1996 PROJECT SUMMARIES
NORTHEAST
Ballard Street Salt Marsh Restoration, Saugus, Massachusetts. - As the lead in this salt marsh restoration project, EPA is using their technical expertise to coordinate the restoration of tidal flows in balance with flood protection. The Massachusetts Office of Wetlands Restoration and Banking and the NERIT are providing technical expertise in this project.
Boyd's Marsh, Rhode Island. - At a recent coordination meeting discussing the Sachuest Point project, the state of Rhode Island suggested the NERIT evaluate Boyd's Marsh in Portsmouth, Rhode Island as a salt marsh restoration project. The Corps has initiated an initial appraisal of the site under its Section 1135 program.
Navy Eelgrass Remote Sensing, Rhode Island - The Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Newport, Rhode Island and in collaboration with EPA, NOAA, FWS and the Corps has begun the process to use its military remote sensing technology for mapping submerged eelgrass and algal beds in conjunction with other NERIT eelgrass efforts. The Narragansett Bay National Estuary Program is coordinating the Navy's efforts with state management needs.
Little River Marsh, North Hampton, New Hampshire - The NRCS has conducted a regional overview of salt marsh restoration in New Hampshire. Their report and the strong support of the town of North Hampton have generated a NERIT investigation for funding opportunities at this site. Recent flooding and coastal damage of the area has heightened attention of the Federal agencies at this site.
Long Island Sound Habitat Restoration - Little River Salt Marsh, Connecticut and New York - The Long Island Sound Office of the EPA has initiated a project to identify degraded coastal resources in coastal Connecticut and New York. The Little River salt marsh was identified as a potential restoration site and the COE and LISP conducted preliminary restoration studies that are currently being implemented by local authorities.
Neponset River Watershed, Massachusetts - The NERIT is supporting the Massachusetts office of Wetlands Restoration and Banking's comprehensive assessment of wetlands restoration opportunities in this large eastern Massachusetts watershed. The partners are awaiting an initial appraisal that will identify prominent ecological restoration opportunities.
New England Aquarium CELC Designation, Massachusetts - The New England Aquarium in Boston, Massachusetts has recently been designated as a Coastal America Coastal Ecosystem Learning Center. The NERIT and the NIT are conducting cooperative efforts with the New England Aquarium.
Go to Coastal America '96 Project Status Page
MID-ATLANTIC
New York Aquarium CELC Designation, New York - The New York Aquarium, in New York, New York is in the process of being designated as a Coastal America Coastal Ecosystem Learning Center. The MARIT will be conducting the required site visit and developing a nomination letter recommending the aquarium's designation.
National Aquarium CELC Designation, Maryland - The National Aquarium in Baltimore, Maryland is in the process of being designated as a Coastal America Coastal Ecosystem Learning Center. The MARIT will be conducting the required site visit and developing a nomination letter recommending the aquarium's designation.
Glen Cove Waterfront Revitalization Project, New York - The MARIT is initiating an investigation to provide technical, funding and program support from the partnership agencies to the city of Glen Cove, New York to aid in the sustainable revitalization of this community's degraded waterfront.
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SOUTHEAST
Murphy Island, South Carolina - Located in Charleston County, South Carolina on a portion of the Santee Coastal Wildlife Preserve, the SERIT is undertaking a cooperative effort to protect and strengthen coastal impoundments for the benefit of migratory waterfowl. These impoundments are widely recognized as benefiting migratory waterfowl populations using the Atlantic Flyway.
Old Dominion Plantation, South Carolina - Located on the Edisto River in Charleston County, South Carolina, the SERIT is investigating a cooperative effort to protect and strengthen coastal impoundments for the benefit of migratory waterfowl. These impoundments are widely recognized as benefiting migratory waterfowl populations using the Atlantic Flyway Island Restoration.
Peanut Island Restoration, Florida - Dredged material from the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway will be used to establish varying contours on the island to aid in the reestablishment of mangrove and other shallow waster habitats in a manner similar to the project conducted on Munyon Island to the north of this site.
Munyon Island Restoration, Florida - Dredged material from the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway is being used to establish varying contours on the island to aid in the reestablishment of mangrove and other saltmarsh communities, in addition to filling an anoxic hole to create additional shallow water habitat. This project is being done in conjunction with restoration activities undertaken by Palm Beach County.
