland in a river bottom floodplain in the Finger Lakes Basin region at the south end of Owasco Lake. A water control structure will be installed to restore wetland hydrology, provide water retention and create open water habitat for waterfowl. Three invasive plant species control programs will be implemented to control purple loosestrife, common reed, and garlic mustard. A five-year monitoring and maintenance program will be initiated to ensure continued success of the restoration. Project partners include the Soil and Water Conservation District, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Owasco Flats Nature Reserve, Inc., and Cayuga County Parks and Trails.


Oregon

Project Name: Willamette Bluffs Urban Migratory Bird Habitat
Five-Star Funds: $11,700
Grant To: Open Meadow Alternative Schools
Project Location: Portland, Oregon

The Open Meadow Alternative Schools Corps Restoring the Urban Environmental Program will restore selected parts of the 440-acre Wilmette Bluffs along the Wilmette River, which were devastated by wildfire three summers ago. The project will: 1) map pre-and post- burn habitats, conduct vegetation surveys, and implement bird surveys using various computer software programs and in collaboration with wildlife biologists; 2) study the fire's impact on terrestrial macroinvertebrates; 3) develop a website to promote community awareness. Students will work with staff from Portland Parks to assist in invasive species removal and the planting of native species on at least one-acre of the bluffs. Partners for this project include Oregon Youth Conservation Corps, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Portland Parks: Bureau of Environmental Services, Toyota Tapestry, Portland Audubon Society.


Pennsylvania

Project Name: Delaware River Riparian Buffer Restoration
Five-Star Funds: $10,000
Grant To: Pennsylvania Environmental Council
Project Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania Environmental Council will construct a vegetative buffer strip along 1,800 feet of riverbank and restore two acres of urban riverfront forest that will become part of the new 8-mile North Delaware River Greenway in Philadelphia. The first phase of a regional landscape restoration effort for the North Delaware riverfront, the riparian area is part of a new node of pubic access and passive recreation on the Delaware River, which is presently inaccessible to the neighboring communities and residents. Long-term maintenance of the project is anticipated to be done by a friends group and volunteers from local businesses. Project partners include Fairmount Park Commission, Philadelphia Water Department, Tacony Civic Association, River's Edge Memorial Park, Inc., and Newman Paperboard Company.

Project Name: Listie Riparian Buffer Restoration
Five-Star Funds: $14,300
Grant To: Wells Creek Watershed Association
Project Location: Listie, Pennsylvania

The Wells Creek Watershed Association will reclaim a one-acre abandoned coal load-out, restore 300 feet of riparian buffer to Wells Creek, and print and distribute brochures to stream bank landowners. The project will provide a site for biology projects and field trip visits for Somerset High School classes. Project partners include Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources, Somerset Township, Somerset High School, Ritco Inc., and Somerset Conservation District. Partial funding for this grant is being provided by the Office of Surface Mining.


Puerto Rico

Project Name: Culebra Island Coral Reef Restoration
Five-Star Funds: $13,950
Grant To: Culebra Island Fishermen Association
Project Location: Culebra, Puerto Rico

The Culebra Island Fisherman Association will train volunteer divers on coral conservation and aquaculture, expand an existing system of coral aquaculture farms to provide a sustainable source of propagules for future restoration efforts, produce geo-referenced maps to plan future restoration efforts, and initiate a pilot coral reef restoration program at one of the identified sites. Project partners include the Coral Reef Ecological Monitoring and Restoration Project, Culebra Conservation and Development Authority, Sociedad Ambiente Marino, Sociedad Amani, Coralations Youth Corps, and Culebra Island Fishermen Association. Partial funding for this project is provided by the NOAA Fisheries Community-based Restoration Program.


South Carolina

Project Name: Reedy River Habitat Restoration
Five-Star Funds: $10,000
Grant To: Friends of the Reedy River
Project Location: Greenville, South Carolina

The Friends of the Reedy River will restore two parcels, totaling 10 acres, at the center of an existing and proposed greenway along the Reedy River. The project will involve school groups, Friends of the Reedy River and the City of Greenville in the treatment of exotics, such as kudzu, privet and ivy, and the plantings of replacement vegetation. Project partners include Naturaland Trust, S.C. Forestry Commission/U.S. Forest Service, Hollingsworth Funds, Greenville County, S.C. Native Plant Society, Friends of the Reedy River, Hughes Academy Middle School Explorers Club, Southside High School, City of Greenville, and the Greenville Chamber of Commerce.

