When hazardous substances enter the environment, fish, wildlife, and other natural resources can be injured. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, along with other Department of the Interior, State, Tribal and Federal partners, acts as “trustee” for these resources. The Service has responsibility for National Wildlife Refuges, endangered and threatened species, migratory birds, interjurisdictional fish and other natural resources. Trustees seek to identify the natural resources injured, determine the extent of the injuries, recover damages from those responsible, and plan and carry out natural resource restoration activities. These efforts are possible under the Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration Program (Restoration Program), the goal of which is to restore natural resources injured by contamination.

Program Activities
Restoration of natural resources adversely affected from contamination in New England has focused on impacts associated with 112 hazardous waste sites on the National Priorities List as well as impacts associated with oil spills off our coast. Since 1992, the New England Field Office has collected monetary damages or received in-kind restoration from natural resource settlements at 37 sites.

Program Benefits
As a result of these efforts and the partnerships that they have generated, nearly 750 acres of upland and wetland habitat in New England have been permanently protected for wildlife. In addition, at least 125 pairs of loons will be protected by conservation easements and fee purchases on nearly 1.5 million acres within the state of Maine. Nearly 350 acres of degraded saltmarsh habitat have been restored as well as 16 acres of freshwater wetlands and 13 acres of adjacent uplands. Monitoring and management programs have increased productivity of piping plover, roseate terns and other species. Installation of fishways has provided access to over 440 acres of spawning habitat for shad and river herring. Restoration programs for shellfish, sea ducks, eel grass and a number of other resources have been implemented throughout New England. Recreational improvements and educational kiosks have also been developed.