Southern Company’s subsidiary in northwest Florida joined forces with The Nature Conservancy to complete the final 1,000 acres of a longleaf pine restoration project, accelerating the environmental organization’s reforestation effort within the 6,350-acre Apalachicola Bluffs and Ravines Preserve. The partnership also provided for the reforestation of 100 acres of the Conservancy’s Rock Hill Preserve.
Five Star Restoration - Grants
2007 Grant Recipients
The following organizations have been awarded Five Star Restoration grants this year to implement wetland, riparian, and coastal conservation initiatives:
Harvey Reed Park Wetland Restoration (AL)
Recipient: Cawaco Resource Conservation & Development Council, Inc.
Five-Star Funds: $10,000
Project Area: Centerpoint, Alabama
The Cawaco Resource Conservation & Development Council, Inc. will restore 1.5 acres of Harvey Reed Park by planting native species to improve habitat for fish and wildlife, as well as water quality of contributing storm water runoff. The project will re-contour the urban stream channel using natural design techniques to correct severe erosion from storm water. The new channel design will create safety and stabilization to the walking path leading to the park and the future Five Mile Creek Greenway, allowing the community to access the park. Project partners include the Jefferson County Soil and Water Conservation District; the U.S. Department of Agriculture; ENSR; the City of Centerpoint; and the Jefferson County Roads and Transportation Department.
Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Gardening (AL)
Recipient: Dauphin Island Sea Lab
Five-Star Funds: $20,000
Project Area: Gulf Shores, Alabama
The Dauphin Island Sea Lab will restore .25 acres to Little Lagoon in Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge through submerged aquatic vegetation plantings. The plantings will restore vital coastal wetlands habitat, overcome obstacles associated with the challenging process of submerged aquatic vegetation planting, and engage and educate volunteers. High school student volunteers will learn techniques important to the process of submerged aquatic vegetation planting, as well as the benefits offered to the ecosystem by this habitat. The techniques that will be used for the restoration at Little Lagoon will be transferable to similar projects in the Mobile Bay estuarine system and beyond. The restoration of submerged aquatic vegetation will directly benefit a host of diverse fauna which depend on the vegetation, including recreationally and commercially important fish and crustaceans. Project partners will include the Mobile Bay National Estuarine Program; Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources; Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (Grasses in Classes Program); and Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge.
Tanner Williams Elementary School Rain Garden Creation Program (AL)
Five-Star Funds: $10,065
Recipient: Mobile County
Project Area: Wilmer, Alabama
Mobile County will partner to create a 3000 square-foot rain garden that will help protect Big Creek Lake, the primary source of drinking water for the Mobile Metropolitan area. Volunteers will prepare the site and a two-day rain garden demonstration workshop will educate participants on proper rain garden creation techniques. Students at Tanner Williams Elementary School will participate by learning about the rain garden's benefits for clean water and natural species. The success of the project will be monitored and the county will develop a brochure designed to launch a county-wide rain garden program. Project partners include Mobile County; Alabama Coastal Foundation; South Alabama Nurserymen's Association; Tanner Williams Elementary School; Mobile County Master Gardener's Association; and Mobile Area Water and Sewer System.
Turkey Creek Nature Preserve (AL)
Recipient: Southern Environmental Center
Five-Star Funds: $20,000
Project Area: Pinson, Alabama
The Southern Environmental Center (SEC), in partnership with Vulcan Materials, Youth Leadership Forum, Thompson Tractor, Forever Wild, ENSR, and the Jefferson County Commission, will restore 50 feet of stream bank in a 700-acre nature preserve along Turkey Creek. The project will also remove invasive species in the area, plant native species, construct a porous walkway, improve the access road, relocate parking areas, and plant a meadow garden in old parking areas. Through these efforts, the project will reduce sediment run-off, erosion, and stream bank degradation. This will improve water quality for vermillion darter habitat. In addition, the general area's appearance and accessibility will improve, and storm water runoff will be reduced. The project and Turkey Creek preserve will be utilized as an outdoor lab for Birmingham-Southern College's Urban Environmental Studies program, visitor education, and Eagle Scouts projects. SEC will work with Pinson Elementary, Rudd Middle, and Pinson High schools to create a Darter Adoption Program, organize fieldtrips, and hold an annual Turkey Creek Festival.
