Habitat Grant Summaries
Due to a budget impasse, the
FY 1996 grant assistance award process was different from previous years. No guidance
document soliciting new preproposals was published. Nevertheless, unsolicited preproposals
were received from grantees wishing to extend the length of their projects and expand
their original work without changing the scope of work. All of the projects receiving this
year's funding have been subjected to GLNPO rigorous, competitive review process the year
the first award was made. Additionally, the GLNPO Ecological Protection and Restoration
Team reviewed the new preproposals based on project urgency, enhancement of original work,
or new and unique ideas.
Bad River/Kakagon Watershed Management Project Coordinator
(GL985001-02-0: $40,184)
Recipient: Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
GLNPO Project Officer: Karen Rodriguez, (312) 353-2690
The goals of the Watershed Program Coordinator are: to educate
the Tribe and the watershed public about ecosystem protection
actions being taken by the Tribal Natural Resources Department,
and to coordinate with other resource agencies in the watershed to
protect the entire ecosystem.
Chicago Regional Biodiversity Recovery Plan
(GL985200-02-0: $150,000)
Recipient: The Nature Conservancy, Illinois
GLNPO Project Officer: Karen Rodriguez, (312) 353-2690
A Chicago Wilderness Recovery Plan will be developed with full
involvement of the Chicago Wilderness 50+ member organizations. It
will provide the framework for public understanding and for action
by the organizations working to protect and restore the
biodiversity of the greater Chicago region to a sustainable
condition. The plan will build upon the biodiversity atlas
presently being prepared with EPA support. It will include a short
introduction and history of the biodiversity in the metropolitan
region, a vision of ecological recovery, indicators that can be
used to identify conditions and measurable results, overall
analysis of major issues in terms of both present conditions and
the stressors causing degradation, challenges confronting the
region and ways of dealing with them, and major action steps
needed.
Improvement of the Scientific Basis for Oak Savanna
Restoration and Habitat Effects on Karner Blue Butterfly Viability
(DW14947694-01-0: $26,500)
Recipient: National Biological Service
GLNPO Project Officer: Karen Rodriguez, (312) 353-2690
This project is providing a scientific basis for restoration of
savannas and conservation of the Karner blue butterfly and other
savanna biodiversity in southern Lake Michigan.
Lake Ontario Dune Restoration Workshop
(GL985787-01-0: $13,999)
Recipient: Cornell University
GLNPO Project Officer: Robert Beltran, (312) 353-0826
The project will organize and hold a workshop of local
community leaders, governmental agencies, non-government
organizations, including The Ontario Dunes Coalition and the
public, to inform the community of the need and rationale for
steps already underway, and to coordinate actions and explore new
directions in preserving and restoring the eastern Lake Ontario
coastal dunes ecosystem.
Lake Superior Habitat Coordinator
(GL985189-01-0: $70,000)
Recipient: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
GLNPO Project Officer: Rich Greenwood, (312) 886-3853
Project goals include: strengthening bi-national and
inter-agency involvement in ecosystem-based planning in the Lake
Superior Watershed; increasing the involvement of citizens in
local resource management decision-making and activities;
facilitating the implementation of projects to identify, protect,
and restore sites of important habitat.
Marketing Wetlands for Profit
(GL995652-02-0: $200,000)
Recipient: Maumee Valley Resource Conservation and Development Area
GLNPO Project Officer: Karen Rodriguez, (312) 353-2690
This project is demonstrating how construction and management
of wetlands coupled with sub-irrigation can be economically
profitable for farmers. It is reducing the adverse impacts of
agricultural runoff in the Maumee River basin. It is expected to
help farmers, environmental groups, farm groups, natural resource
conservation and environmental protection agencies and the
agricultural industry personnel learn how wetlands can be used
together to increase farm incomes and improve the environment.
Mighty Acorns Youth Stewardship Educational Program
(GL995612-02-0: $46,260)
Recipient: The Nature Conservancy, Illinois
GLNPO Project Officer: Karen Rodriguez, (312) 353-2690
This project continues the work of the Mighty Acorns in
Southeast Chicago. Over the course of the one-year project period,
teachers in new schools will be trained in Mighty Acorns outdoor
education program techniques and teachers already participating in
the program will be able to expand their skills by attending
workshops. It is expected several hundred students from the
southeast side will participate in the program as a result of this
project.
