NOAA RESTORATION CENTER CELEBRATES 10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY

July 14, 2006 — Even the torrential rain outside could not dampen the festive mood inside at the 10th anniversary celebration of the NOAA Community-based Restoration Program, held June 27, 2006, at the U.S. Capitol.

“NOAA has taken on tasks in communities where no one thought the job could be done,” said Rep. José Serrano (D-N.Y.), who cosponsored the celebration with Rep. Robert Simmons (R-Conn.). “When you find an agency that’s doing only good, you should shout it from a rooftop.”

Restoration Center staff were also joined by retired Navy Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Ph.D., undersecretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator; Timothy R. Keeney, deputy assistant secretary for oceans and atmosphere; Scott Rayder, NOAA, chief of staff; and numerous project partners from across the nation.

NOAA’s mission, Lautenbacher said, is to “create an informed society.” The NOAA Community-based Restoration Program helps achieve this goal by keeping restoration projects at the local level and getting entire neighborhoods involved.

Lautenbacher also cited the success of restoration projects in the Gulf Coast, many of which helped provide protection against Hurricane Katrina.

“Eight of nine projects did exactly what they were supposed to do [against the hurricane],” Lautenbacher said. Coastal wetlands buffer storm waves to protect human lives and livelihoods from devastating storms.(Click NOAA image for larger view of the speakers who participated in the NOAA Restoration Center 10-year Anniversary celebration. Speakers at the Hill event included (from l-r): Timothy Keeney, Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Christie Bradway, Rep. Robert Simmons (R-Conn.), Rep. Jose Serrano (D-NY), Linda Cox and Lynne Hale. Please credit “NOAA.”)

The event also marked the premiere of the new Hands on Habitat Portfolio of Success, featuring 10 years of CRP with portraits of major projects completed in all areas of the country.

One specific project highlighted throughout the morning was the restoration and revitalization of the Bronx River in New York City, which in less than a decade went from a debris-filled junkyard to a central part of the community.

“Ten years ago, there were more cars than fish [in the river],” said Linda Cox, executive director of the Bronx River Alliance. “Today it is a resource thanks to the financial and technical support of NOAA.” (Click NOAA image for larger view of Restoration Center staffer Cathy Bozek discussing living shorelines, which use organic materials to prevent shoreline erosion and restore natural habitats. Please credit “NOAA.”)

In 2001, efforts began to restore estuary and river fishery habitats in the Bronx River, in a partnership between NOAA and the Wildlife Conservation Society. Last March, hundreds of alewife were released into the river, introducing that species to the waterway for the first time in 350 years.

The Bronx River restoration “has become more than just a river project,” Serrano said. It has become a symbol for residents “not to give up hope, not to leave.” New York’s 16th district, represented by Serrano, is the poorest Congressional district in the United States.

Following the formal speaking segment of the morning, dignitaries and project partners explored a “Tools of the Trade” open house featuring some of the restoration equipment used in the field, including a model fish ladder and eelway, SCUBA gear, wetland plants, a portion of a fiber log, and an aquarium filled with fish and oysters. (Click NOAA image for larger view of the oyster exhibit displayed at the NOAA Restoration Center 10-year Anniversary celebration. The oyster population of the Chesapeake used to be able to filter the entire Bay in just 3 days — today, it takes about a year. Please credit “NOAA.”)

The display gave visitors the opportunity to see firsthand the effort and dedication that goes into NOAA Community-based Restoration Program projects, and partners expressed appreciation for the program’s many accomplishments.

“[The NOAA Community-based Restoration Program] helps us prioritize and pick projects we want to be part of, that the community wants to be part of,” said Christie Bradway, manager of environmental compliance and policy for Northeast Utilities.

Lynne Hale, director of the marine initiative for The Nature Conservancy, agreed. “This is one of the most effective and positive programs in getting people involved and caring,” Hale said. “All of these projects have brought people together.” (Click NOAA image for larger view of Mary Dudley, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, and Tisa Shostik, NOAA Restoration Center, talking about CRP projects in the Pacific Northwest region. Please credit “NOAA.”)

The NOAA Community-based Restoration Program is a “broad and powerful” program, said Simmons. The Connecticut Republican stressed the environmental, commercial and educational benefits of healthy waterways, as well as the importance of community involvement — “We want to make sure America is getting its hands on the habitat.”

NOAA Community-based Restoration Program
Since 1996, the NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service Community-based Restoration Program has funded more than 1,000 on-the-ground projects in 27 states, restoring 24,000 habitat acres and engaging more than 100,000 volunteers. (Click NOAA image for larger view of new NOAA publication entitled "Hands on Habitat Portfolio of Success," which features 10 years of NOAA Community-based Restoration with portraits of major projects completed in all areas of the country. Please credit “NOAA.”)

The program was established to “inspire and sustain local efforts to conduct meaningful, on-the-ground restoration of marine, estuarine and riparian habitat.” This is accomplished by forming partnerships with other local and national organizations, enlisting volunteers and using restoration projects as a means to bring communities closer together to care for their marine resources.

