NOAA CO MM U N IT Y-BA S E D RE S T O R AT I O N PR O G R A M  PO RT F O L I O O F SU C C E S S

Hands on Habitat

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF COASTAL RESTORATION
Mission

The NOAA Restoration Center restores habitats for the nation’s living marine 

resources. Through partnerships, the Restoration Center restores degraded 

habitats; advances the science of coastal habitat restoration; transfers 

restoration technology to other government agencies, the private sector, and 

the public; and fosters long-term stewardship of marine and coastal habitats. 

History

The NOAA Restoration Center is the focal point for habitat restoration within 

NOAA. Housed in NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service, the Restoration 

Center performs restoration pursuant to federal legislation and improves the state 

of restoration ecology and habitat management. To meet its goals, the Restoration 

Center implements four complementary programs: the Coastal Wetland 

Planning, Protection, and Restoration Act Program; the Damage Assessment, 

Remediation, and Restoration Program; the Restoration Research Program; 

and the Community-based Restoration Program, the focus of this publication.

Congressional appropriations for the Restoration Center’s Community-based 

Restoration Program began in earnest in 1996. Since then, appropriations 

have increased significantly and the program has funded more than 200 

projects annually since 2002. With increased funding, the Communitybased Restoration Program has been able to fund larger, more complex 

projects in greater numbers; has become more accountable, both in terms 

of environmental compliance and performance; and has developed better 

tracking and evaluation tools to report on performance. With sustained 

funding, the Community-based Restoration Program will continue to provide 

funding and first-rate technical expertise to partners, improve accountability 

through robust science-based performance measures, and expand the 

number of restoration projects in coastal communities around the country.

March 2006

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NOAA Restoration Center

Community-based Restoration Program

1315 East-West Highway

Silver Spring, Maryland 20910

(301) 713-0174

www.nmfs.noaa.gov/habitat/restoration

An online version of this publication is available at:

www.nmfs.noaa.gov/habitat/restoration

Photo Credits:

Many of the photos in Hands on Habitat: Celebrating 10 Years of Coastal 

Restoration were taken by NOAA employees during the normal conduct of their 

NOAA activities. Their photographic talents and contributions to this publication 

are gratefully acknowledged. For additional photo credits, please see page 73.
American Rivers 

FishAmerica Foundation

California Coastkeeper Alliance

California Conservation Corps 

Connecticut River Watershed Council 

Chesapeake Bay Trust

Ducks Unlimited

EarthCorps 

Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment

Gulf of Mexico Foundation 

Institute for Fisheries Resources 

Institute for Sustainable Forestry 

Keith Campbell Foundation for the Environment

Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership 

National Association of Counties 

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation 

Ocean Trust/National Fisheries Institute 

Partners for Restoring Coastal Louisiana

Pinellas County Environmental Fund

Resources Legacy Fund

Restore America’s Estuaries 

The Nature Conservancy 

Tillamook Estuary Partnership

Trout Unlimited

In addition to these partners, NOAA provides direct funding to more than 500 organizations, and has 

collaborated with over 1,500 groups on restoration projects across the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean.

NOAA celebrates and thanks our partners for their critical involvement in these efforts to restore the 

habitats that are the foundation of our nation’s living marine resources.

NOAA’s Community-based Restoration Program is reversing the trend of coastal habitat degradation with 

the help of many national and regional partners, whose enthusiasm, time, and commitment have provided 

essential support for more than 1,000 successful projects. NOAA’s national and regional partners include:

Partner Acknowledgements
NOAA’s Community-based Restoration Program 

is dedicated to restoring the habitats that are the 

foundation of the nation’s living marine resources.
3 17

33 45

57 67

Introduction...............................................................1

North-Atlantic

Projects....................................................................3

Mid-Atlantic

Projects...................................................................17

South-Atlantic

Projects.................................................................33

Gulf of Mexico

Projects....................................................................45

West Coast

Projects......................................................................57

Alaska and

Pacifi c Islands Projects..............................................67

Contents
NOAA COMMUNITY

-BASED RESTORATIONPROGRAM

Introduction

1

Community-based

habitat restoration

brings life back to

degraded coastal

ecosystems and instills 

stewardship values in 

project participants.

