Kissimmee River Restoration Project

From U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Headquarters:

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has awarded one of the four remaining construction contracts for the Kissimmee River Restoration project, moving this large-scale Everglades restoration project one step closer to completion. http://1.usa.gov/1AYt9NT

Vanished Rabbit Reappears on Central California's Dos Rios Ranch

From USDA:

Posted by Dave Sanden, Natural Resources Conservation Service, California, on December 2, 2014 at 10:00 AM

The riparian brush rabbit is state and federally endangered, with all known populations in the northern San Joaquin Valley facing significant threat of extinction. Declines of brush rabbits have largely been attributed to loss of habitat. Photo courtesy USFWS Pacific Southwest Region.

Some exciting news recently came from a large wetlands restoration project now underway in Central California. River Partners, a nonprofit conservation organization, documented the first occurrence of a state and federally endangered rabbit on its habitat preserve at Dos Rios Ranch, a key piece of riverfront habitat located at the confluence of the Tuolumne and San Joaquin rivers in Stanislaus County.

Thanks to a generous loan of wildlife cameras from a professor at the University of California, Davis, River Partners’ summer interns captured images of riparian brush rabbits at Dos Rios Ranch in July in remnant riparian habitat along the Tuolumne River. Riparian brush rabbits are a critically endangered subspecies of rabbit that was thought to be extinct following catastrophic flooding in 1997.

“This rabbit was photographed over a mile away and across the river from known populations,” said Julie Rentner of River Partners. “The nearby San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge hosts a thriving population of reintroduced riparian brush rabbits, but there has been no proof that the rabbits were at Dos Rios Ranch since 1997. The camera is still set up and is capturing additional images, so we’ll certainly turn up more if there are more rabbits out there.”

The multi-million dollar wetlands restoration efforts on Dos Rios Ranch began in 2012. The land was enrolled in the former Wetlands Reserve Program, or WRP, a conservation easement program offered by USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, (NRCS). Easement programs offer landowners the means to restore, enhance and protect wetlands on their property through easements. The 2014 Farm Bill merged WRP with other easement programs to form a new one: the Agricultural Conservation Easements Program, (ACEP), which continues to further wetlands restoration.

The project’s main objectives include restoring the riparian corridor, providing a critical link between this easement and other USDA easements, establishing self-sustaining native plant communities, and providing riparian habitat for wildlife. The property had been used for agricultural production for over a century. This project transforms it back into its former glory as a wetland. NRCS is working with the landowner, River Partners, to design and implement the project and is actively managing and monitoring the restoration process.

The 1,150-acre project area contains remnant floodplain habitats that include wetlands, riparian woodlands and agricultural lands. The 1,600-acre Dos Rios Ranch property was purchased by River Partners in 2012 with funding from seven local, state and federal funding partners for use as a flood management and wildlife habitat project.

“Restoration work is progressing using a phased approach,” said NRCS wildlife biologist Karl Kraft.

Currently, about 500 acres are being restored. Work on 137 acres began in spring 2013. The second phase began in fall 2013 on 384 more acres, and the third phase will begin in 2015, Kraft said.

“More than 944 acres will be retired from production and restored to riparian habitat when the work is complete,” he said. “Numerous wildlife species should benefit from the restoration, including the federally endangered riparian brush rabbit, riparian woodrat, least bell’s vireo, and threatened valley elderberry longhorn beetle,” Kraft said.

Trees, such as black willow, and other native woody species are being planted in rows, much like an orchard, with planting berms and space between the rows for native grasses and forbs. Furrow irrigation between the planted rows is used to apply water to plantings in the initial growing seasons.

Rabbit foraging areas of low herbaceous plants such as Spanish clover, gumplant and native grasses have been established adjacent to patches of clover near the tree plantings. Dense thickets of California wildrose and blackberry established away from trees will offer protection against hawks and other predators.

Some areas of dense, low growing vegetation have been established on elevated ground, known as “bunny mounds,” to provide rabbits cover and flood protection. Kraft said that five of these bunny mounds have been constructed so far.

“The riparian brush rabbit was a primary reason for protecting and restoring the ranch,” said Dean Kwasny, easement programs specialist with NRCS. “It’s encouraging to see that our conservation efforts are having tangible benefits for this focal species.”

Black Skimmer

From U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service:

Swamps, bogs, marshes and other wetlands are vital to maintaining the populations of birds we see flying overhead and in our backyards. The Migratory Bird Conservation Commission recently approved $28 million in funding to help 128,000 acres of wetland habitat for waterfowl, shorebirds and other species, including black skimmers, such as the one pictured here at Breton National Wildlife Refuge.http://1.usa.gov/1yKHoU9

Earth Team Volunteer Benefits USDA with Wetland Expertise

USDA Blog Post:

Posted by Michelle Banks, Natural Resources Conservation Service, on April 8, 2014 at 4:15 PM

Molly Stetz, a graduate student in wetland ecology in New York, gives of her time and expertise to NRCS through the Earth Team program. NRCS photo.