Project Greenshores Site II (FL)
Recipient: Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Five-Star Funds: $20,000
Project Area: Pensacola, Florida
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection will propagate, care for, and restore 21 acres of emergent submerged aquatic vegetation along the northern shoreline of Pensacola Bay. Oyster reefs will be constructed along the edge of the marsh using recycled concrete rubble that will serve to provide habitat for filter-feeding organisms, while also protecting the newly created salt marsh from erosion. Seven acres of oyster reef habitat and fourteen acres of salt marsh will be created at this site. The project also will include the construction of sidewalk, observation platforms, and a nature trail. The project will involve a hands-on approach by utilizing many volunteers from all aspects of the community, including students from local schools, civic organizations, environmental clubs, and local businesses. Project partners will include the City of Pensacola; Escambia County; the Florida Department of Environmental Protection; Santa Rosa County Sea Grant Extension; and Escambia County Sea Grant Extension.
The Restoration of Deadman's Island (FL)
Recipient: Northwest Florida Aquatic Preserves Office/CAMA
Five-Star Funds: $20,000
Project Area: Gulf Breeze, Florida
The Northwest Florida Aquatic Preserves Office will partner to restore 4 acres of emergent salt marsh and protect 1,240 feet of shoreline in the vicinity of Deadman's Island. Project partners will place 240 artificial vertical oyster reef structures along approximately 1,240 linear feet of shoreline and use dredge spoil behind the structures to establish the marsh. Vocational students from Escambia and Okaloosa county school districts will construct the reef structures and local green houses classes, school children and volunteers will plant the newly formed marsh. The ultimate goal of the project is permanent protection of the site through incorporation into the adjacent Fort Pickens Aquatic Preserve. Project partners include the Northwest Florida Aquatic Preserves Office; City of Gulf Breeze; Escambia County School District; Okaloosa County School District; University of West Florida; Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; and Florida Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas.
Northwest Florida Grasses in Classes Program (FL)
Recipient: Partnership for Community Programs, Inc.
Five-Star Funds: $19,905
Project Area: Florida
The Partnership for Community Programs, Inc. will conduct a 'Grasses in Classes' program that will produce enough vegetation to restore and enhance 7.63 acres of wetland and restore 3,673 feet of riparian corridor. The Program is a hands-on, interactive education project that will enable students to play a direct role in shoreline stabilization and restoration projects. Students will maintain and monitor a nursery of coastal aquatic and emergent vegetation. Students will gain a sense of stewardship by studying the ecological importance of coastal plant species and by participating in restoration projects. Two schools each from seven coastal counties will participate in the project, and the project will train at least 10 teachers in propagation techniques of coastal plants and at least 20 Master Gardener and Florida Master Naturalist volunteers in site assessment and recommendations. Project partners will include the University of Florida Sea Grant Extension Program; Florida Yards and Neighborhoods Extension; the School Districts of Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, and Bay Counties; the Florida Department of Environmental Protection; the Bay Area Resource Council; and the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance.
Oyster Lake Restoration (FL)
Recipient: Partnership for Community Programs Inc.
Five-Star Funds: $17,101
Project Area: Pensacola, Florida
The Partnership for Community Programs Inc. will restore 2.71 acres of Oyster Lake by removing invasive species and planting woody and herbaceous species. The project will improve the habitat for animal and plant species, such as the Choctawhatchee Beach Mouse, the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker, the Florida Panhandle Spiderlily, Southern Milkweed, and Godfrey's Golden Aster. The project will also result in the reduction of upstream flooding in the area. Long-term monitoring and management will include onsite monitoring of water quality and wildlife observations conducted by volunteers. Project partners will include the University of Florida Sea Grant Extension; the Bay Area Resource Council; the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance; the Walton Coastal Dune Lake Advisory Boards; the South Walton Community Council; and the Northwest Florida Water Management District.
Living Shoreline Restoration (FL)
Recipient: Walton College
Five-Star Funds: $20,000
Project Area: Destin, Florida
Walton College will restore .3 acres of land at Mattie Kelly Park by removing invasive plant species and replanting native wetland vegetation. The project will also create an oyster reef at Joe's Bayou Recreation Area to improve water quality, create fish and invertebrate habitat, and act as a living breakwater to help protect the shoreline from increased erosion. The project will consist of marsh vegetation plantings on 200 feet of eroded shoreline to provide stabilization, protection, and sand accumulation, thereby restoring the living shoreline. Educational volunteer activities will be planned for every part of the project to emphasize the importance of living shoreline solutions and creating a sustainable framework for future restoration and stewardship activities. Project partners will include the City of Destin; the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences; the Florida Department of Environmental Protection; the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; and the Mattie Kelly Cultural and Environmental Institute.
