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2012 Habitat Restoration Grants Program RFP October 27, 2011
Habitat restoration grants RFP is released. Online submittals of Optional Letters of Intent are due on November 30, 2011. The period for submitting Online Applications is February 1 - 29, 2012.
Click here to download the RFP (MS Word format, 287 kb)
Habitat Restoration Highlights
Regional Habitat Monitoring Data System (RHMDS)
The RHDMS is a Web-based system that enables sharing, integration, and use of coastal habitat monitoring data. As a proof of concept, the system has been developed initially with data from a limited number of monitoring sites in salt marshes and seagrass beds. The sites are shown on a map of the Gulf of Maine, and graphs of changes over time are provided for each site. The data indicate the degree of habitat degradation and the degree of recovery after habitat restoration. For example, some salt marsh sites have been restored by removal of tidal restrictions (culverts, bridges), and the marsh vegetation data shows a recovery in abundance of salt-tolerant plant. To use the RHMDS, click here.
Stream Barrier Removal Monitoring Guide
The Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment announces publication of the Stream Barrier Removal Monitoring Guide. Developed collaboratively by more than 70 scientists, natural resource managers, engineers and consultants from government agencies and non-governmental organizations, the guide presents a standardized framework for monitoring the ecological changes that occur when dams, culverts, and other stream barriers are removed. Across the Gulf of Maine watershed, agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private parties are removing dams and replacing culverts to restore stream processes and fish passage. Significant resources are invested in these stream barrier removal projects, but monitoring the outcomes of the projects has not been a priority. Monitoring is essential to document the effectiveness of restoration projects; document the long-term regional impacts of restoration efforts; improve restoration techniques; and communicate the results of restoration projects to stakeholders and the public. The Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment addressed the need for consistent stream barrier removal monitoring by developing the Stream Barrier Removal Monitoring Guide. The Guide provides a framework of critical monitoring parameters for use at dam and culvert removal sites in the Gulf of Maine watershed. The framework can easily be adapted for stream barrier removal projects in other regions. For more information and to download the Guide, visit www.gulfofmaine.org/streambarrierremoval.
Projects funded by GOMC-NOAA Habitat Restoration Grants Program
Examples of habitat restoration projects
Oak Island Salt Marsh Restoration Revere, MA
Oak Island Marsh is located within a 1,800-acre coastal wetland complex known locally as Rumney Marsh. Only seven miles from downtown Boston, Rumney Marsh is a state-designated Area of Critical Environmental Concern. Local, state, and federal agencies, including the Massachusetts Wetlands Restoration Program, EPA, NOAA/NMFS, and the City of Revere, have restored approximately 120 acres of Rumney Marsh. Fact sheet (PDF, 606 KB) | Web page
Sebasticook River Anadromous Fish Restoration Newport & Plymouth, ME
At 50 miles long, the Sebasticook River is the largest tributary of the Kennebec River. Historically, the Sebasticook River provided nursery and spawning habitat for many anadromous fish species, but today dams block shad and alewives from their spawning areas. The State of Maine and other project partners are restoring fish passage to Sebasticook Lake and Plymouth Pond by installing fish ladders and improving stream habitat. Fact sheet (PDF, 248 KB) | Web page
Quivett Creek Salt Marsh Restoration Dennis, MA
A 265-acre salt marsh surrounds Quivett Creek, and the stream is an important migratory route for anadromous fish. An abandoned road crosses the upper part of Quivett Creek, separating the upper 11 acres of salt marsh from the main marsh system. With support from project partners, the Town of Dennis is replacing two small culverts under the road with a larger culvert to restore tidal flow and allow fish passage to the upper Quivett Creek salt marsh. Fact sheet (PDF, 608 KB) | Web page
More examples
The Habitat Restoration Subcommittee and the Outreach Committee of the Gulf of Maine Council have released fourteen fact sheets on habitat restoration projects in the region. The fact sheets provide an introduction to some of the many efforts to restore salt marshes, rivers, and other habitats in the Gulf of Maine and its watershed.
Habitat-specific information for project planning
Salt marsh
Eelgrass
Rivers for anadromous fish
Gulf of Maine Habitat Restoration Strategy
The Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment has released a comprehensive plan for state, provincial, federal, and local habitat restoration experts to follow as they prioritize and restore coastal and marine habitat throughout the Gulf of Maine. The 24-page Gulf of Maine Habitat Restoration Strategy (PDF, 903 KB) identifies habitats of regional significance, prioritizes restoration projects, and promotes habitat restoration at a regional level. It was developed by habitat restoration experts from government agencies and non-government organizations in both the United States and Canada.
Atlas of tidal restrictions
The tidal restrictions atlas provides photographs and information about culverts, bridges, and other structures that retrict tidal flooding of marshes and other coastal habitats. Intended to facilitate habitat restoration efforts, the information is available through a sortable list and an interactive map. Presently the atlas contains tidal restrictions data for Maine only. Data for Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia will be added based on availability.
Inventory of potential restoration sites in 4 watersheds
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The Maine State Planning Office conducted an inventory of 484 possible sites for habitat restoration in four Maine watersheds: Kennebec River, Royal River, Presumpscot River, and Spruce Creek. The inventory is now available in an interactive map and a search form on the Habitat Restoration Web Portal.
The inventory identifies places along the shoreline that potentially could be enhanced through habitat restoration. Sites are categorized by town, waterbody, habitat, source of degradation, area of habitat affected, type of restoration needed, cost rank, and project status.
The interactive map has symbols at the inventory sites. Symbol size indicates the area of habitat affected. Click on a symbol to see complete information about the site, including aerial and on-the-ground photographs. Example: Sparhawk Mill dam (Royal River)
Use the search form to find inventory sites based on selected criteria. Then click a link for complete information about a site.
Downloadable maps of potential sites for habitat restoration:
Kennebec River - Map 1 (PDF, 2.9 MB)
Kennebec River - Map 2 (PDF, 2.8 MB)
Kennebec River - Map 3 (PDF, 3 MB)
Kennebec River - Map 4 (PDF, 3.7 MB)
Kennebec River - Map 5 (PDF, 2.2 MB)
Royal River - Map 1 (PDF, 973 KB)
Royal River - Map 2 (PDF, 830 KB)
Royal River - Map 3 (PDF, 1.1 MB)
Spruce Creek - Map 1 (PDF, 732 KB)
Spruce Creek - Map 2 (PDF, 808 KB)
Spruce Creek - Map 3 (PDF, 874 KB)
More information about habitat restoration
The Gulf of Maine Habitat Restoration Web Portal is a regional information clearinghouse for habitat restoration practitioners, resource managers, scientists, funding agencies, and other people involved in habitat restoration. The Portal provides information about habitat restoration priorities, projects, funding opportunities, restoration techniques, and project planning. The Portal has a searchable database and interactive map of projects funded by the GOMC-NOAA Habitat Restoration Grants Program.
Funding for the Gulf of Maine Habitat Restoration Portal was provided by NOAA.
The Portal is a project of the Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment's Habitat Restoration Subcommittee.
Credits:
Peter H. Taylor ( Waterview Consulting)
GOMC Science Translation Project
Planning, writing, and design
James Cradock (Yellahoose)
Technical development
Seth Barker (Maine Department of Marine Resources)
GOMC Information Management Committee
Technical advising
Portions of the Portal's content were adapted with permission from the Rhode Island Restoration Portal.
Photograph: Culvert under Mountain Road at Strawberry Creek in Harpswell, Maine © Peter H. Taylor
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