II. STRENGTHENING REGIONAL PARTNERSHIPS
1994 Milestones
Coastal America's major focus is on fostering - and broadening - regional action and priority setting. Hence, the RITs are empowered to set regional agendas for Coastal America priorities, working through existing authorities. The RITs have developed regional strategies that outline comprehensive solutions to specific problems. Within the regional strategy framework, a dynamic working list of proposed projects is maintained and regularly updated. The RITs thus facilitate the pooling of Federal and non-federal resources for project implementation. The Teams meets on a regular basis to refine priorities, identify potential projects, and seize opportunities for collaborative action. An additional objective of the regional meetings is to review progress and ensure that actions are consistent with Federal, State, and local goals and objectives.
In this context, within the normal project ranking/selection system for its individual programs, each Coastal America partner agency on the RIT gives priority to projects that: Are action-oriented, with a focus on coastal ecosystem restoration and protection, including issues such as habitat loss and degradation, nonpoint source pollution, and contaminated sediments; Are multi-agency, including several Federal partners and non-Federal participants; and include education/outreach and monitoring/evaluation components.
The process ensures that selected projects will improve the coastal environment, encourage Federal and non-federal partnerships, and enhance public awareness.
Over time, the collaborative process and the refinement of regional strategies have led to a broadening of focus by the Regional Implementation Teams. As working relationships have been forged, partners have gotten to know each other better. Regional teams are now reaching out to increase involvement of State and local agencies and nongovernmental organizations in the process. Regional strategies are also becoming more comprehensive as RITs begin to look beyond individual, site-specific projects to a watershed/ecosystem management approach.
The Northeast RIT regional strategy provides an illustration of this broader ecosystem approach. The Team has been instrumental in developing collaborative partnerships between Federal and State government agencies to restore degraded coastal habitat. Agreements were signed with the States of Connecticut and Rhode Island to restore coastal wetlands in 1992 and 1993, respectively. In 1994, the Coastal America partners signed a resolution with the State of Massachusetts to restore wetlands and other aquatic ecosystems throughout the State.
The following sections highlight the regional strategies, specific projects and some of the lessons learned from Coastal America's partnership efforts at the regional level.
Coastal America Regions
Northeast | Mid-Atlantic | Southeast | Gulf of Mexico | Southwest | Northwest | Great Lakes | Alaska
NORTHEAST
The Northeast RIT is working to ensure the long-term viability of the region's significant ecosystems, particularly temperate coastal salt marsh and estuarine habitats. Two problem areas--conversion of temperate coastal salt marsh and contaminated sediments--have been the issues emphasized in achieving this goal. To date, the Northeast RIT has focused its project efforts on habitat restoration in areas where salt marshes have been cut off from natural tidal influence by infrastructure development. The Team has begun to take an ecosystem approach to problems such as coastal wetlands restoration. It is also addressing problems in a watershed context, as exemplified by the Blackstone River project described below.
BLACKSTONE RIVER PROJECT
The Blackstone River Project combines many aspects of individual projects into a watershed approach that includes shore stabilization, contaminated sediment remediation, and mitigation of obstructions to anadromous fish passage due to historic dam design. Recognizing that the problems of the river are highly interrelated, the National Park Service requested that the Coastal America partnership provide assistance to their overall watershed restoration.
The Blackstone River watershed consists of approximately 640 square miles including 30 cities and towns from Worcester, Massachusetts, to its mouth in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. From this point, it becomes a tidal estuary to Narragansett Bay. The Blackstone River has been the largest source of pollutants discharging into Narragansett Bay, principally from industrial discharge of metals and resuspension of contaminated sediments behind the nearly 40 low head dams in the river. These impacts have resulted in a significant decline in anadromous fish and waterfowl habitat, as well as a decline in the quality of the tidal estuary above Narragansett Bay.
The Team will use a comprehensive approach to the problems in the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor while preserving the historic character of the region. In restoring the ecological integrity of the watershed, the NERIT will work to restore anadromous fisheries, increase recreational opportunities, and improve the overall fish and wildlife habitat by integrating the efforts of the Federal and State partners.
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MID-ATLANTIC
In 1994, a Mid-Atlantic RIT (MARIT) was formally established. The new Mid-Atlantic region's geographical boundaries encompass the coastal environments from Long Island's southern shore to the Virginia/North Carolina border. As a result of these new regional boundaries, the MARIT was very fortunate to inherit many projects from the previous efforts of the Northeast and Southeast RlTs in the Mid-Atlantic region.
The MARIT has set an ambitious schedule of hosting meetings every two-to-three months to develop a better understanding of team members' respective agencies and programs. This understanding will provide the basis for the development of new, effective partnerships and opportunities to address key environmental problems and policy issues in the region. The team is also currently developing its regional strategy. Once this strategy is completed, the team will target specific projects for implementation while employing Coastal America's action-based problem-solving approach.