The Importance

of Healthy Habitats

Habitat degradation is evident in 

every region, state, and territory of 

our nation’s coastline, where more 

than 55 million acres of tidal wetlands 

have been destroyed since colonial 

times. In some areas, nutrient runoff 

has devastated up to 90 percent 

of underwater seagrass beds, and 

thousands of idle dams block the lifepreserving passage of migratory fish. 

Healthy ecosystems provide vital fish 

and wildlife habitat, help protect inland 

areas from erosion, and filter sediment 

and polluted runoff from watersheds. 

Community-based habitat restoration 

brings life back to degraded coastal 

ecosystems and instills stewardship 

values and environmental awareness in 

project participants.

Restoration Begins

in Our Own Backyards

Around the country, communities are 

restoring fisheries and wildlife habitat 

with financial and technical assistance 

from the National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) 

Restoration Center. Since 1996, the 

Restoration Center’s Community-based 

Restoration Program has funded more 

than 1,000 on-the-ground restoration 

projects in 27 states, Canada, and the 

Caribbean. Support from technical staff 

at 16 NOAA offices around the country 

helps ensure project success.

Empowering Communities

for Project Success

A model program for community 

collaboration, partnership building, 

and interagency cooperation, NOAA’s 

Community-based Restoration Program 

partners with grassroots organizations to 

encourage hands-on citizen participation 

in restoration projects. This participation 

builds coalitions of interested citizens 

and fosters long-term stewardship of the 

nation’s coastal and marine resources.

Under a competitive review process, the 

program awards millions of dollars to 

national and regional partners and local 

grassroots organizations every year. 

NOAA works closely with its grantees 

to implement sound coastal restoration 

projects and evaluate their success.

The Community-based

Restoration Model

The Community-based Restoration 

Program is a model that

Uses federal funding and technical 

expertise to catalyze communitydriven priorities.

Employs staff with special technical 

skills to help improve project design, 

ensure environmental compliance, 

and advance restoration techniques.

Provides educational opportunities 

and promotes environmental 

stewardship through hands-on 

participation.

Helps leverage community funds 

and services to further enhance 

restoration projects.
PORTFOLIO OF SUCCESS

‘‘

’’

NOAA’s Community-based Restoration Program links our national priorities

to restore coastal habitats with our need to engage and educate the public

through stewardship crucial to revitalizing their own communities. This

double return on public investment makes the Community-based

Restoration Program a shining star in NOAA’s constellation of

essential programs aiding our nation and our natural world.

Mark Wolf-Armstrong

President and CEO, Restore America’s Estuaries

Contributing to a Healthy Economy

Coastal habitats — such as salt marshes, rivers and upland streams, 

coral reefs, oyster reefs, and mangroves — provide ecological benefi ts 

and also contribute to a healthy economy. Between 85 and 95 percent of 

commercial and sport fi sh spend a portion of their lives in estuaries, and 

coastal fi shing industries supply more than 28 million jobs annually.

PORTFOLIO OF SUCCESS 2

Since 1996, the Community-based 

Restoration Program has created a host 

of national and regional partnership 

agreements and collaborated with more 

than 1,500 organizations. The program also

Contributed nearly $50 million to 

grassroots restoration projects, often 

generating 3 to 5 times as much in nonfederal cash and in-kind contributions.

Funded more than 1,000 projects.

Engaged 100,000 volunteers, resulting 

in 630,000 volunteer hours worked on 

projects across the nation.

Restored 24,000 habitat acres, removed 

over 100 stream blockages, and opened 

900 stream miles for fi sh passage.
coastal and marine habitat coastal and marine habitat

Re s t o r e
PORTFOLIO OF SUCCESS 4

Along the North Atlantic coast — one of the most biologically rich areas on the planet — tidal restrictions, in-stream barriers, invasive 

species, and poor water quality threaten vital marine and coastal resources. An estimated 10,000 dams in New England block migratory 

fi sh from reaching their historic spawning grounds. Many of these failing dams no longer produce the benefi ts for which they were 

built and can cause signifi cant environmental harm by blocking fi sh passage, reducing water quality, and disrupting the natural fl ow 

of sediments in the river. 

