NOAA Awards More than $800,000 for Local Restoration Projects
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has
awarded American Rivers, a national organization devoted to preserving
and restoring rivers, an $800,355 grant to renew its joint effort with
NOAA to restore streams and rivers that benefit species that migrate
between fresh and salt water, officials announced on Oct. 12.
"American Rivers has been at the forefront of creating strong
community initiatives that restore coastal habitat for fish that spawn
in freshwater and migrate to the ocean," said Conrad C. Lautenbacher,
NOAA administrator and under secretary of commerce for oceans and
atmosphere.
The grant funds awarded to American Rivers will support stream
barrier removal projects that help restore river ecosystems, enhance
public safety and have clear and identifiable benefits to migratory
fish populations in the four target regions. Local organizations may
apply for part of this grant money by visiting
http://www.americanrivers.org/NOAAGrants. These river restoration
projects will also boost communities' natural resiliency to the effects
of climate change and extreme weather events such as flooding and
storms.
"Rivers are at the heart of our communities," said Rebecca R.
Wodder, president of American Rivers. "Through our partnership with
NOAA, we have been able to provide communities with the technical and
financial assistance they need to turn rivers from afterthoughts to
assets, and promote awareness and appreciation of healthy rivers as
both an economic and environmental benefit."
For the past six years, the collaboration between NOAA and American
Rivers has resulted in more than $2 million being invested in almost
100 projects that create passage for migratory fish by removing dams or
culverts, building rock ramps, fish ladders and other ways for fish to
migrate upstream. NOAA's Open Rivers Initiative provides the funding
for these projects.