Grants News Release (Region 1): More Than $1.6 Million Awarded for Community-Based Projects to Improve Health and Vitality of Long Island Sound

News Release U.S. Environmental Protection Agency New England Regional Office September 24, 2012 Contacts:    US EPA, David Deegan, 617-918-1017                    National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Mike Smith, 703-623-3834   More Than $1.6 Million Awarded for Community-Based Projects to Improve Health and Vitality of Long Island Sound More than $750,000 granted to Support Projects in Connecticut (Boston, Mass. – Sept. 24, 2012) - Top federal and state environmental officials today announced 35 grants totaling $1.6 million awarded to state and local government and community groups in New York and Connecticut under the Long Island Sound Futures Fund. When leveraged by an additional $3 million contributed by the recipients themselves, a total of $4.6 million will support conservation projects in both states. The projects in both states will open up 50 river miles for fish passage, and restore 390 acres of critical fish and wildlife habitat. This habitat includes lakes, underwater grasses, woodlands, meadows, wetlands, beaches and river and park frontage. Twenty grants totaling $757,922 will be awarded to groups in Connecticut leveraged by $1,419,903 in recipient contributions providing for $2.1 million in local conservation.   This public-private grant program pools funds from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Wells Fargo. "Protecting and restoring Long Island Sound have long been priorities for EPA," said EPA Regional Administrator for New England Curt Spalding. "These grants will support vital and diverse projects throughout the region to improve water quality and remove pollution from the Long Island Sound watershed, and involve the public in the protection of one of the nation's most important natural treasures." “One of the greatest environmental challenges facing our communities is the protection and restoration of estuaries,” said David O’Neill, Director, Eastern Partnership Office, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. “The funding awarded today represents the Foundation’s continuing commitment, as well as the commitment of our federal and state partners, to further restoration efforts aimed at improving the overall health of the Long Island Sound.” The Long Island Sound Study initiated the Long Island Sound Futures Fund in 2005 through the EPA’s Long Island Sound Office and NFWF. To date, the program has invested $10.5 million in 261 projects in communities surrounding the Sound.  With grantee match of $23 million, the Long Island Sound Futures Fund has generated a total of almost $33.5 million for projects in both states.   "I am pleased to see funding go to projects that engage local communities in the protection and restoration of local fish and wildlife habitats,” said Northeast Regional Director Wendi Weber of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "Equally exciting are the partnerships with public and private landowners that will increase our ability to work effectively on the ground in the Long Island Sound area. These grants go directly to protecting our shared natural resources—from opening rivers for native fish and restoring habitat for songbirds and shorebirds, to educating children who are the future stewards of the Sound.” Jay Mar, Connecticut State Conservationist, NRCS, added, "This year's funding of projects to engage farmers and land managers throughout communities in the watershed will help accomplish important wildlife goals through the New England Cottontail Initiative, and manure management advances to improve ecological and economic health of the Sound.” “Connecticut DEEP is pleased to work with our partners in the Long Island Sound Study to preserve and protect Long Island Sound – one of the region’s most valuable natural resources,” said Brian Thompson, Director of Long Island Sound Programs. “This year $757,922 in Long Island Sound Futures Funds grants are being awarded to 20 important Connecticut programs. The grant funding covers a wide range of projects including restoration of fish habitat, removal of invasive plants, restoring New England Cottontail Rabbit population, preparation of significant management plans, and implementation of educational programs that will protect Long Island Sound for future generations.” More information: Long Island Sound is an estuary that provides economic and recreational benefits to millions of people, while also providing habitat for more than 1,200 invertebrates, 170 species of fish, and dozens of species of migratory birds. The Long Island Sound Study, developed under the EPA’s National Estuary Program, is a cooperative effort between the EPA and the states of Connecticut and New York to protect and restore the Sound and