POTOMAC RIVER SHORELINE RESTORATION
In response to shoreline erosion and sedimentation from non-point source pollution, the U.S. Air Force, along with five other Federal and local partners, aggressively moved to restore the shoreline of the Potomac River within its jurisdiction, at Bolling Air Force Base. Restoration has included the removal of stumps, concrete rubble, and other debris along 6,000 feet of shoreline. To prevent further erosion, the Base installed stone rip-rap and earthworks along the shoreline. This project was implemented as part of the Bolling Air Force Base Environmental Quality Plan.
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SOUTHEAST
The Southeast Region has experienced tremendous pressures from urban expansion and water management projects that have led to dramatic declines in native species. Another important problem is the decline of fisheries because of obstacles to fish passage such as sediment-clogged rivers and dams. The Southeast RIT confronts these problems with a regional strategy that emphasis sound ecosystem management and evaluates the impact of projects on biodiversity. It also emphasizes State and nongovernmental organization participation through increased communication and formation of State and local implementation teams. An example of the Southeast Team strategy to restore native species, red mangroves, is described below.
PUERTO DEL MANGLER RED MANGROVE RESTORATION PROJECT
The Puerto del Mangler restoration project has restored over 20 acres of fringe red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) forest on the island of Culebra, just east of the main island of Puerto Rico. This project was necessary due to severe damage to the forests by Hurricane Hugo in mid-1989. Restoration of this area will help to maintain the ecological web of the area.
In the transplant area, most of the dead trees were cleared, while some were left to serve as breakwaters for the new trees. Germinated seeds were then collected from the unaffected red mangrove forest of the southwest coast of Puerto Rico to be planted at the newly cleared site. Through the cooperative efforts of Coastal America partners, University of Puerto Rico personnel, and citizens groups, approximately 4,000 seedlings were planted at Culebra. At the completion of the project, approximately 15,000 feet of shoreline had been replanted.
The restoration of the fringe mangrove forest will result in significant environmental benefits when the trees mature. Mangrove roots stabilize the shoreline and thus protect inland areas during storms and hurricanes. Mangrove re-establishment also prevents resuspension of fine sediments, thus enhancing water clarity for oysters, seagrass beds, and coral reefs. The mangrove trees provide foraging, nesting, and roosting habitats for many important species of wildlife. An additional benefit of the project was that it provided a learning experience for the people of Culebra.
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GULF OF MEXICO
The Gulf of Mexico region includes the greatest amount of coastal wetlands of any region, with each state having its own array of environmental perturbations. The Gulf of Mexico RIT (GMRIT) has developed a regional strategy based on the goals and objectives of the Technical Issues Committees of the Federal/State Gulf of Mexico Program. These areas of emphasis include habitat degradation, coastal and shoreline erosion, toxic substances and pesticides, nutrient enrichment, alterations to freshwater inflow, and declines in living aquatic resources. To date, GMRIT projects have focused on coastal habitat restoration. The Mobile Bay wetlands restoration project is an example of this emphasis.
MOBILE BAY RESTORATION PROJECT
Mobile Bay is at the end of the Alabama and Tombigbee Rivers along the Gulf Coast of Alabama. This 40 mile-long, eight mile-wide bay ends at the Gulf Shores-Fort Morgan Peninsula and Dauphin Island.
The coastal portion of Mobile Bay has a long history of human use, from garbage dumping during the Civil War in Dauphin Island wetlands to septic tank and drain field construction by the U.S. military in the 1940s. These actions and others around the Dauphin Island Gulf Shores portion of the bay have resulted in a 30 percent loss of coastal wetlands, and a 50 percent decline in oyster reef habitat.
To counter some of this degradation, a public/private partnership has been established to restore some of the lost wetlands and oyster reef habitats. A four-acre wetland and coastal dune system at the Dauphin Island Sea Laboratory has been constructed. Degraded wetland and dune areas were replanted, and a public access boardwalk was constructed. Boundary markers were set up to protect over 2,500 acres of public oyster reefs by discouraging vessel traffic that could result in reef damage. Finally, archeological coral aggregate is being tested as an oyster reef construction material.
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SOUTHWEST
Historic loss of productive and diverse wetlands in the Southwest region places an urgency and high priority on the preservation and restoration of remaining wetlands. The Southwest RIT endorses projects by consensus in both the water-rich northern and arid southern parts of California. The process includes data gathering, information synthesis, goals- and objective-setting, project development, and problem resolution. While preservation and protection of wetlands is of primary importance to the Southwest Team, other issues also influence the regional strategy. These include protection and restoration of multiple uses of bays and harbors, particularly in urban areas; reuse and restoration associated with military base closures; transportation infrastructure; and education and outreach.
PIER ONE MARINE LEARNING CENTER
This project, which is endorsed by the SWRIT, involves developing and building a state-of-the-art Marine Learning Center located on Pier One at Fort Mason, San Francisco. The Center will combine extensive exhibits with facilities for public education and real-time down links to scientists and submergible in the field. The development of the Marine Learning Center is being coordinated by NOAA's Sanctuaries and Reserve Division in partnership with the National Park Service, Fort Mason Center and other public and private interests.
