The Coastal Resources Management Council unanimously approved funding for coastal habitat restoration projects under the Coastal and Estuary Habitat Restoration and Trust Fund on November 26.
The Rhode Island Habitat Restoration Team presented a proposed list of funding needs for habitat restoration projects in the state; the projects are a result of their efforts. Projects reviewed by the team consisted of coastal wetlands restoration projects, the creation of anadromous fish runs and restoration of eelgrass beds.
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The project list and requested funding needs presented by the team include: Lonsdale Drive-In wetlands and upland riparian habitat restoration project, restoration of coastal salt marsh habitat at Fields Point, Narragansett Bay seagrass restoration project, Stillhouse Cove salt marsh revitalization project, Palmer River salt marsh restoration project, and Massachuck Creek anadromous fish run and salt marsh restoration project.
The first project scheduled to begin is the Lonsdale Drive-In restoration project, scheduled to begin in January 2003.
“This is an example of how interagency cooperation achieves successful environmental management,” said CRMC’s Chairman Michael M. Tikoian. The cooperation between the agencies is “a prime example of how the state can achieve its goals for coastal habitat restoration.”
The Coastal and Estuary Habitat Restoration and Trust Fund allocates $250,000 of the fees collected under the oil spill response and prevention statute to potential restoration projects that fall under the bill’s criteria. Money is made available through a grant process for projects geared toward improving coastal habitats.
The RI Habitat Restoration Team, formed in 1998 through the efforts of the CRMC, the Department of Environmental Management and Save The Bay, acts as the technical advisory committee to the CRMC as designated by the legislation. The need for a cooperative approach by public and private agencies to managing habitat projects in the state’s watersheds led to the team’s establishment.