Ecosystem Restoration at Liza Jackson Park (FL)
Recipient: Walton College
Five-Star Funds: $20,000
Project Area: Fort Walton Beach, Florida
Walton College will restore approximately 1,000 feet of creek shoreline in Liza Jackson Park by altering a channelized, storm water outfall canal to form a meandering stream. Returning the creek to a more natural, vegetated setting will reduce storm water velocity runoff. The improved water quality will help reduce bacterial pollution into Santa Rosa Sound and will reduce beach closures in the park's swimming areas. The project will include a volunteer litter clean up and education day, educating local school children on the impact of non-point source pollution, the role of shoreline vegetation, and the importance of sound practices for clean water management. Project partners will include the Northwest Florida Management District; the City of Fort Walton Beach; the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences; the University of Florida Sea Grant; and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Varnell Springs Community Educational Outreach Trail (GA)
Recipient: Conasauga River Alliance
Five-Star Funds: $ 8,200
Project Area: Varnell, Georgia
The Conasauga River Alliance will to build on and protect conservation investments made over the last three years to restore and protect a three-acre limestone springs complex in Varnell Georgia. A boardwalk for the Varnell Springs Community Educational Outreach Trail will be created to protect sensitive emerging wetland vegetation and also to provide a platform for educating future stewards of Varnell Springs about the restoration project and protecting this water resource. Education aspects include targeted outreach utilizing 25 interpretive signs and a stewardship mentoring program. Project partners include the City of Varnell; Limestone Valley RC&D; Whitfield County; and Dalton College.
Lake Oconee Island Restoration (GA)
Recipient: Georgia Department of Natural Resources
Five-Star Funds: $15,740
Project Area: Greene and Morgan Counties, Georgia
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources will restore approximately 10 acres of ecologically valuable habitat in Lake Oconee to prevent further island erosion. The project will place rip-rap along three islands to provide bank stabilization. In addition, fishery enhancements, such as sunken cedar trees and spawning gravel, will be placed along the shoreline by volunteers from a local anglers club. Volunteers at Reynolds Plantation Heritage and Nature Center will enhance wetland and upland habitat with migratory bird attractors, such as wood duck houses and native plantings of water willow and cypress. Project partners include the Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership; the Georgia Power Company; Lake Oconee Anglers Club; Reynolds Plantation Heritage and Nature Center; and the Boy Scouts of America.
Chicopee Woods Weed Control Project (GA)
Recipient: Elachee Nature Science Center
Five-Star Funds: $10,000
Project Area: Gainesville, Georgia
Elachee Nature Science Center will restore 15 acres of riparian habitat within the Upper Walnut Creek Watershed, in the Oconee River Basin, by treating six acres of Kudzu infestation, six acres of privet infestation, and three acres of Microstegium infestation identified in the local management plan. Through mapping, monitoring, and controlling these infestations using a pest management strategy, this project will restore and protect native riparian plant communities and enhance biodiversity. The project will educate local students, teachers and the public on the adverse impacts of exotic invasive species on native habitats, and increase public support for local conservation efforts, awareness of exotic invasive species and the threats they pose. Project partners include the Chicopee Woods Area Park Commission; the Georgia Exotic Pest Plant Council; Gainesville College and State University; Hall County; the City of Gainesville; the Georgia Forestry Commission; the Hall County Soil and Water Conservation District; and Kudzu Free Communities.
Restoration of Riparian Corridor (MS)
Recipient: Land Trust for the Mississippi Coastal Plain
Five-Star Funds: $20,000
Project Area: Gulfport, Mississippi
The Land Trust for the Mississippi Coastal Plain will restore 890 feet of riparian corridor within the Turkey Creek Greenway, and 104 acres of the riparian corridor along Turkey Creek, to improve water quality and other functions of the habitat. The project will also educate volunteers and local residents about the importance of riparian corridors and native plants with respect to the health of the creek and their community. Project activities will include the removal of invasive species, planting of native species, and litter clean-up at seven sites. A baseline assessment and management plan will be developed at these seven sites. Project partners include the Wolf River Conservation Society, Inc.; Turkey Creek Community Initiatives; Gulf Coast Recovery Corps; and the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality.
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