More than 55 million acres of tidal wetlands have been destroyed since colonial times. The NOAA Community-based Restoration Program is dedicated to repairing these ecosystems and restoring coastal habitats for thousands of species of native fish and wildlife.

In celebration of 10 years of the NOAA Community-based Restoration Program, here is a look at five of the program’s most notable successes:

• Little Salmon River Restoration (Idaho): More than 2,100 volunteers have contributed more than 20,500 hours of service to restore wetland and riparian habitats in southwest Idaho. Volunteers replanted native vegetation along the river, providing important habitat for fish and other wildlife. These restoration efforts help cool water temperatures and reduce sediment in spawning and rearing areas for migrating salmon and steelhead. A vital step in the Little Salmon River restoration has been collaboration with local landowners, allowing them to recognize the importance and benefits of healthy rivers and creeks. (Click NOAA image for larger view of Little Salmon River restoration volunteers. In southwest Idaho, 2,100 volunteers have helped restore wetland and riparian areas to benefit migrating salmon. Click here for high resolution version, which is a large file. Please credit “Mountain Visions/NOAA.”)

  In 2004, Mary Dudley, volunteer coordinator for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, was recognized with a NOAA Environmental Hero award, commemorating her leadership and pioneering spirit in Idaho restoration projects, as well as her role encouraging volunteer involvement.

• Rainey Refuge (Louisiana): As Hurricane Katrina demonstrated in 2005, there is an urgent need to restore our nation’s coastal habitats and protect the Gulf Coast’s wetlands. This is being accomplished admirably at the Rainey Refuge in Louisiana. The project, still ongoing, will help to restore a 640-acre pond that was formerly vegetated marsh. To date, 17,500 linear feet of terraces have been constructed and 15,400 plugs of salt marsh grass (Spartina alterniflora) have been planted. The terraces slow the water flow and remove sediment; the salt marsh grass will protect the shorelines of the terraces and help bind the new soil. Coastal wetlands absorb storm waves, providing protection for Gulf Coast residents and businesses. They also serve as habitat for numerous species of fish, birds and other wildlife. (Click NOAA image for larger view of Rainey Refuge marsh in Louisiana. Coastal wetlands buffer and absorb storm waves, acting as natural flood protection. Click here for high resolution version, which is a large file. Please credit “NOAA.”)
  
• Hudson-Raritan Keyport Oyster Reef Restoration (New Jersey): Since 2000, the NOAA-supported NY/NJ Baykeeper Oyster Restoration Project has planted more than 100,000 seed oysters at locations throughout coastal New York and New Jersey. These projects have enlisted the help of more than 600 volunteers collectively contributing more than 9,000 hours of service. This effort to bolster the rapidly declining oyster population has proved to be a remarkable success — impressive oyster survival and growth rates have been noted, in some cases doubling in size within months. (Click NOAA image for larger view of Hudson-Raritan Estuary in New Jersey. More than 600 volunteers have assisted in planting over 100,000 seed oysters at sites in coastal New York and New Jersey. Click here for high resolution version, which is a large file. Please credit “NY/NJ Baykeeper/NOAA.”)

  The Baykeeper project uses an approach dedicated to improving water quality, creating oyster reef habitats, and involving and educating the local community through volunteerism. Plans are now in development to expand this project to examine the positive impacts of oyster reef development in New Jersey waters.

• West Henniker Dam Removal (New Hampshire): In the summer of 2004, NOAA-provided funds to help the town of Henniker, N.H., remove the 18-foot-high West Henniker Dam, which blocked migratory fish and eel passage to upstream spawning and feeding grounds. Removal of the dam restored approximately eight acres of in-stream habitat and opened 15 miles of the Contoocook River that had previously been blocked. (Click NOAA image for larger view of Henniker Dam Removal in New Hampshire. The removal of the West Henniker Dam opened up a 15-mile stretch of river for eel and salmon migration. Click here for high resolution version, which is a large file. Please credit “New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services/NOAA.”)

  The dam removal also improved waterfront access for Henniker residents and provided an educational opportunity to teach the public about the importance of riverine habitats and the benefits of dam removal.

• Reef Point Kelp Restoration (California): Since 2001, the Southern California Regional Kelp Restoration Project, in conjunction with NOAA, has dedicated itself to the maintenance and restoration of thousands of square meters of kelp forest in California. Divers and other volunteers have given thousands of hours in service to monitor and re-establish the kelp forests, which have decreased by 80 percent in southern California. Kelp is an essential part of the marine ecosystem, supporting a diverse group of marine species, including kelp bass, white sea bass, red urchin and spiny lobster. (Click NOAA image for larger view of perch and kelp in California. Kelp forests support a variety of marine species, including the rubberlip surfperch. Click here for high resolution version, which is a large file. Please credit “Dave Witting/NOAA.”)

  The Kelp Restoration Project makes it a priority to involve local students, who grow kelp spores in school, then transplant them to restoration sites where students can track their spores through underwater and aerial photography.
  

Relevant Web Sites
NOAA

NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service

NOAA Community-based Restoration Program

Hands on Habitat Portfolio of Success

Media Contact:
Connie Barclay, NOAA Fisheries, (301) 713-2370 x 144