Project Name: Sandpiper Pond Habitat Restoration
Five-Star Funds: $15,000
Grant To: Friends of Huntington Beach State Park
Project Location: Murrells Inlet, South Carolina

The Friends of Huntington Beach State Park will restore approximately 35 acres of brackish wetlands. Restoration activities will include the removal of invasive species and the construction of a 250 foot inlet to allow for tidal flow into the pond. These measures will help reintroduce species into the area and promote a sustainable, ecologically diverse habitat. Interns, including local high school students and marine science students at Coastal Carolina University, will be responsible for data collection, research, and implementing educational programs. A boardwalk will be constructed to increase public access to the site and awareness of the project. Project partners include Friends of Huntington Beach State Park; South Carolina State Park Service, Waccamaw High School, Waccamaw Audubon Society; Murrells Inlet 2007, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness of the project; The Nature Conservancy; and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Partial funding for this project is provided by the NOAA Fisheries Community-based Restoration Program.


Tennessee

Project Name: Harpeth and Duck Rivers Riparian Restoration
Five-Star Funds: $10,000
Grant To: Harpeth River Watershed Association
Project Location: Williamson, Cheatham and Maury counties

The Harpeth River Watershed Association will restore 2,500 feet of riparian corridor by planting 5,000 native seedlings and stabilizing five hundred feet of eroding stream bank. The project will address the causes of stream degradation with the goal of improving water quality and stream habitat. Landowners will be educated on the land management techniques they can use to provide water quality and stream habitat protection. Project partners include Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Harpeth River Watershed Association, Tennessee Scenic Rivers Asc's Duck River Project, City of Brentwood, Maury County and Parks.


Texas

Project Name: Sabal Palm Habitat Restoration
Five-Star Funds: $11,500
Grant To: Audubon Texas
Project Location: Brownsville, Texas

Audubon Texas will restore 35 acres of fallow field at the Sabal Palm Audubon Sanctuary. The Sanctuary, located on the Rio Grande River, contains the last vestige of original Sabal Palm forest and has been nominated as a Global Important Bird Area. Restoration will include removing exotic plants through controlled burns and herbicide applications, planting more than 40 species of native plants, and adding a new wetland pond. Local volunteer organizations, such as the Boy Scouts and Brownsville Winter Texans, will assist with the plantings. The site will serve as an outdoor classroom where visitors can learn about the habitat restoration. Project partners include The Nature Conservancy, the U.S. Border Patrol, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Brownsville Winter Texans, and University of Texas - Brownsville. Partial funding for this grant is being provided by the Gulf of Mexico Program, a partnership underwritten by EPA.

Project Name: Texas Gulf Coast Native Prairie Restoration
Five-Star Funds: $10,000
Grant To: Friends of Aransas and Matagorda Island National Wildlife Refuges
Project Location: Indianola, Texas

The Friends of Aransas and Matagorda Island National Wildlife Refuges will re-establish and maintain a viable coastal prairie ecosystem, and provide a hands-on environmental educational component for approximately 45 students in grades seven to ten. Seventeen acres of native prairie grass will be planted on the Myrtle-Foester Whitemire Division of the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. Students will hand-plant two of the acres using bunchgrass collected from the refuge. They will also plant seedlings on an additional two acres from seeds of three different species of coastal prairie grass grown on school property. Project partners include Austwell-Tivoli Independent School District, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Coastal Wetlands Program. Partial funding for this grant is being provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Gulf of Mexico Program, a partnership underwritten by EPA.


Vermont

Project Name: Herrick's Cove Wetland and Riparian Restoration
Five-Star Funds: $10,000
Grant To: Audubon Vermont
Project Location: Rockingham, Vermont

Audubon Vermont will restore wetland and riparian ecosystems by controlling invasive plant species at an important migratory bird stopover on the Connecticut River. The project will restore habitat in selected areas by planting native species that provide food and cover for birds and other wildlife. The project site is an Important Bird Area and part of a national and global program to protect sites important to birds. Volunteers will be recruited to help with invasive plant removal and long-term monitoring. Project partners include U.S. Generating, Inc., Ascutney Mountain Audubon Society, Antioch New England, and the Vermont Academy.


Virginia

Project Name: Osborne Brownfield Site Restoration
Five-Star Funds: $10,000
Grant To: Daniel Boone Soil and Water Conservation District
Project Location: Pennington Gap, Virginia

The Daniel Boone Soil and Water Conservation District will restore the one-acre Osborne Brownfield site, a former active coal tipple. The project will remove potential contaminant sources that threaten the quality of the Powell River and stabilize 350 feet of eroded stream bank, utilizing trees and grasses to prevent sediment deposition into Straight Creek. An outdoor classroom will be created that will educate students about the history of the coal industry. Project partners include the Virginia Department of Forestry; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Canaan Valley Institute; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, VA Department of Mines, Minerals, & Energy; and Hands Across the Mountains.


