This December, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced the award of more than $19 million to support 24 conservation projects benefiting fish and wildlife on more than 5,900 acres of coastal habitats in twelve states in the U.S. through the 2011 National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program. These federal grants will be matched by nearly $21 million in partner contributions from state and local governments, private landowners and conservation groups. The grants will be used to acquire, restore or enhance coastal wetlands and adjacent uplands to provide long-term conservation benefits to fish, wildlife and their habitat. States receiving funds include: Oregon, Washington, Wisconsin, Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Alaska, and California.
“Our Nation’s coastal wetlands encompass large areas of vital habitat for countless species of wildlife while providing important economic resources and recreational opportunities for the American people,” Secretary Ken Salazar said. “These grants will offer additional protection, restoration, and enhancement of these precious habitats.”
The National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and funded under provisions of the 1990 Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act. Funding is provided by Sport Fish Restoration Act revenue – money generated from an excise tax on fishing equipment, motorboat and small engine fuels.
Including the 2011 grants, the Service has awarded nearly $260 million to coastal states and territories since the program began in 1992. When the 2011 projects are complete more than 265,000 acres of habitat will have been protected, restored or enhanced.
Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, the Service’s Coastal Program provides strategic conservation planning and assistance in coastal areas. It represents one of the Service’s most popular and effective programs for voluntary, locally-based habitat restoration and protection efforts. With climate change threatening to reduce coastal habitats, the public and private partnerships garnered by the Coastal Program are essential.
Coastal areas comprise less than 10 percent of the nation’s land area yet support the majority of wildlife species, including 75 percent of migratory birds, nearly 80 percent of fish and shellfish and about half of all threatened and endangered species. The Coastal Program is a vital tool in helping to recover listed species and maintaining populations of candidate species that depend on coastal habitats.
Several examples of projects include:
Central Willapa Bay Conservation Project – The Washington State Department of Ecology, in partnership with the Columbia Land Trust, was awarded $1 million to help acquire and permanently protect four parcels totaling 575 acres of highly threatened, pristine, declining coastal wetlands, riparian areas, and associated mature and old growth conifer forest on Willapa Bay in southwest Washington. The total project cost is $1,405,000. Willapa Bay is the second largest estuary on North America’s west coast and is one of the most pristine estuaries in the United States. The unique habitats of Willapa Bay include a variety of estuarine wetlands, freshwater wetlands, lakes, old growth and mature conifer forest, sand dunes, beaches, and grasslands that support a diversity of wildlife and plants. The project area is home to Federally threatened salmon, Green sturgeon, Marbled murrelet, Brown pelican, and Bald eagle. The four parcels are located near the 15,000-acre Willapa Bay National Wildlife Refuge.
Drayton Harbor Estuary: Coastal Wetland Protection and Restoration – The Washington State Department of Ecology, in partnership with the Whatcom Land Trust and the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association, was awarded $340,000 to help acquire, restore and protect in perpetuity eight acres of estuarine habitat at the confluence of California Creek and Drayton Harbor in northwestern Washington. The total project cost is $496,000. The project area includes 1,700 feet of freshwater and saltwater frontage and contains both estuarine and palustrine wetlands, of which six acres are nationally declining wetlands. The project will also restore the wetland hydrology; remove noxious weeds and establish native plants; and remove a dilapidated house, outbuildings, driveway, and culverts. The property is adjacent to State-owned tidally inundated mud flats and is within the 100-year floodplain of California Creek. Upon completion of the project, public access for passive recreation will be accommodated, including a parking lot and educational signage.
North River/Willapa Bay Conservation – The Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) was awarded $1 million to help acquire and restore 505 acres of estuarine and freshwater marsh, and forested riparian and shoreline in northern Willapa Bay in southwest Washington. The total project cost is $1,460,000. Willapa Bay is regarded as one of the most pristine estuaries in the United States and is the second largest estuary on the west coast. This project will protect an assemblage of high quality wetlands, including estuarine, emergent salt marsh, marsh scrub/shrub and freshwater forested wetlands. The project area is adjacent to 1,300 acres of coastal habitat already protected by WDFW and the Cascade Land Conservancy, thus consolidating nearly 2,000 acres of protected lands in north Willapa Bay, including property which would otherwise be at risk of residential and commercial development. The project has wide support from a variety of partners, including the Cascade Land Conservancy, the State Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Forever Fund, and the USFWS Coastal Program.
Tarboo-Dabob Bay Acquisition and Restoration, Phase II – Washington State Department of Ecology was awarded $1 million to help acquire and protect in perpetuity eight properties making up approximately 108 acres within the State-designated Dabob Bay Natural Area. The total project cost is $1,500,000. This acquisition would complete a continuous nature preserve surrounding Tarboo-Dabob Bay, one of the least developed coastal embayments remaining in Puget Sound. Four previous National Coastal Wetland Conservation Grants have helped protect a total of 875 acres fronting on the Bay. This project will help protect highly productive salmonid habitats and benefit a diversity of at-risk freshwater and estuarine species, including five salmon stocks, forage fish species, numerous shorebird, waterfowl, and land bird species. This project is essential for the continued success of the larger effort by 34 project partners, including Federal, State, tribal, shellfish grower and landowner interests to protect wetlands of State and national significance.
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. They describe themselves as both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals, and commitment to public service.
A complete list of projects funded by the 2011 grant program can be found online at: http://www.fws.gov/coastal/CoastalGrants/index.html. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.