When not in class, Molly Stetz volunteered her time to USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), assisting with the agency’s efforts to restore wetlands and curb other environmental concerns.

As part of National Volunteer Week, NRCS is celebrating the contributions of volunteers like Stetz that help the agency advance the conservation mission through Earth Team.

Stetz, a graduate student in wetland ecology at the State University of New York at Brockport, donated more than 900 hours to NRCS through the agency’s Earth Team volunteer program.

“Volunteers are an integral part of our agency,” NRCS District Conservationist Heath Eisele said. “In a one-employee field office, every bit of assistance helps.”

Stetz worked closely under Eisele’s supervision assisting with many of the day-to-day operations of the office, including compliance reviews, highly erodible land slope measurements, construction checks and wetland plant identification.

“She helped us with so many different projects, it was like having another NRCS position on staff,” Eisele said.

She took the lead in creating a map guide of the Tonawanda Creek watershed and revised a guide on another creek watershed. These are used to show visitors and residents boat launch areas, fishing locations and other attractions within the watershed.

When she wasn’t in the field, Stetz was offering top-notch computer support with geographic information systems, or GIS, and developed innovative techniques for identifying potential natural resource concerns.

She conducted the annual monitoring of seven wetland easement sites throughout Genesee County, N.Y. Her knowledge of wetland plant identification and hydrology was critical to the success of the project, Eisele said.

Her volunteer work helped her with her master’s thesis in wetland ecology. Stetz and her professor received $5,000 as part of a grant from USDA Rural Development for agriculture and water quality studies.

Stetz’s service won her the national individual service award from the Earth Team. Only four of these awards are given out each year. To read more volunteer stories or see how to sign up to be an Earth Team volunteer, visit www.nrcs.usda.gov/EarthTeam.

EPA Awards $25,000 to Atchafalaya Basinkeeper, Inc. to Help Protect and Restore the Basin’s Wetlands and Waterways

Press release:

EPA Awards $25,000 to Atchafalaya Basinkeeper, Inc.

to Help Protect and Restore the Basin’s Wetlands and Waterways

(DALLAS – August 14, 2012) The Environmental Protection Agency has awarded Atchafalaya Basinkeeper, Inc. $25,000 to develop a stewardship program and conduct a large scale outreach campaign targeting communities with major populations that use the Basin for commercial fishing, sport fishing and other forms of recreation.

Through one on one meetings, presentations and training, the project will address environmental problems in the Basin including illegal cypress logging, wetlands loss, oil industry pollution, unauthorized wetland development, dredging and the dumping of litter into wetlands and waterways. Presentations will cover ecology, environmental services and the importance of south Louisiana’s wetlands.

The goal of the program is to develop an enhanced sense of pride and stewardship in the commercial fishing community and develop a network of people who use the Basin to identify and report activities that are potentially harmful to its environmental health and augment the Atchafalaya Basinkeeper’s efforts to protect and restore the Basin’s wetlands and waterways.

Additional Information on EPA grants is available at http://www.epa.gov/region6/gandf/index.htm

More about activities in EPA Region 6 is available at http://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/region6.html

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Calif., Construction Company to Pay $170,000 following Illegal Dumping to Federally Protected Wetlands during Strip Mall Construction

For Immediate Release: May 31, 2012

Media Contact:  Mary Simms, simms.mary@epa.gov

Calif., Construction Company to Pay $170,000 following Illegal Dumping to Federally Protected Wetlands during Strip Mall Construction
Company Will Spend an Additional $150,000 to Repair, Restore Nine Acres of Wetlands critical to
California's North Coast salmon populations

SAN FRANCISCO – Humboldt County contractor Dennis Wendt of Wendt Construction today resolves a federal lawsuit with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Justice following the construction company’s unpermitted dumping of the equivalent of 200 large dump truck loads of material into federally protected wetlands crucial to neighboring salmon populations.