Washington

Project Name: Johnson Creek Riparian Restoration
Five-Star Funds: $15,000
Grant To: Whatcom County
Project Location: Bellingham, Washington

Whatcom County will improve the conveyance capacity of Johnson Creek while enhancing wildlife habitat in and adjacent to the Creek. Approximately three miles of riparian habitat will be planted following channel excavation of the Creek. Riparian planting prescriptions will be implemented for each individual property owner and 10-year agreements between the landowner and Whatcom County will detail the respective responsibilities. The project will help control the growth of reed canary grass, reducing the need for future channel maintenance while also improving water quality. Project partners include: Sumas/Nooksack/Everson Flood Control Zone, Consolidated Drainage Improvement District #31, Washington State Department of Ecology, Whatcom County Sheriffs Office, and Whatcom Conservation District and Natural Resource Conservation District. Partial funding for this project is provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Project Name: Percival Creek Restoration and Outreach
Five-Star Funds: $9,000
Grant To: Thurston Conservation District
Project Location: Thurston County, Washington

The Thurston Conservation District will re-establish riparian plantings along 625 linear feet of the Black Lake Ditch and replace two acres of invasive vegetation with native shrubs in the Black Lake Ditch wetland. Black Lake Ditch was excavated in 1922 to drain Black Lake's extensive wetlands to Percival Creek and now provides good salmon spawning habitat in its lower reach. In addition to the restoration components of the project, 50 teachers will be trained in restoration biology, and hands-on training and restoration activities will be provided to 370 area students. Project partners include Thurston County, the City of Olympia, The Washington Departments of Transportation and Fish & Wildlife, and the Nisqually River Education Project. Partial funding for this project is provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.


Wisconsin

Project Name: Genesse Creek Stream Enhancement
Five-Star Funds: $10,000
Grant To: Carroll College
Project Location: Genesse, Wisconsin

Carroll College will implement a community demonstration project that will model ecological restoration of trout streams and surrounding wetland and riparian habitat. The restoration will involve removing the concrete and earthen dam structures, stabilizing the stream channel, and restoring native wetland and riparian vegetation to the impoundment area. Approximately 45 volunteers and four to eight student interns will be involved. Project results will include reestablishing one mile of stream and restoring three acres of native and riparian wetland vegetation. Project partners include Carroll College, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Cedarburg Science, Wisconsin Wetlands Association, Trout Unlimited, Wisconsin Waterfowl Assocation, and Waukesha Land Conservancy.

Project Name: Glacial Lake Grantsburg Wetland/Pinebarrens Restoration
Five-Star Funds: $10,000
Grant To: Friends of Crex
Project Location: Grantsburg, Wisconsin

The Friends of Crex will focus on restoration and wildlife enhancement within the Glacial Lake Grantsburg Wetland. Specifically, the project will restore 500 acres and enhance 4,500 acres of new pine/oak barrens habitat, restore 500 acres of shallow wetlands, and provide 2,000 acres of shorebird staging and migration habitat. Additionally, the partners intend to manage 1,500 acres of sedge marsh and 10,000 acres of shallow wetlands. Disadvantaged youth from an environmental educational summer camp run by project partner, Northwest Wisconsin Concentrated Employment Program (NWCEP), will participate in the wetland restoration and develop a greater understanding of habitat assessment techniques. Visitors to the wildlife education center will be exposed to the ongoing restoration work. Project partners include Wisconsin DNR; Ducks Unlimited; Friends of Crex; Wisconsin Sharp-tailed Grouse Society; and the National Wild Turkey Federation.


Wyoming

Project Name: Pogo Agie River Restoration
Five-Star Funds: $10,000
Grant To: Wind River Alliance
Project Location: Fremont County, Wyoming

The Wind Rive Alliance will restore a 1,000 foot section of the Popo Agie River on the boundary of the Wind River Indian Reservation. The project will remove debris from the stream bank and channel, reinforce the stream channel, and plant native vegetation to ensure the health of the Popo Agie River. Local high school students will be trained to aid in the long-term monitoring of the project, and younger students will assist with the native vegetation planting along the stream bank. Project partners include Freemont County Schools, the Wind River Environmental Quality Commission, US Fish & Wildlife Service, Popo Agie Anglers, and Popo Agie Conservation.


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