its ecosystem. To learn more about the LISS, visit www.longislandsoundstudy.net. For full descriptions of the Long Island Sound Futures Fund Grants, visit http://longislandsoundstudy.net/about/grants/lis-futures-fund/ . The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, established by Congress in 1984, is an international leader in developing public and private funding to protect wildlife and natural resources. In 26 years, NFWF has funded 4,000 organizations and leveraged $576 million in federal funds into $2 billion for conservation. The achievement of clear, measurable results is central to its work. The foundation brings together diverse stakeholders—from industry to Congress to local leaders—to accomplish positive outcomes.  NFWF currently works with 14 federal partners and more than 50 corporate and foundation partners. To learn more about NFWF, visit www.nfwf.org. TWENTY LONG ISLAND SOUND FUTURES FUND GRANTS 2012 – CONNECTICUT HABITAT RESTORATION AND SPECIES CONSERVATION GRANTS Fish Passage on the Farmington River, Farmington and Pequabuck Rivers, CT Farmington River Watershed Association LISFF Grant (EPA and FWS): $65,800 Grantee Matching Funds: $560,000 Roger's Lake Fish Passage: Last Barrier to Alewive Run, Old Lyme, CT Connecticut River Watershed Council LISFF Grant (EPA and FWS): $85,777.50 Grantee Matching Funds: $85,528 Calf Island Forest Restoration and Invasives Control, Greenwich, CT Calf Island Conservancy LISFF Grant (EPA and FWS): $22,000 Grantee Matching Funds: $27,771 Restoring Coastal Forest and Habitat for New England Cottontail, Stonington, CT Avalonia Land Conservancy LISFF Grant (FWS and NRCS): $25,670 Grantee Matching Funds: $30,950 CLEAN WATER GRANTS Nutrient Bioextraction by Seaweed in Long Island Sound, NY and CT University of Connecticut LISFF Grant (EPA): $157,447.67 Grantee Matching Funds: $286,143 Manure Digestion on Dairy Farm to Reduce Nitrogen and Phosperus Pollution, East Canaan, CT Connecticut Farm Bureau Association LISFF Grant (EPA and NRCS): $91,000 Grantee Matching Funds: $45,000 EDUCATION GRANTS Urban Schoolyard Habitat Partnership, New Haven and Stamford, CT Audubon Connecticut LISFF Grant (EPA and FWS): $34,757.16 Grantee Matching Funds: $104,837 Establishing a NOFA Organic Lawn Care Certificate Program, CT Northeast Organic Farming Association of Connecticut LISFF Grant (EPA): $32,000.81 Grantee Matching Funds: $32,633 Long Island Sound Curricula Outreach to CT's Inner Cities, Norwich, New London, and New Haven, CT Sea Research Foundation LISFF Grant (EPA): $30,603.20 Grantee Matching Funds: $31,743 Project Limulus: A Community Outreach and Education Program, NY and CT Sacred Heart University LISFF Grant (EPA): $24,730 Grantee Matching Funds: $63,148 Sheffield Island Park Interpretive Signage Project, Norwalk, CT Norwalk Seaport Association LISFF Grant (EPA): $9,525 Grantee Matching Funds: $5,365 Norwich Harbor Canoe and Kayak Trail, Norwich, CT City of Norwich Harbor Management Commission LISFF Grant (EPA): $8,130 Grantee Matching Funds: $4,530 Connecticut River Museum Environmental Education Programs, Essex, CT Connecticut River Museum LISFF Grant (EPA): $7,226 Grantee Matching Funds: $15,570 Estuary Health Program, Mystic Aquarium, CT Sea Research Foundation LISFF Grant (EPA): $7,110.50 Grantee Matching Funds: $6,678 Connecticut River Coastal Estuary Cleanup and Education, CT Connecticut River Watershed Council LISFF Grant (EPA): $4,485 Grantee Matching Funds: $5,220 Mianus River Streambank Restoration:  Native Species, Stamford, CT Friends of Mianus River Park     LISFF Grant (EPA): $3,000 Grantee Matching Funds: $3,000 PLANNING GRANTS Pond Lily Dam Removal Project: Design and Permitting, New Haven, CT The Connecticut Fund for the Environment LISFF Grant (EPA and FWS): $60,000 Grantee Matching Funds: $57,037 Barn Island Wildlife Management Area Plan, Stonington, CT State of Connecticut LISFF Grant (EPA): $23,999 Grantee Matching Funds: $15,851 Norton Paper Mill Dam Fish Passage Assessment, Colchester, CT The Nature Conservancy LISFF Grant (EPA and FWS): $40,000.45 Grantee Matching Funds: $21,044 WATER QUALITY MONITORING GRANTS Water Quality Project To Manage Pollution Problems, Stonington, CT Clean Up Stonington Harbors LISFF Grant (EPA): $24,659 Grantee Matching Funds: $22,675 #  #  # Learn More about the Latest EPA News & Events in New England (http://www.epa.gov/region1/newsevents/index.html) Follow EPA New England on Twitter (http://twitter.com/epanewengland) More info on EPA's Environmental Results in New England (http://www.epa.gov/region1/results/index.html)   Note: If a link above doesn't work, please copy and paste the URL into a browser.     View all Region 1 News Releases   You can view or update your subscriptions or e-mail address at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. 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