Right Whale Early Warning System (EWS), Georgia and Florida - This continuing effort, now in its fourth year, creates an early warning system to provide right whale locations to transiting vessels in near real time, thereby avoiding fatal or injurious ship strikes with the whales.
Pepperbuster/Johnny Mangrove Seed Project, Florida - This project is an effort to remove the invasive Brazilian pepper and replant native mangroves and saltmarsh communities, involving extensive volunteer efforts and being lead by the NMFS's Office of Habitat Conservation.
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GULF OF MEXICO
Santa Rosa Island Dune Restoration, Florida - Lead by the Air Force in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the University of Florida this project is designed to help accelerate the natural dune building process by strategically placing and evaluating several sand fencing designs in combination with vegetative materials that would provide the greatest short-term benefit toward restoring Santa Rosa Beach Mouse habitat.
Florida Aquarium CELC Designation, Florida - The Florida Aquarium in Tampa, Florida has recently been designated as a Coastal America Coastal Ecosystem Learning Center. The GMRIT and the NIT are conducting cooperative efforts with the Florida Aquarium.
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SOUTHWEST
Prospect Island Restoration, California - This wetland restoration project will compensate significantly for the loss of intertidal wetland habitat in the Sacramento Delta of San Francisco Bay by restoring nearly 1300 acres in a collaborative venture involving the Corps of Engineers, the Bureau of Reclamation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and CalFed Bay-Delta Program.
Hamilton Army Airfield Restoration, California - This wetland restoration project will contribute valuable intertidal wetland habitat in San Francisco Bay by restoring nearly 700 acres of formerly diked tidal salt marsh on the site. This project is being conduced under the Base Realignment and Closure Act in cooperation with the California Coastal Conservancy.
The Green Highway Project, California - This newly endorsed project would potentially restore substantial acreages of tidal wetlands in northern San Francisco Bay while improving the Highway 37 corridor across the northern bay.
Liberty Island/Little Holland Tract, Restoration, California - This newly endorsed project would potentially restore nearly 6.000 acres of intertidal wetlands in the Sacramento Delta region adjacent to the Prospect Island restoration project.
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NORTHWEST
Duwamish River Turning Basin, Washington - Using its Section 1135 authority, the Corps of Engineers in collaboration with the USFWS, NMFS, EPA and King County, Washington, is proposing to improve an existing salmon stream and recreate about two acres of marsh. This restored stream would pass through newly created fringing marsh which would provide better access to the estuary for migrating salmon. An additional benefit of this project is its close proximity to another Coastal America project located at the same turning basin and completed in 1995.
Jim Creek Hatchery Fish Returns, Washington - This hatchery and habitat project had its first Coho spawning run return this Fall, demonstrating the benefit of the restoration and hatchery activities undertaken the last two years through the collaborative efforts of the Navy, the Stillaguamish Tribe, the USFWS, the Washington Department of Fisheries, the Stillaguamish-Snohomish Fisheries Enhancement Task Force, Trout Unlimited, and the Student Conservation Association.
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ALASKA
Barneby's Milkvetch Conservation Agreement & Program, Alaska - This conservation agreement represents the first among federal agencies (USFWS, USAF, BLM and the State) in Alaska and will result in extensive mapping, seed production and propagation for use in revegatation efforts of Air Force installations throughout the Alaska.
Polar Bear Interaction Plan (Yr.2), Alaska - The USAF, in cooperation with the USFWS and the MMS, are developing an educational program to avoid incidents which could result in injury or death on AF installations. Products to date include pamphlets and a video.
Harlequin Duck Habitat Contamination Study (Yr.3), Alaska - Determine the impacts of chronic oil pollution at Shemya Island, and other areas in the Aleutian Island chain on the harlequin duck species. The information will be used to better manage this species, and prevent further oil pollution impacts.
Valdez Harbor Structural Improvements (Yr.3), Alaska - The Valdez Harbor circulation enhancement project will alleviate poor water circulation patterns by constructing a breakwater east of the berm/roadway from an island to the mainland and an outflow pipe which connects a retention pond to the boat harbor. The breakwater is designed to be overtopped during high tides forming the retention pool and the outflow pipe is expected to exchange water from the sea, into the harbor, and out the entrance each tide cycle.
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GREAT LAKES
Cat Island Chain, Restoration, Wisconsin - This island and submerged aquatic vegetation restoration project has the potential to increase the productivity of the sites natural resources through the beneficial use of dredged material from the Lower Fox River and Green Bay Harbor.
