What We Do
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Community
members prepare to plant salt marsh at Old
Place Creek, a tributary of Arthur Kill in
the New York/New Jersey harbor. |
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The NOAA Restoration Center plans, implements, and funds coastal restoration projects throughout the United States. Four primary programs allow the Restoration Center to restore fisheries habitat.
Community-based Restoration Program
The RC is home to the NOAA Community-based Restoration Program (CRP), a highly successful program that involves communities in the restoration of local marine and estuarine habitat. Partnerships with federal agencies, states, local governments, non-governmental and non-profit organizations, businesses, industry and schools have helped more than 1500 local organizations restore marine and coastal habitats through over 1,600 projects around the United States. The Restoration Center and its partners provide funding and expertise to numerous coastal community projects that promote coastal stewardship and a conservation ethic. Through its CRP partnerships, NOAA has been able to leverage $3-$5 for every federal dollar invested. The CRP works through direct grants and subawards granted by our habitat restoration partners.
Damage Assessment Remediation, Restoration Program
The NOAA Restoration Center is a part of the Damage Assessment, Remediation, and Restoration Program (DARRP) and, as such, participates in pursuing natural resource damage claims. Through this program, NOAA collaborates with other agencies, industry, and citizens to protect and restore coastal and marine resources threatened or injured by oil spills, releases of hazardous substances, and vessel groundings. The DARRP is a cross-cutting program that includes the Restoration Center, the Assessment and Restoration Division (housed in NOAA's National Ocean Service) and elements from the Office of General Counsel. Federal statutes authorize NOAA to assess and claim damages for injuries to marine resources in coastal settings as a result of discharges of oil or hazardous substances and environmental disturbances. The Restoration Center uses recovered damages to restore, replace, or acquire the equivalent of injured resources. The DARRP has collected almost $500 million in damages through numerous cases, and has initiated restoration efforts at more than 500 sites around the country.
Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection, and Restoration Act
The NOAA Restoration Center is also working to stem the tide of wetland loss in Louisiana, which suffers the highest rate of coastal wetland loss in the nation. The RC plays a large role as part of a federal-state partnership mandated by the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection, and Restoration Act (CWPPRA). Under the Act, the RC and other partners develop and implement habitat projects to restore salt marshes lost to erosion, subsidence and hydrological alterations. Today, NOAA Fisheries is actively involved in planning and implementing large- and small-scale wetland restoration projects benefitting more than 130,000 acres with approximately $150 million in project funding.
Open Rivers Initiative
The newest of the Restoration Center’s program, the Open Rivers Initiative supports a variety of conservation projects that open historic river habitat to migratory fish species that move between coastal and upstream areas. There are currently more than two million small dams and other barriers blocking the passage of fish in the United States. Projects include removing derelict dams, culverts and other river barriers. The Open Rivers Initiative creates an economic boost for communities, enhance public safety, and provide ecosystem-wide improvements for populations of fish such as striped bass, Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon, Atlantic and Pacific salmon, American eel, American shad, blueback herring and alewife.
For more information on all of NOAA's habitat restoration activities, please visit the NOAA Restoration Portal.
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