The region’s rich salt mashes and shellfi sh and seagrass beds help fi lter sediment and pollution from 

coastal waters, but these resources are under threat. In Rhode Island, bay scallops and native oysters 

have largely disappeared because of pollution, disease, and overharvest. In New Hampshire, similar 

factors have decimated 40 percent of native seagrass beds. Throughout the North Atlantic region, 

undersized and crushed culverts choke the fl ow of saltwater to once-productive estuaries, 

eliminating native plants and restricting fi sh access. Without adequate 

tidal exchange, invasive, non-native plants take over coastal 

areas and the estuarine fi sh on which species of economic value 

feed can no longer survive there.

NOAA’s Community-based Restoration Program works with 

local residents and state and federal governments to restore 

marine, estuarine, and riverine habitats in the North Atlantic 

region. NOAA technical staff work directly with grantees to 

develop projects and ensure their success. Local partnerships help 

garner community support and provide volunteer opportunities 

for future environmental stewards.

NOAA’s Community-based

Restoration Program 

has worked on a variety 

of restoration projects

throughout the North 

Atlantic region (see map). 

Projects have removed 

barriers to migrating 

fi sh (above), refl ooded 

salt marshes (below), 

reestablished shellfi sh 

populations, and improved 

the natural fl ow of

rivers (facing page).

North Atlantic Projects
NOAA COMMUNITY-BASED RESTORATION PROGRAM

M A I N E

5

G A R D I N E R , M E

Along the rivers flowing into the Gulf of Maine, nearly 5,000 dams prevent or inhibit migratory fish from 

reaching vital spawning and rearing habitat. Anadromous fish, such as Atlantic salmon and river herring 

(above, left), spend their lives in salt water and move into freshwater to spawn. Conversely, eels spend 

their juvenile years in freshwater rivers before returning to the sea to spawn and die.

In 1761, the first dam was built along the Cobbosseecontee Stream, a large tributary of the Kennebec 

River. This dam — the Paperboard (above and facing page) — completely blocked migratory fish from 

reaching their spawning and rearing habitat. By the mid-1800s, eight dams restricted the 16-mile long 

Cobbosseecontee Stream. In 2000, only three dams remained, including the Paperboard Dam that still 

prevented fish passage into the upstream freshwater reaches of the Cobbosseecontee.

Through partnerships with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and Trout Unlimited, NOAA 

provided funds to remove the Paperboard Dam to open passage for fish such as Atlantic salmon, 

American shad, blueback herring, alewife, and American eel. Removal of the lowermost dam along the 

Cobbosseecontee will allow for future fish passage projects at the two remaining upstream dams (left). 
PORTFOLIO OF SUCCESS

M A I N E

6
NOAA COMMUNITY-BASED RESTORATION PROGRAM

N E W H A M P S H I R E

7

‘‘

’’

The restoration partnership between the Gulf of 

Maine Council and NOAA has helped us focus 

on the most important projects throughout the 

Gulf of Maine watershed. The riverine, estuarine, 

and coastal ecosystems that are so important to 

the overall health of the region don’t recognize 

arbitrary political boundaries!

Don Hudson

Chair, Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment
PORTFOLIO OF SUCCESS 8

C O N T O O C O O K R I V E R , N H

Barriers on all but the smallest of New Hampshire’s streams and brooks prevent 

migratory fish from reaching riverine habitat important during various stages 

of their lifecycles. The 18-foot-high West Henniker Dam blocked passage 

along a large reach of the Contoocook River (above). Although dams farther 

downstream acted as a barrier for some species, American eel were able to pass 

these obstacles, only to be blocked from swimming farther upstream by the 

Henniker Dam. The dam also separated populations of stocked Atlantic salmon 

fry and provided refuge for larger predators, such as bass, which fed on the fry.

