Photos at http://northeast.fws.gov/images.html
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced winners for the National Wetlands Conservation Awards, and habitat protection on the Machias River in Maine received the national group award. The awards program recognizes private individuals and organizations for excellence in the development, restoration and enhancement of wetlands. "
Citizen conservationists like these award winners have volunteered their time, money and energy to wetland conservation," said Service Director Steve Williams. "The president recently announced an aggressive new national goal - moving beyond a policy of no net loss of wetlands to achieve an overall increase of wetlands in America. Thanks in part to dedicated partners like these who work locally to conserve wetlands, the nation will achieve this goal."
The Machias River Corridor Coalition was honored for its work protecting habitat along the river. The coalitions project resulted in the protection of 4,283 acres of wetlands and adjacent riparian riparian
Definition of riparian habitat or riparian areas.
Learn more about riparian habitat, enhancing critical habitat for the Atlantic salmon and benefiting other riparian wildlife. This project stood out because of the comprehensive effort to permanently protect the entire Machias River drainage. More than 184 miles of shoreline along the Machias River and six of its tributaries are protected through this project.
"This is one of the most significant habitat protection initiatives ever undertaken in Maine," according to biologist Jed Wright of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Gulf of Maine Coastal Program based in Falmouth. "We had an exciting, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work with partners to protect habitat for Atlantic salmon and a host of other species against increasing pressure from development, agriculture and forestry."
"The Machias River Corridor project ensures that a full 86 percent of habitat for endangered Atlantic salmon in the Machias River system will be protected forever," Wright said.
The project provides long-term protection of riparian wetlands and improved water and habitat quality. The public retains traditional access to the Machias River for hunting, fishing, camping and other backcountry recreation, he said. The project is part of a comprehensive effort to permanently protect the entire Machias River drainage. By December, the project will protect more than 6,300 acres of wetlands in the upper portions of the drainage.
"Intact, connected riparian areas are critical for maintaining aquatic systems and wildlife habitat," Wright said. In addition to protection for Atlantic salmon, the initiative protects habitat for other rare plants, animals and natural communities, including bald eagles, wood turtles and anadromous fish.
Partners in the habitat protection project include The Nature Conservancy, International Paper, the Maine Department of Conservation, the Machias River Watershed Council, Maine s congressional delegation, Maine Atlantic Salmon Commission, Land for Maine s Futures Board, and National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.
R. Madison Murphy of El Dorado, Ark., is this years Individual Achievement Award winner for his effort to reforest 500 acres of farmland at the Epps Plantation in Louisiana with native bottomland hardwoods. The reforestation benefits interior forest birds and supports the recovery of the Louisiana black bear, migratory species and other resident wildlife. The judges were particularly impressed by the projects wildlife plan which allows for removing female bears and their cubs to an area in east-central Louisiana to establish another sub-population of bears.
The national winners were honored today at the annual Wetlands Conservation Awards ceremony following the annual Duck Stamp First Day of Sale at the Smithsonians National Postal Museum.
