WASHINGTON — Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar recently announced $20.5 million in grants to support 24 projects in 13 states to conserve and restore coastal wetlands and their fish and wildlife habitats. The grants, awarded under the 2012 National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program, will be matched by nearly $21 million in partner contributions from state and local governments, private landowners and conservation groups.
“Coastal wetlands serve as some of nature’s most productive fish and wildlife habitat while providing storm protection, improved water quality and abundant recreational opportunities for local communities,” Salazar said. “I am pleased that with these grants we are able to help our state partners implement some of their high-priority projects that support both conservation and recreation along their coasts.”
The grants will be used to acquire, restore or enhance coastal wetlands and adjacent uplands to provide long-term conservation benefits to fish, wildlife and their habitats. States receiving funds include Alaska, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Texas, Virginia and Washington.
The National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and funded under provisions of the 1990 Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act. Funding is provided by Sport Fish Restoration Act revenue — money generated from an excise tax on fishing equipment, motorboat and small engine fuels.
The grants support President Barack Obama’s America’s Great Outdoors initiative for conservation, recreation and reconnecting people to the outdoors.
A recent 50-state report lists more than 100 of the country’s most promising projects — a result of 50 meetings with governors and stakeholders held by Salazar and other senior Interior officials to solicit ideas on how to best implement AGO in their states. A complete list of projects funded by the 2012 grant program can be found at www.fws.gov/coastal/CoastalGrants/index.html.