In summer 2004, NOAA provided funding and technical support to help 

the town of Henniker remove the dam (facing page and right). The removal 

opened up a 15-mile stretch of river to American eel migration and reconnected 

populations of Atlantic salmon. Along with providing fish passage, the dam 

removal improved access to this scenic river for anglers and paddlers, and 

provided an opportunity for the local community to learn about the benefits of 

dam removal.

N E W H A M P S H I R E
NOAA COMMUNITY-BASED RESTORATION PROGRAM

V E R M O N T

9

S T . J O H N S B U R Y , V T

Migratory fish swim upstream great distances to reach important riverine habitats, 

even to rivers far from the coast. In Vermont, anadromous fish such as Atlantic salmon 

(facing page) spawn in rivers and streams after migrating up the Connecticut River. 

Unfortunately, many of these important migratory routes have been degraded by human 

activities. A section of the Sleeper’s River (above), located in the Connecticut River 

watershed, was affected by construction of Interstate 91 in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. 

The river was straightened and channelized, reducing habitat and impairing passage 

for migratory fish. The vegetated buffer zone next to the river was also cleared, which 

caused more sediment to erode from the banks into the river. 

Through its partnership with FishAmerica Foundation, NOAA provided funding for 

multiple phases of a project to restore stretches of the Sleeper’s River. From 2002 to 

2005, the Vermont Leadership Center led students and community volunteers in planting 

a 50-foot-wide buffer zone on both sides of the river with native saplings and willow 

shoots (left). The vegetated buffer zone increased riparian habitat along the river banks 

and improved fish habitat in the river by decreasing shoreline erosion, filtering pollutants 

from stormwater runoff, and providing shade over the river to cool water temperatures.
PORTFOLIO OF SUCCESS

V E R M O N T

10
NOAA COMMUNITY-BASED RESTORATION PROGRAM

M A S S A C H U S E T T S

11
PORTFOLIO OF SUCCESS 12

B A R N S T A B L E , M A

Coastal marshes support a wide variety of fish and wildlife, contribute 

greatly to an area’s biodiversity, and provide economic benefits though 

tourism and commercial and recreational fishing. However, 50 percent of 

tidal wetlands in Massachusetts have been degraded by tidal restrictions 

and fill placement, leading to decreased salt marsh functioning and 

reduced habitat available for the fish, crabs, and mammals that depend 

on tidal marshes. Two undersized culverts in Barnstable cut off tidal 

flushing to 40 acres of adjacent salt marsh, causing serious declines in 

local habitat quality.

NOAA’s Community-based Restoration Program provided support for 

the Bridge Creek Salt Marsh Restoration Project, a multiyear initiative

involving over 30 local, state, federal, and private project partners. 

The complex effort required closing a state road and an active railroad 

(facing page) to replace the two undersized culverts with larger concrete 

box culverts. These new, 10-foot-wide culverts (above) increased tidal 

flow to the marsh, benefiting the salt marsh plants and animals in this 

state-designated Area of Critical Environmental Concern (right).

‘‘

’’

NOAA’s Community-based Restoration 

Program takes a realistic approach to 

fisheries management by restoring

the habitat that is vital to our

commercial and recreational fisheries.

John Bell

Mayor, City of Gloucester, Massachusetts

M A S S A C H U S E T T S
NOAA COMMUNITY-BASED RESTORATION PROGRAM

R H O D E I S L A N D

N A R R A G A N S E T T B A Y , R I

Eelgrass beds provide nursery, foraging, and spawning habitat for many types of finfish 

and shellfish, including several commercially and recreationally valuable species. Eelgrass 

also filters sediment from the water column and dampens storm waves, providing shoreline 

protection. However, throughout the past century, eelgrass beds in Rhode Island’s Narragansett 

Bay have been damaged by disease and storms. In addition, poor water quality associated with 

coastal development and increasing water temperatures have contributed to eelgrass decline. 

Excess nutrients in the warmer waters promote plankton blooms, blocking essential light from 

reaching the eelgrass. The Bay once supported thousands of acres of eelgrass beds, but today, 

less than 100 acres remain.

