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Wilderness Conservancy Earns Five Stars, $9,500 for Wetlands Restoration Project

Release Date: 9/6/2002
Contact Information: Bonnie Smith, (215) 814-5543

Bonnie Smith, (215) 814-5543

PHILADELPHIA – The Wilderness Conservancy at Mountain Lake in Pembroke, Va. has been awarded $9,500 for a wetlands restoration project. Funding will be used to construct a wetlands interpretive trail, develop associated curriculum materials and present workshops for educators and landowners.

“This project will help local educators and landowners understand more about the many benefits that wetlands provide,” said Donald S. Welsh, EPA mid-Atlantic regional administrator.

The award is part of the Five-Star Restoration Grant Program, providing community-based partnerships grants to support wetlands and stream side restoration projects.

Primary funding is provided by EPA’s Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds and the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration’s Fisheries’ Community-based Restoration Program. Additional funding is provided by EPA’s Chesapeake Bay Program, EPA Region III and Lockheed Martin Corporation.

Five-Star Restoration Projects involves cooperation between at least five participants from local governments, corporations and businesses, schools and youth groups, environmental and citizen organizations, and federal and state government agencies.

Partners work together to improve water quality and restore important fish and wildlife habitats. The projects funded were selected from a competitive pool of nearly 200 applicants. Funding is based on the program’s educational and training opportunities for students and at-risk youth, the ecological benefits, and other cultural and economic benefits to the community.