The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration awarded a $1,583,164 grant to the Town of Yarmouth, Maine to acquire two parcels of riverfront land. NOAA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

The grant will support the Town of Yarmouth's acquisition of land along the Royal River Estuary in Yarmouth, Maine. One of the areas is a 35-acre site on a peninsula that extends into the river. This peninsula contains a variety of habitats including forest, meadow and wetlands, and contains a half-mile of riverfront. Once acquired, the site will be preserved as open space and a one-mile walking trail will be open to the public. In addition, the area will be open to bank fishing, launching of non-motorized vessels like canoes and kayaks, and other recreational activities.

“I am so pleased to have helped secure the funding to purchase one of the last large parcels of coastal property along the Royal River Estuary in Yarmouth that has not been subject to development or subdivision,” said Senator Olympia J. Snowe, R-Maine. ”The acquisition of this treasured estuary property will protect both the recreational and natural resources within the town's boundaries, with residents and visitors now able to explore the vast environmental beauty that serves as a doorway to the Casco Bay Islands and coves.”

“Funding from this NOAA grant will allow the Yarmouth community to manage their local estuaries and estuarine resources,” said retired Navy Vice Adm. Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Ph.D., undersecretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. “NOAA and the Bush Administration are dedicated to preserving the environment and strengthening local preservation initiatives like those of the Town of Yarmouth.”

Each year, NOAA awards approximately $900 million in grants to members of the academic, scientific and business communities to assist the agency in fulfilling its mission to study the Earth’s natural systems in order to predict environmental change, manage ocean resources, protect life and property, and provide decision makers with reliable scientific information. NOAA’s goals and programs reflect a commitment to these basic responsibilities of science and service to the nation for the past 34 years.

NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of our nation’s coastal and marine resources. For more information, visit: http://www.noaa.gov.

**Editor’s Note - An audio clip of the NOAA Administrator discussing this grant award is available on the Web site: http://www.noaa.gov/lautenbacher/audio/yarmouth.mp3.