The Breaux Act in Other States
Although Louisiana's unique wetlands and associated problems are specifically provided for in the Breaux Act, it also recognizes and addresses wetland loss nationwide. The National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program and the North American Wetlands Conservation Act both receive funds authorized under the Breaux Act, and they too are meeting the challenges of wetland protection and restoration. Coastal wetland projects in all U.S. states and territories can seek assistance from these sources (Louisiana is not eligible for the National Coastal Wetlands Grant Program).
Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program
Administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 15% of the funds from the Breaux Act can be made available to coastal states and territories through this program for wetland conservation. Up to $9 million per year has been generated through the existing funding mechanism. Matching funds for projects must be supplied on the state level from both state and private sources. With this careful pooling of funds, more than 75 projects have been assisted in U.S. states and territories. Through the program, over 51,000 acres of wetlands have been or will be protected through their purchase and by restoring once degraded wetlands. For instance, the Great Lakes have large amounts of interior coastal wetlands that feature large populations of waterfowl as well as nursery habitat for freshwater fish. Through the Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program, the State of Wisconsin, in partnership with The Nature Conservancy and other private parties, purchased 220 acres of Lake Michigan shoreline, wetlands, and forest.
This purchase is another step in providing a much larger habitat corridor for migratory birds, such as waterfowl, and other animal and plant species. Land managers and wetland researchers have recommended protection of these corridors, which are critical blocks of undeveloped habitat. The larger and more continuous the corridor, the more benefits it can provide to humans, plants, and animals.
Through the grant program, many other proposals have been approved for assistance that address restoring sites that range from former dredge disposal sites to seagrass beds.
North American Wetlands Conservation Act
The North American Wetlands Conservation Act was passed in 1989 to promote governmental and private partnerships to conserve wetlands, specifically in their support of migratory waterfowl and other fish and wildlife. Projects funded through this act work much the same as the National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program in that they must also be matched by funds from nonfederal sources. Again, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service administers the funds. Projects are selected by consensus of two boards: the North American Wetlands Conservation Council, made up of representatives from federal and state government and private conservation organizations, and the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission. As with the National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program, each year 15% of the federal funds authorized by the Breaux Act go to North American Wetlands Conservation Act purchase and restoration projects. As of mid 1997, about $40 million ($7-9 million a year) in grants have assisted in the conservation of 130,000 acres of coastal wetlands in the United States.
Some of the projects funded through the Breaux Act in conjunction with the North American Wetlands Conservation Act occur in wetlands already identified by the North American Waterfowl Management Plan as being areas of significant importance-"joint venture" areas-for waterfowl. These areas are essential breeding habitat, wintering grounds, or migratory staging or stopover sites for waterfowl and other migratory birds, including Neotropical species like warblers, and for shorebirds. One project made possible through funds from the Breaux Act as well as contributions from the Massachusetts Audubon Society, Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust, and several individual donors was the purchase and protection of wetlands included in a larger protection effort of Allens Pond, a coastal salt pond on Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts. Through this project, six different habitats that support more than 150 bird species are now protected. Whether resting, feeding, or nesting, birds find refuge in Allens Pond's mosaic of brackish tidal marshes, coastal dunes, salt marshes, beaches, coastal oak woodlands, and a red maple-black gum riparian forest.
The Louisiana Coastal Wetlands Conservation and Restoration Task Force-made up of representatives from five federal agencies and the Governor of Louisiana- has a comprehensive restoration plan for addressing coastal Louisiana's severe wetland loss problem. Every year, this Task Force approves and reports to Congress priority lists of projects; every 3 years, it reports to Congress on the effectiveness of projects.