FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 2, 2004

Contact:

Rachel F. Levin, 612-713-5311

EA 04-26

North American Wetlands Conservation Act Funds
13 Wetland Conservation Projects in the Midwest

The North American Wetlands Conservation Council in March approved nearly $500,000 in funding for small grants to fund 13 wetland restoration projects in the Midwest, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced. Small grants are awarded once a year, with a maximum of $2 million available each year for the program nationwide. Small grants may receive funding up to $50,000 dollars, and a 1:1 non-federal match by partners is required.

Eleven of the projects are in the Upper Mississippi River and Great Lakes Region Joint Venture and two are in the Minnesota portion of Prairie Pothole Joint Venture. All projects will help achieve the goals identified in the North American Waterfowl Management Plan and the Joint Venture Implementation Plans. The council awarded 43 small grants nationwide for 2004, totaling just under $2 million.

“ The projects funded by these small grants are anything but small,” said Robyn Thorson, regional director for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Midwest Region. “Our partners have leveraged millions of dollars to preserve wetlands and benefit migratory birds and other wildlife for generations to enjoy.”

The purpose of the 1989 North American Wetlands Conservation Act, as amended, is to promote long-term conservation—through protection, enhancement and restoration of wetlands and associated uplands—of North American wetland ecosystems and the waterfowl and other migratory birds, fish and wildlife that depend them. The Act established the nine-member North American Wetlands Conservation Council to review and recommend grant proposals to the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission for funding.

In conjunction with its Standard Grants program, the Council created a Small Grants program to promote long-term wetlands conservation activities by encouraging participation by new grantees and partners who may not otherwise be able to compete in the Standard Grants program. Since 1996, when the small grants program began, more than 200 projects have been awarded funding totaling $8.6 million.

The Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Executive Secretary of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation have permanent seats on the Council. Four state representatives (one from each flyway) and three non-government organization representatives (each from a different non-government organization that is an active partner in wetlands conservation) are appointed by the Secretary of the Interior.

North American Wetlands Conservation Act small grants awarded in the Midwest for 2004 are:

Turkey Run Wildlife Management Area Wetland Development – Des Moines River – Pheasants Forever will receive a $50,000 grant to complete restoration work on 12.1 acres of wetlands and 52.3 acres of upland habitat in Lee County, Iowa. This work is one component of a 232-acre acquisition being completed by the Lee County Conservation Board. A $65,000 contribution from Lee County Pheasants Forever and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources was used as the non-federal match for this grant; the total cost of the project was $313,000 and a number of partners contributed.

Limberlost and Loblolly Wetland Restoration Project – Friends of the Limberlost State Historic Site, Inc., will receive $48,000 to acquire and restore 112.5 acres of wetlands and associated uplands in Jay and Adams counties, Indiana. The project will primarily benefit wetland-associated migratory birds. Partners including the Limberlost Swamp Remembered Committee, June Windmiller Estate and others contributed $96,000 to accomplish this project.

Restoration of Wetlands for Wildlife at Spunky Bottoms Merwin Preserve – The Nature Conservancy will receive $49,993 to restore and enhance 265 acres of wetland habitat in Brown County, Illinois. TNC is providing the non-federal matching funds for this grant. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources has entrusted TNC with management and restoration responsibilities on state lands adjacent to the TNC property.

Hutchinson Property on Lake Leelanau Narrows – The Leelanau Conservancy will receive $50,000 to acquire property in Leelanau County, Michigan. The project will protect 43 acres of wetlands and associated uplands and 850 feet of shoreline along Lake Leelanau. The Leelanau Conservancy is providing $350,000 as the non-federal match for the project.

Pigeon River Protection Project – Busch Acquisition – The Little Traverse Conservancy will use a $50,000 grant to acquire and protect 60 acres of wetland and 140 acres of associated wetlands along the Pigeon River in Michigan. The project will protect 6,600 feet of shoreline habitat. The conservancy, along with private donations and foundations, collectively committed $1,450,000 as non-federal match.

Northeast Ohio Coastal Wetland and Native Grassland Project – The Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife, will receive $50,000 for habitat work in Trumbull County, Ohio. The project will enhance 396 acres of wetland and restore 52 acres of native prairie to benefit waterfowl during migration, as well as other wetland associated migratory birds. The Ohio Division of Wildlife, the National Wild Turkey Federation and other contributed $1,275,026 as a non-federal match to this project.

Fox River National Wildlife Refuge Wetland Restoration – Fox River National Wildlife Refuge will receive $17,500 for wetland restoration in Marquette County, Wisconsin, to restore 100 acres of wetlands by strategically filling an old ditch system on the refuge. Ducks Unlimited and the River Crossing Charter School are contributing $17,500 as non-federal match.

Lea Lake Principal Spillway Construction – Rusk County, Wisconsin, will receive $50,000 to replace and improve the water control structure on Lea Lake, which will ensure the integrity of this impoundment and the wild rice it contains. Rusk County, Lac Courte Oreilles Conservation Department, Ducks Unlimited and other partners have committed $120,000 as non-federal matching funds.

Pheasant Branch Conservancy Habitat Enhancement Project – The Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy, Inc., will receive $50,000 to do habitat work on 185 acres in Dane County, Wisconsin. This partnership will enhance 50 acres of wetland and upland by removing shrubs and restore 135 acres of prairie and oak savanna habitat. The Friends, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and others contributed $188,691 as non-federal match to this project.

Rose Lake Acquisition – Madison Audubon Society will use a $50,000 grant to acquire 80 acres adjacent to Rose Lake in Jefferson County, Wisconsin. This acquisition, combined with an existing 120 acres, will protect 200 acres of property and 7,600 feet shoreline along Rose Lake. Madison Audubon, Jefferson County Parks Department and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources committed $385,000 as a non-federal match to this project.

Yahara River – Cherokee Marsh Wetland Restoration – The City of Madison’s Parks Division will receive $25,464 to plant submerged and emergent plant materials in an 80-acre area at Cherokee Marsh Conservation Park in Dane County, Wisconsin. On the water-ward side of the planted area, brush piles and wooden snow fencing will be placed to reduce wave action until the vegetation becomes established. When completed, the project will provide a secondary benefit by protecting a 200-acre floating sedge meadow from erosive wave action. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the City of Madison and other partners contributed $25,464 as non-federal match.

Mud Lake Wildlife Management Area Project – Pheasants Forever will receive a $50,000 grant to acquire 70.5 acres of habitat in Morrison County, Minnesota, part of a 318.5-acre acquisition being completed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The total acquisition includes about half of the Mud Lake shoreline, and will compliment an existing state wildlife management area adjacent to Mud Lake. Pheasants Forever and the DNR committed $58,900 as non-federal match.

Buffalo Ridge Nesting Habitat Enhancement Project – Pheasants Forever will receive $50,000 to acquire, restore and enhance habitat in Lincoln and Lyon counties, Minnesota. The grant will help restore and enhance 118 acres of wetland associated upland habitat and acquire 85 acres of wetland and upland habitat. A partnership comprising Pheasants Forever, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and two Soil and Water Conservation Districts committed $50,705 in non-federal match.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses 544 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national fish hatcheries, 63 Fish and Wildlife Management offices and 81 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Assistance program, which distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.

-FWS-