Protection and Restoration of Sandy Pond Peninsula
(GL985129-02-0: $85,400)
Recipient: The Nature Conservancy of Central and Western New York
GLNPO Project Officer: Robert Beltran, (312) 353-0826
This project will build on the original Sandy Pond grant and
transfer methods to the adjacent El Dorado Beach preserve. It was
acquired by TNC to protect the shoreline and dunes, a stopover for
migrating shorebirds. The community of private landowners will be
engaged in this conservation initiative. This is the most
important ecological megasite in eastern Lake Ontario.
St. Louis River Wild Rice Restoration Project
(GL5651-02-0: $32,000)
Recipient: Fond Du Lac Reservation
GLNPO Project Officer: Rich Greenwood, (312) 886-3853
This project continued the tasks of collecting river and lake
wild rice and seeding new areas of the St. Louis River. Fish
exclosures are being placed in key areas on the river to determine
affect on the new wild rice stands.
Building a Conservation Vision for Great Lakes Biodiversity
(GL985513-01-0: $200,000)
Recipient: The Nature Conservancy, Great Lakes Program
GLNPO Project Officer: Karen Rodriguez, (312) 353-2690
The project will involve ecoregional prioritization in the
Maumee Lake Plain and Northern Great Lakes. The objectives are to
develop clear objectives and recommendations for conservation of
natural communities and vulnerable species at a regional level,
identify a portfolio of conservation sites within ecologically
defined local areas, and prepare a summary report.
Conifer Restoration in the Bad River Watershed
(GL985515-01-0: $46,700)
Recipient: Northland College
GLNPO Project Officer: Karen Rodriguez, (312) 353-2690
This two year project will engage work study students,
volunteers, and internship crews in conifer (white cedar, hemlock,
and white pine) planting and enclosure-building. Five methods of
conifer regeneration will be tested at sites across the
Chequamegon region. As a small pilot study, exclosures will be
built to assess deer browse damage to conifers. The result will be
the establishment of a tree planting program and assessment of
success as part of Northland's regular curricular activities.
Developing a Plan for Protecting and Restoring Successional
Habitats on Presque Isle State Park by Controlling Exotic Plant
Species
(GL985589-01-0: $25,000)
Recipient: Presque Isle Partnership
GLNPO Project Officer: Karen Rodriguez, (312) 353-2690
The purpose of this project is to develop a comprehensive plan
for dealing with invasive species such as Phragmites, reed canary
grass, Japanese bush honeysuckle, purple loosestrife, and hybrid
cattail. Vegetative maps will detail threatened habitats and their
associated species as well as control measures. The result will be
a healthier Presque Isle State Park after the elimination of
invasive vegetation.
Go Native! With Michigan Plants
(GL985594-01-0: $150,000)
Recipient: Michigan Association of Conservation Districts
GLNPO Project Officer: Karen Rodriguez, (312) 353-2690
This three year project will stimulate the growth, marketing,
and distribution of a wide variety of local plant genotypes
through Michigan's Conservation District's Earth Enhancement
Catalogs. Stewardship of public and private property will be
encouraged by providing landowners one-on-one technical assistance
and distributing plant materials. The result will be the greater
ability of conservation districts to provide information on
biodiversity to their clients, thus enabling landowners to see the
value in restoring formerly degraded ecosystems.
Grand Calumet River Basin Biodiversity Conservation Plan
(GL985556-01-0: $137,000)
Recipient: The Nature Conservancy, Northwest Indiana Office
GLNPO Project Officer: Karen Rodriguez, (312) 353-2690
This two year project will fill information gaps with a
targeted inventory of potential habitat sites, develop an updated
ownership list, conduct an overall assessment of undeveloped or
underdeveloped properties including brownfields and
rights-of-ways, identify and analyze current and potential
stressors to target areas, develop a conservation plan for
biodiversity, and identify strategies to restore the ecological
structure and function of degraded areas in this Area of Concern.
Pilot restoration projects will be identified and implemented. The
result will be an improvement in the ecological health of the Area
of Concern and a collaboration of many partners who will steward
the area's natural resources.
Grand Portage Reservation Coaster Brook Trout Habitat
Protection Program
(GL985618-01-0: $48,659)
Recipient: Grand Portage Reservation Tribal Council
GLNPO Project Officer: Karen Rodriguez, (312) 353-2690
This project will assess the reasons for the loss of the
coaster brook trout and formulate a management plan to restore
fish to natural levels. Areas of habitat will be quantified to
determine the extent of habitat in the Grand Portage area. After
delineation as habitat, these areas will be monitored and legally
protected from degradation. The results will be no further loss of
coaster brook trout and an increase in understanding of impacts to
the species.