NOAA has supported Save the Bay and other restoration partners to implement large-scale, 

volunteer-based programs to restore Narragansett Bay’s eelgrass beds. Save the Bay uses a 

variety of techniques, including hand transplants and temporary frames (above and left), in 

which volunteers collect live plants from donor beds throughout the Bay, attach plants with 

biodegradable twist ties to the frames, and place the frames on the Bay bottom. After the shoots 

become rooted in the sediment, the frames are removed and the plants are left to grow and 

propagate. The organization also works with local schools to raise plants, select transplant sites, 

and evaluate eelgrass transplant success (facing page). As of 2005, Save the Bay had restored 

27 acres of eelgrass in Narragansett Bay.

13
PORTFOLIO OF SUCCESS

R H O D E I S L A N D

14
15 NOAA COMMUNITY-BASED RESTORATION PROGRAM

C O N N E C T I C U T

E I G H T M I L E R I V E R , C T

On the Eightmile River in Connecticut, a dam at Ed Bill’s 

Pond blocked species such as river herring and Atlantic salmon 

from swimming upstream to reach important spawning habitat. 

In 1999, NOAA joined local, state, and federal partners to 

construct an Alaskan steep-pass fishway (left), an aluminum 

channel with baffles that help slow water so that migratory fish 

can swim up the structure to reach upstream habitat. Volunteers 

and state biologists operate the fishway during the migratory 

period, perform any necessary maintenance, and monitor the 

fish runs annually. 

Atlantic salmon, sea lamprey and other diadromous and resident 

fish are using this innovative fishway. The project complements 

other restoration work, such as dam removal in the watershed, 

conducted jointly by NOAA, The Nature Conservancy, the 

State of Connecticut, and other organizations. Combined, 

these restoration efforts will enhance the ecological and social 

importance of the Eightmile River, nominated for status as a 

federal Wild and Scenic River.

‘‘

’’

Providing fish passage not only

enhances migratory river herring 

populations, it also helps striped

bass, herons, osprey, fisher, and

other animals throughout the

Eightmile River watershed that

feed on these smaller fish.

Linda B. Bireley

Project Officer and Vice President,

Lyme Land Conservation Trust
PORTFOLIO OF SUCCESS

C O N N E C T I C U T

16

L O W E R G U I L F O R D L A K E , C T

In another Connecticut fish passage project, the Guilford Lakes 

Improvement Association, with support from NOAA, American 

Rivers, and the Connecticut Department of Environmental 

Protection, constructed a bypass channel around the Duffield 

Dam in Guilford. Designed like a natural stream bed, the bypass 

channel was created by breaking up and repositioning bedrock 

to construct a series of pools and steps (right) connecting the 

river below the dam to the lake above. Fish, such as alewife 

(above) can then move from pool to pool and make their way 

up the fishway to their freshwater spawning habitat in Lower 

Guilford Lake.

NOAA’s Community-based Restoration Program is working 

cooperatively with the U.S. Geological Survey to monitor and 

assess alewife passage through the bypass. Results of their 

assessment will be used to make recommendations to improve 

fish passage at the site, if needed, and will provide important 

information for the design of future bypass channels in this 

region and elsewhere.
17 NOAA COMMUNITY-BASED RESTORATION PROGRAM

Mid-Atlantic Projects

The Mid-Atlantic region supports productive and diverse ecosystems including the Hudson-Raritan Estuary, the Delaware Estuary, 

and the Chesapeake Bay. These ecosystems provide nursery, foraging, shelter, and spawning habitats to many of the region’s fisheries 

and support complex food webs along the East Coast of the United States.