The entire aquatic system from San Francisco Bay's watershed in the Central Valley to the deep ocean will be displayed, focusing on the San Francisco Bay Estuary system and the three national marine sanctuaries off central California; the Gulf of Farrallones, Cordell Bank, and Monterey Bay. Interactive displays will show how water reaches the Bay and how development in the watershed around the Bay has impacted the Bay's ecology. The ecology of the Bay will be explored in a series of exhibits highlighting the different parts of the estuary. Facilities for special public education programs as well as programs and facilities to train students and teachers in marine education will be provided at the Center.
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NORTHWEST
The Northwest region is struggling with a multitude of complex environmental issues covering broad geographical areas. The focus of these issues has been driven primarily by the listing of species under the Endangered Species Act. The Northwest Regional Implementation Team is working to integrate Coastal America efforts with those of other existing interagency regional programs. Projects endorsed by the Northwest Team must benefit endangered or threatened species (e.g., salmon) and include a long-range monitoring plan. While the Northwest RIT has been concentrating on coastal areas, it plans to focus future efforts on protecting and restoring living resources in watersheds beyond the immediate coastal area.
JIM CREEK PROJECT
The Northwest Team, in partnership with others including the State of Washington, the Stillaguamish Tribe, Trout Unlimited, and the Student Conservation Association of America agreed to work together to help restore and maintain stocks of coho and Chinook salmon and to generally enhance fish habitat. A new hatchery has been constructed to raise salmon for the northwest Washington run. The hatchery is located 80 miles northeast of Seattle in northwest Washington at the Jim Creek Naval Station. Fish ladders have also been constructed to assist the Steelhead trout runs.
This project provides a number of local and regional benefits. Salmon releases from the hatchery will increase the fish runs reaching the ocean which will help the offshore fishing industry. The fish ladders and habitat restoration will assist in increasing the trout and salmon populations for native subsistence and recreational fishing. This project will also benefit the watershed by enhancing public awareness of the need to minimize impacts on water quality.
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GREAT LAKES
Proposals for most Coastal America projects in the Great Lakes region emerge from the cooperative efforts of Federal, State, and local agencies and grassroots interest groups. The dominant concern in this region is toxic substance contamination. As a result, the Great Lakes RIT has focused its efforts on nonpoint source pollution prevention and remediation of contaminated sediments. Other focus areas for the Great Lakes RIT are invasion of nonindigenous organisms (e.g., zebra mussels) and habitat restoration. The Great Lakes RIT is working to improve communication and coordination in order to address these issues.
PENSAUKEE HARBOR ISLAND CREATION
This project has established a new 4.6-acre island near the southwest part of Green Bay, Wisconsin. The island is 500 yards south of the opening to Pensaukee Harbor, in Oconto County, about 200 yards offshore. Approximately 55,000 cubic yards of dredged material from the Pensaukee harbor channel was used to create the new island.
There are a number of benefits that the new island will provide. The use of the clean dredged material for island creation resolves a waste disposal problem in a beneficial manner. Pensaukee Harbor will remain open and available for recreational use because the project has allowed channel dredging to continue. The environment is improved, for the island is serving as new habitat for a number of common and endangered species, including the State-listed endangered Forster's and common terns. In addition, the island protects the mainland from strong wave action, thereby reducing the loss of coastal wetlands from shoreline erosion.
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ALASKA
Restoration of anadromous fish streams impacted by development and intense recreational fishing is the main focus of the Alaska RIT. The RIT emphasizes partnerships in the development of ecosystem approaches to resource conservation. The RIT has defined its coastal area to be consistent with the Coastal Districts of the Alaska Coastal Management Program. In this extensive area, projects have been initiated that will restore freshwater anadromous fish habitats and nearshore marine habitats, and protect migratory bird and marine mammal populations.
VALDEZ HARBOR PROJECT
Throughout the United States small boat harbors support commercial and recreational uses. When constructed with care, small harbors can also serve as shallow protected embayments providing excellent physical habitats for many marine organisms. Valdez Harbor, near the city of Valdez, Alaska, is a small boat harbor which has developed a poor water circulation pattern due to its construction. This pattern limits the potential environmental benefits that could be provided. The Valdez Harbor enhancement project will eliminate the problem of poor water circulation.
Valdez Harbor was constructed between an island and the mainland. Water circulation along the shoreline was interrupted when the berm/roadway that bounds the harbor on the east side was constructed. Currently, the water is only able to enter and exit the harbor through the 100-foot navigational channel on the western side. The proposed project will create a 480,000- square foot intertidal retention pool by constructing a breakwater east of the berm/roadway from the island to the mainland. The breakwater is designed to be overtopped during high tides, thus forming the retention pool. An outflow pipe that connects the retention pond to the boat harbor will be placed below the berm/roadway, passing the collected water to the boat harbor. With each tide cycle, about 66 acre feet of water is expected to pass through the pipe, into the harbor, and out the entrance. This flow would result in the exchange of about one-third of the water volume in the harbor, and improve the water quality of the harbor.