Habitat Design for Mussel Restoration
(DW14947824-01-0: $56,000)
Recipient: United States Geological Survey
GLNPO Project Officer: Karen Rodriguez, (312) 353-2690
This project will assess substrate particle size, percentage of
streamflow that is groundwater, channel geomorphology, water
quality, and available food resources in extant mussel beds in the
Cedar Creek, Fish Creek, and West Branch sub-basins of the St.
Joseph River. A fact sheet that highlights important habitat and
water quality characteristics necessary for the conservation of
freshwater mussel biodiversity will be developed. The result of
this project will be to advance our understanding of freshwater
mussel habitat and water quality characteristics, and a template
of preferred conditions so that restoration efforts can be guided
by sound scientific understanding.
Identification of Lake Sturgeon Habitat in the St. Lawrence
River
(GL985675-01-0: $20,283)
Recipient: State University of New York College of Environmental
Sciences and Forestry
GLNPO Project Officer: Robert Beltran, (312) 353-0826
The project seeks to obtain new information about the now
poorly-understood topic and specific habitat preferences by the
critical juvenile stage Lake sturgeon in the St. Lawrence River
near Massena, New York. University personnel and students will
collect, radiotag, release, and monitor the movements of 2-5
year-old juveniles. Preferred areas will be characterized for
hydrologic, limnologic, physiographic, and biological attributes.
Analysis of this information may provide important information
about the food and habitat needs and preferences of Lake Sturgeon.
Implementation of the Marsh Monitoring Program in the Great
Lakes Basin
(GL985590-01-0: $52,100)
Recipient: Great Lakes United
GLNPO Project Officer: Richard Greenwood, (312) 886-3853
This project will build upon a baseline program conducted in
1994 through 1996 by the Long Point Bird Observatory in Ontario.
Spatial and temporal comparisons of marsh bird and amphibian
populations in AOCs versus other marshes both on a local and
basinwide scale will provide an indication of the success of
habitat rehabilitation activities in individual AOCs and an
ongoing measure of the health of the marshes and wildlife
communities on local and regional scales. At least 1750 stations
will be surveyed for marsh birds and amphibians throughout the
basin. Information is collected by about 500 trained volunteers
using an established protocol. An analysis of work conducted in
1995-96 will be conducted, data from 1997 will be compiled, field
manuals and data forms distributed, field work conducted, and
results produced and distributed via newsletter and Internet. A
final report will be submitted to the binational Advisory
Committee. The results will be the indication of the health of
wetlands and wildlife across the basin, and an indication of the
success of habitat rehabilitation activities in individual AOCs.
Karner Blue Butterfly Habitat/Corridor Establishment
(DW14947822-01-0: $71,000)
Recipient: Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore
GLNPO Project Officer: Mike Russ, (312) 886-4013
This project will establish a biological corridor appropriate
for the sustainability and migration of the federally endangered
Karner blue butterfly. Monitoring transects will be established
within designated restoration areas to determine woody species
densities, canopy cover, and herbaceous species composition.
Exotic and woody plant invasions will be reduced through manual
removal and prescribed burning. Plantings of native species will
ensure a rich native understory. Elementary school classes and
park personnel and volunteers will assist in the restoration. The
results will be a sustainable Karner blue corridor and an increase
in biodiversity through the removal of exotics and the restoration
of native prairie and savanna habitat.
Les Cheneaux Compatible Economic Development Project
(GL985489-01-0: $77,500)
Recipient: Les Cheneaux Chamber of Commerce, Cedarville, MI
GLNPO Project Officer: Duane Heaton, (312) 886-6399
The project will support the creation of a local
community-driven plan for economic development that depends on and
provides for the long-term protection of the rich biological
diversity of the area. The project will bring economic development
expertise and a facilitated community visioning and planning
process to the rural community. Ultimately, the project will
result in a shared community vision for economic development and a
set of action plans to begin compatible development initiatives.
Les Cheneaux is a largely undeveloped coastal community on the
shore of Lake Huron. This remarkably diverse stretch of Great
Lakes shoreline in the eastern upper peninsula of Michigan
includes two communities and an archipelago of 36 islands. With
nine globally-rare natural communities that provide habitat to
eleven Federally-listed threatened or endangered species and more
the 60 State-listed species, the northern shoreline of Lake Huron
is an important resource to the Great Lakes basin.