Industrial contamination, agricultural runoff, development, river barriers, and the loss of upstream migratory fish habitats have all 

contributed to habitat loss in the Mid-Atlantic region. Commercial and residential development has significantly decreased the amount 

of coastal wetlands, which are among the most productive habitat types in the world. In Virginia alone, 30 percent of historic coastal 

wetlands have been lost due to development, sea level rise, impoundments, and dredging. Seagrass beds and oyster reefs, which 

provide homes for numerous marine species and help filter sediment and nutrients from the 

water column, have also declined significantly. Throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, 

disease, overharvesting, and pollution have decimated nearly 98 percent of 

historic oyster populations. Coastal and upstream fisheries habitat has 

also been impacted by the construction of stream barriers for well 

over two centuries — nearly all of Pennsylvania’s river tributaries 

possess barriers to fish migration. 

In the Mid-Atlantic region, NOAA staff have developed 

strong partnerships with local organizations to tackle the 

region’s habitat issues. From coastal marsh and native 

shellfish restoration to dam removals and stream bed 

improvements, NOAA has made significant strides to 

recover degraded habitat and involve residents in 

on-the-ground habitat restoration.

Thousands of student 

and adult volunteers 

commit personal time 

to restore Mid-Atlantic 

region habitats (above, 

below, and facing page). 

Involvement in NOAA 

projects (see map) 

instills an environmental 

ethic and strengthens 

stewardship values in 

project participants.
communitie s ommunities

Empower local
NOAA COMMUNITY-BASED RESTORATION PROGRAM

N E W Y O R K

19
PORTFOLIO OF SUCCESS

N E W Y O R K

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G R E A T S O U T H B A Y , N Y

Healthy salt marshes provide multiple benefits for surrounding areas, including storm surge 

protection, wildlife habitat, and runoff filtration, as well as nursery areas and foraging habitat for 

shellfish and finfish. Coastal development around Beaver Dam Creek, a once-productive salt marsh 

located on the Great South Bay, has increased the spread of invasive plant species and impaired 

critical salt marsh functions.

The NOAA-supported Beaver Dam Creek Wetland Restoration project is a comprehensive effort 

to restore 30 acres of degraded wetland along Long Island’s South Shore (above). The project’s 

first phase restored 8 acres of vital estuarine habitat by regrading the project site, constructing 

tidal creeks and pools, and reestablishing native salt marsh plant communities. School groups, 

senior citizens, and local residents helped execute the project by planting native grasses (right), and 

installing fencing to exclude foraging geese from the newly planted salt marsh (facing page). In 

total, nearly 200 volunteers participated in this wetland restoration project over a 2-year period.
NOAA COMMUNITY-BASED RESTORATION PROGRAM

N E W J E R S E Y

21

H U D S O N - R A R I T A N E S T U A R Y , N J

Over the past century, American oyster populations have declined dramatically along 

the East Coast of the United States. In an effort to bolster oyster populations, the NOAAsupported NY/NJ Baykeeper implemented a three-pronged restoration approach that 

included improving water quality, creating oyster reef habitat, and involving and educating 

the community about oyster restoration and ecology.

The NY/NJ Baykeeper Oyster Restoration Project uses oysters grown in aquaculture 

facilities and through a volunteer-based oyster gardening program. Oyster gardening 

workshops provide hands-on training for students and adult volunteers in oyster restoration 

techniques. Participants build floats (above, left) to hold bags of baby oysters growing on 

hard clam shells (above right and facing page). Oysters are grown in these floats at various 

locations in the Hudson-Raritan estuary, and are later planted on reefs created throughout 

the area.

Since the oyster program’s inception in 2000, NY/NJ Baykeeper has involved more than 600 

volunteers contributing nearly 9,000 hours of time. Volunteer oyster gardeners have planted 

more than 100,000 seed oysters at several sites in coastal New York and New Jersey.

‘‘

’’

As a science educator, my mission is to 

expand teaching and learning beyond 

the classroom to stimulate awareness 

of the necessity for conserving and 

protecting the environment. Oyster 

gardening has truly encouraged my 

students to become environmentally 

conscious individuals.