The wetlands are associated with Strongs Creek, which flows approximately 1.3 miles west to the Eel River, a priority resource for maintaining cold, freshwater habitat for salmon and steelhead. The Lower Eel River is considered impaired under the Clean Water Act due to excessive sediment loads, low dissolved oxygen and high temperatures that exceed water quality standards.
“Salmon and steelhead populations have been hit hard on the North Coast due to the unfortunate destruction of their aquatic habitat,” said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA’s Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest. “This action ensures the restoration of wetland habitat along Strongs Creek, and will advance the recovery of these valuable fish species.”
The illegal fill activities took place between 2005 and 2008 at two adjacent development sites, the Strongs Creek Plaza Site and the East Littlefield Property and impacted a total of 4.18 acres of wetlands. Wendt Construction will pay a $170,000 penalty for dumping fill material into wetlands connected to Strongs Creek, a tributary to the Eel River located in the City of Fortuna.
As part of the settlement, the company will undertake a multi-year project to restore the damaged wetlands, including the creation of vegetated pond that will support wildlife while filtering water and recharging the groundwater aquifer. Restoration will allow the creek to perform the important ecological functions of retaining soil and nutrients, attenuating floodwaters, and providing movement corridors for wildlife and habitat for the Northern red-legged frog, which is a threatened species in California.
The federal Clean Water Act protects the nation’s coasts, rivers, lakes, streams, and wetlands, which are vital to the protection of human health and the environment. Section 404 of the CWA requires anyone who proposes to fill and alter protected waterways, including wetlands, to first obtain permit authorization from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The proposed consent decree for the settlement, lodged with the federal district court on May 30, 2012, is subject to a 30-day comment period and final court approval. A copy of the proposed decree is available on the Justice Department website at: http://www.justice.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.html
For more information about the Clean Water Act Section 404 regulatory program, visit: http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/pdf/reg_authority_pr.pdf
Photos of the site along with a map of the Eel River Watershed will be made available later today at: http://www.epa.gov/region9/press_media/wendt/photos.html

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Envtl. Justice Grant to Prevent Lead Poisoning & Restore Wetlands

News Release from EPA Region 2:

EPA Environmental Justice Grants to Help New York City Communities Prevent Lead Poisoning and Restore Wetlands

Organizations in Northern Manhattan, the South Bronx and Jamaica to Receive Funds

Contact: Elias Rodriguez, 212-637-3664, rodriguez.elias@epa.gov

(New York, N.Y. - Jan. 23, 2012) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is providing $75,000 to two New York City organizations to help them address public health and environmental problems in Northern Manhattan, the South Bronx and Jamaica, New York. West Harlem Environmental Action, Inc. (WE ACT) will receive $50,000 to test homes for lead and conduct research on the best ways to detect lead hazards in households in Northern Manhattan and the South Bronx. The Rockaway Waterfront Alliance will be provided $25,000 to train students to restore wetland habitats.

“EPA environmental justice grants provide much needed funds to tackle local pollution problems in low income communities," said Judith A. Enck, EPA Regional Administrator. "Lead poisoning can have serious and long-term effects on children’s abilities to learn. The environmental justice grant to WE ACT will advance our knowledge about how to best protect thousands of New York City children from lead poisoning. The Rockaway Waterfront Alliance will educate middle school and high school students about water pollution and give them the skills they need to be the next generation of environmental stewards.”

It is estimated three-quarters of U.S. residential dwellings built before 1978 contain some lead-based paint. Lead poisoning in children can have serious, long-term consequences including learning disabilities, hearing impairment and behavioral problems.

WE ACT will use the grant funds to conduct a research project that will expand scientific knowledge on the best ways to detect lead poisoning hazards in homes. The research will identify potential sources of lead in dust particles in homes, public drinking water systems and consumer products. The organization will enlist 100 residents to have their homes tested for lead. The field testing will look at the differences between having people test for lead using an instructional DVD or being instructed by a field technician. Simple lead dust wipe tests costs $40 to perform compared to a professional lead inspection, which costs approximately $500. If the cheaper test can first be performed to reliably determine whether a more robust and expensive test is needed, this will increase the number of homes identified as having lead hazards and save money for residents.

The Rockaway Waterfront Alliance will use its grant funds to create a Rockaway Youth Marine Conservation Corps in Jamaica, New York to restore wetland habitats. The group will launch a year-long wetland restoration program that will train low-income high school and middle school students about water pollution problems around Jamaica Bay. The bay is severely impacted by sewage and chemical pollutants, which has damaged water quality. Students will participate in oyster gardening along the Sommerville and Norton/Conch Basins and design and implement projects that involve their schools and communities in the cleanup and restoration of the Jamaica Bay.

Environmental justice means the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of race or income, in the environmental decision-making process. Since 1994, the environmental justice small grants program has provided more than $23 million in funding to community-based nonprofit organizations and local governments working to address environmental justice issues in more than 1,200 communities. The grants further EPA’s commitment to expand the conversation on environmentalism and advance environmental justice in communities across the nation.

More information on the Environmental Justice Small Grants program and a list of grantees: http://www.epa.gov/compliance/environmentaljustice/grants/ej-smgrants.html

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