Mighty Acorns Youth Stewardship Education
(GL995612-02-1: $49,613)
Recipient: The Nature Conservancy, Illinois Office
GLNPO Project Officer: Karen Rodriguez, (312) 353-2690
The project will address the need for public support of
ecological restoration of natural areas, particularly education
and outreach about these issues to communities that traditionally
do not receive stewardship education programs. This project will
strengthen and expand the program within the Southeast Chicago and
Northwest Indiana region. New schools, teachers, community members
and volunteers will be recruited to guide children in small group
field experiences. Students will explore natural areas and help
focus student learning with stewardship activities such as seed
collecting and planting, exotic weed removal, and brush cutting.
Northern Pike Habitat Protection and Restoration Project
Phase II
(GL985712-01: $130,000)
Recipient: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
GLNPO Project Officer: Karen Rodriguez, (312) 353-2690
This is an expansion of the successful Northern Pike Habitat
Protection and Restoration Project completed in 1996. This grant
will restore critical northern pike wetland spawning and rearing
habitat within the western shore of the Green Bay coastal zone as
identified in Phase 1. This project is in line with the fish
community objectives for Green Bay. Success of this project will
be quantitatively measured allowing the knowledge gained to be
applied in similar systems across the northern pike species
extent. The project and budget periods are from 10/1/97 to
9/30/99.
Restoration of Habitats and Natural Processes on the Great
Lakes Plain of New York State
(GL985591-01-0: $104,796)
Recipient: The Nature Conservancy of Central and Western New York
GLNPO Project Officer: Robert Beltran, (312) 353-0826
The proposal incorporates three elements all related to the
preservation and restoration of habitat elements and natural
processes associated with the Lake Ontario plain:
A. Sand Transport in the Barrier Beach Ecosystem of
Eastern Lake Ontario - The applicant seeks to address
the issue of changes in the coastal processes affecting
distribution and transport of beach sands along the barrier
beaches of eastern Lake Ontario. The project will bring together
expertise and information regarding history, human-induced and
natural changes in sand supply and transport, including effects
of changes in Lake level regimens. Once information is gathered
and disseminated, a coalition will be assembled, to evaluate,
recommend, and identify funding for a course of action to
correct any human-induced causes and effects upon the natural
processes.
B. Restoration of Rush Oak Openings - Work with
state, local, and regional partners to develop and effect a
joint restoration plan to unite ownerships, and to use volunteer
and paid staff to implement restoration of the relict oak
savannah community, and to engage local education and outreach
media to inform and involve Town residents and local school and
university students, and to develop educational materials.
C. Controlling the Spread of Swallowort - This
project will develop new techniques for controlling the exotic
pest swallowort (Vincetoxicum rossicum). Experimental
control treatments at three different sites will contribute to
knowledge about the life cycle of this invasive plant and the
most effective methods for its control. A manual providing
control information for private landowners will be widely
distributed throughout the Great Lakes. The result will be
increased understanding of how to control an aggressive
non-indigenous species which is threatening limestone ecological
communities in New York and as far away as Wisconsin.
Restoring Biodiversity to Midwest Oak Savannas in Ohio
(GL985592-01-0: $166,600)
Recipient: Metropolitan Park District of the Toledo Area
GLNPO Project Officer: Rich Greenwood, (312) 886-3853
This two-year restoration project will restore up to 250 acres
of oak savanna within the 4000-acre Oak Openings Preserve
Metropark in Toledo. Activities will be selective cutting and
treating of non-indigenous species, prescribed burning, seed
gathering and seed planting. Baseline community plots will measure
the success of the cutting, burning and planting. The result will
be sites suitable for the release of the Karner blue butterfly,
extirpated in the area since 1989. A combination of restoration
activities for local volunteers and teacher training will utilize
restoration sites to demonstrate the role individuals play in
restoration and encourage stewardship for natural communities.
Restoring Invertebrate/Fish Communities in Coastal Wetlands
(DW14947830-01-0: $100,000)
Recipient: USGS Great Lakes Science Center
GLNPO Project Officer: Duane Heaton, (312) -886-6399
This project will evaluate the results of a wetland restoration
effort in which management methods for restoring hydrologic
connections between diked wetlands and the lakes are being
developed. This assessment will provide the information needed to
evaluate the results of the project and make any required
adjustments. The ability to manage this diked wetland is important
for numerous fish and invertebrate species, including a native
clam population of 22 species. The results will lead to improved
habitat for fish and invertebrates, an increase in emergent and
submersed vegetation, and information of restoration of native
clams in Great Lakes wetlands.
