7 ways Hurricane Sandy started a tidal wave of resilience

October 29, 2019 - It's been seven years since Hurricane Sandy ransacked the East Coast. And, while bigger storms — with even more devastating impacts — have certainly come along, Sandy was unique because it helped start a movement toward resilience and nature-based solutions.

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Dam removal opens Raritan River tributary in northern New Jersey

October 21, 2019 - Burnt Mills Dam, on the Lamington River in Bedminster, New Jersey, came down last week, benefiting wildlife that call the river home and people living nearby. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service offered technical expertise in fish passage engineering, permitting, and construction for the removal.

The $250,000 project was funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Raritan Headwaters Association, which owns part of the floodplain near the dam.

Removing the dam will allow the river to flow freely, improving habitat for migratory fish and imperiled mussels, boosting water quality, and increasing recreational opportunities. It will also reduce erosion of the river bank and lessen the risk of flooding to nearby homes

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Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge marsh restoration effort recognized as a national model for climate adaptation leadership

September 23, 2019 - The Tidal Marsh and Barrier Beach Restoration Project at Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge is the recipient of a 2019 Climate Adaptation Leadership Award for Natural Resources in the “Federal Government” category.

The award was established in 2016 to recognize outstanding and innovative projects “that are advancing the resilience of our nation’s valuable fish, wildlife, and plant resources in a changing climate.” The Prime Hook project is acknowledged for its “exemplary leadership in reducing climate-related threats and promoting adaptation.”

The award was presented Sept. 23 at the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) Annual Meeting in St. Paul, Minn.

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Weber among first-ever winners of Theodore Roosevelt Government Leadership Award

September 20, 2019 - Wendi Weber, North Atlantic-Appalachian Regional Director for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is among 15 winners of the inaugural Theodore Roosevelt Government Leadership Awards recognized Sept. 19 at the Washington National Cathedral by the Government Executive Media Group.

Weber was lauded for making significant investments in people at all organizational levels and creating a program to strengthen supervisory excellence, resulting in increased employee engagement and productivity.

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