The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will award $2.6 million to two State of Alaska agencies for projects to protect coastal wetlands in Juneau, Palmer, and Gustavus and on Afognak Island. The grants, awarded under the National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program, will benefit more than 6,000 acres of wildlife habitat within or adjacent to State Game Refuges, State Parks and municipal parks. Financial partners in the projects include Ducks Unlimited, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Great Land Trust, City and Borough of Juneau and The Nature Conservancy.
National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grants are awarded to the states through a competitive process. Established under the 1990 Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act, the program is funded from excise taxes on fishing equipment and motorboat and small engine fuels.
This year, the Service will award $15.7 million for 21 projects in 15 states. It is notable, given the competitive nature of the program, that all 4 proposals submitted by the State of Alaska will be fully funded. Since 1990, the Service has awarded more than $120 million in grants to 25 states and one U.S. territory under this program. To date, National Coastal Wetlands Grants have assisted the states in restoring or protecting a total of nearly 150,000 acres of wetlands.