Sand Mine Ecological Restoration - Grand Mere State Park
(GL985669-01-0: $95,000)
Recipient: Michigan Department of Natural Resources
GLNPO Project Officer: Danielle Green, (312) 886-7594
The project will demonstrate the feasibility of restoring sand
mined land to a natural condition supporting high quality native
plant communities. The grant will be awarded to the Michigan
Department of Natural Resources, State Park Stewardship Program.
Sand mining is coming to a close on land that is within Grand Mere
State Park and which will become part of it under the terms of
litigation. State law requires rehabilitation of mined land, but
not to levels that approach the very high quality habitats found
in the park.
The habitat be restored includes a rare "wet-panne" community
associated with Great Lakes sand dune ecosystems. This will be
accomplished by shaping the mined land and restoring native plants
to provide for this unusual form of wetland. It will demonstrate
both the ecological feasibility and the feasibility of cooperation
between private industry and government at the state, federal and
local levels. Demonstration of both technical and cost effective
aspects can provide the basis for strengthening both restoration
practices and state law.
St. Clair River Lakeplain Prairie and Oak Savanna Ecosystem
Restoration Monitoring
(GL975694-01-0: $51,242)
Recipient: Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife
Division
Project Officer: Duane Heaton, (312) 886-6399
Restoration of three State-owned lakeplain prairie and oak
savanna sites activities and public education of the diversity,
rarity, and uniqueness of the lakeplain ecosystem will be
conducted without GLNPO funding. The GLNPO-funded portion of the
project consists of writing and implementing an inventory and
monitoring plan for the collection of baseline data on the plants
and insects at three State-owned lakeplain prairie and oak savanna
restoration sites. The inventory and monitoring work is an
integral part of the overall restoration project, as it is
essential for evaluating the long-term success of restoration
efforts and making future management decisions regarding continued
restoration work.
As background, only 0.6 percent of Michigan's original
lakeplain prairie and oak savanna communities remain. These
communities are considered globally imperiled, with lakeplain
wet-mesic prairie to be critically imperiled. Lakeplain
communities harbor nineteen species (eleven plants, seven animals)
which are State-endangered or threatened, and eight (five plants,
three animals) more of special concern. The Federally-threatened
Eastern prairie fringed orchid is of particular concern.
Sugarloaf Cove Habitat Restoration
(GL985521-01-0: $138,500)
Recipient: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Project Officer: John Schneider, (312) 886-0880
This project will restore high priority ecological components
to the Sugarloaf Cove site, a unique Lake Superior peat-based
coastal wetland. A long range site plan will be developed. The
hydrology will be restored pending investigation of the subsurface
hydrologic conditions. Long term goals and targets for wetland
composition and structure of the wetland will be established along
with methodologies for future condition. A pilot first phase will
serve as a methodological test area followed by the process of
restoration of the larger site. Structures will be removed and
road corridors restored to native plant communities.
Wentworth - Thornton Prairie Project
(GL985741-01-0: $20,000)
Recipient: Corporation for OpenLands (CorLands)
GLNPO Project Officer: Karen Rodriguez, (312) 353-2690
The Burnham Greenway is a corridor of four remnant natural
prairie areas identified by the Illinois Natural Areas Survey and
linked by a vacated ConRail railroad right of way which is in the
final stages of acquisition by a consortium of local governments.
The corridor is in the heavily developed Lake Calumet area of
southeast Chicago. Of the four natural areas in the corridor,
Calumet and Burnham prairies are being acquired by the Cook County
Forest Preserve District. The Wentworth and Thornton Prairies
remain to be acquired.
A major barrier to acquisition and completion of the corridor
is the complex state of land titles due to the complex history of
land ownership including failed housing subdivisions, which were
sold, but never built. The County has not been successful in the
past in dealing with the problem and it is only because CorLands/Open
Lands sorted out land ownership in the Calumet and Burnham
prairies that the County was willing to proceed with acquisition.
The County has expressed willingness to acquire the remaining two
areas if CorLands will provide a similar service for the Wentworth
and Thornton Prairies. This proposal would fund development of a
feasibility study to serve as a basis for acquisition of the land
including analysis of title.
|