Doreen Silakowski

Science Teacher, Henry Hudson Regional School
PORTFOLIO OF SUCCESS

N E W J E R S E Y

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NOAA COMMUNITY-BASED RESTORATION PROGRAM

P E N N S Y L V A N I A

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PORTFOLIO OF SUCCESS

P E N N S Y L V A N I A

24

R E A D I N G , P A

Although the town of Reading sits 110 miles from the ocean, the anadromous fish that 

use adjacent Wyomissing Creek need both saltwater and freshwater to survive. The 

fish travel from the ocean to small freshwater tributaries to reach upstream spawning 

habitats. Newly hatched young use the upper reaches of the river as a nursery before 

returning to the ocean to complete their life cycles. After 80 years of blockage by 

small dams (above, left), Wyomissing Creek is now two steps closer to becoming a 

free-flowing stream again.

With NOAA support, the Reading Public Museum hired bulldozers and other 

machinery to remove two small dams on museum property. Following the dam 

removals, crews worked midstream to recenter the channel, smooth out the stream 

banks, and position boulders for additional riffle habitat (above, right). The crews 

also planted a riparian forest buffer of native plants along both banks to create shade, 

reduce sediment from runoff, and provide additional wildlife habitat. The project 

restored nearly 1,800 linear feet of stream reach and opened up approximately 6 miles 

of spawning and rearing habitat (facing page) to migratory fish. The restored area 

and adjacent parkland also provide new educational and recreational opportunities 

for museum staff, teachers, school groups, and gardening clubs. As a result of the 

success of the Wyomissing Creek restoration project, another upstream dam is now 

targeted for removal and will provide an additional two miles of fishery habitat.
NOAA COMMUNITY-BASED RESTORATION PROGRAM

‘‘

’’

Migratory fish are becoming an excellent “poster 

species” for generating excitement in the river

and restoring its fuller biological capacity. With

the potential for sportfishing and shad festivals,

there is even hope for a significant contribution

to the urban renewal of Wilmington through

these river restoration projects. It is remarkable

how quickly virtually everyone presented with

this story grasps its importance.

Robert Lonsdorf

Senior Planner, Brandywine Creek Conservancy

B R A N D Y W I N E R I V E R , D E 

One of the largest tributaries of the Delaware Estuary, Brandywine River historically supported

American eel (facing page), as well as large runs of American shad and other anadromous fish. 

However, the Brandywine Valley’s elevation has also made it an excellent site for industrial 

mills, and in the early 1900s a series of 11 dams (above and left) were built to power these mills. 

The dams, many of which are now defunct, prevent fish from reaching upstream spawning 

habitat. A recent report noted that the 15-mile Delaware stretch of the Brandywine River could 

support up to 25,000 American shad if passage were provided for these migratory fish.

To evaluate the feasibility of restoring historic fish passage at all of the Brandywine River dams, 

NOAA funded a study to examine the associated technical, legal, fiscal, environmental, and social 

issues. The study revealed it would be technically feasible to provide fish passage at each of the 

dams along the river, and plans are now underway to remove three of the dams and build fishways 

at another two. Eventually, migratory fish will again be able to move unimpeded throughout the 

Brandywine River corridor. The completion of this study depended on partnerships between 

key governmental agencies, dam owners, and other participating organizations. In addition, 

providing fish passage at all the dams would open up over 15 miles of habitat to migratory fish, 

and improve water quality and wildlife habitat throughout the Brandywine River corridor.

D E L A W A R E

25
PORTFOLIO OF SUCCESS

D E L A W A R E

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NOAA COMMUNITY-BASED RESTORATION PROGRAM

M A R Y L A N D

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U. S. N A V Y W E B S T E R F I E L D A N N E X , M D

In 2002, NOAA’s Community-based Restoration Center partnered with the Alliance for 

Chesapeake Bay and the U.S. Navy to restore coastal habitat on the 1,000-acre Webster 

Field Annex on the upper St. Mary’s River in Maryland. This “living shorelines” project 

accomplished the Navy’s objective — to protect the shoreline from erosion — using 

stabilization techniques that also benefit NOAA trust resources. Instead of installing 

hardened breakwaters, the Navy stabilized the shoreline with native wetland plants 

(above and left), built an offshore oyster reef, and planted underwater bay grasses to 

reduce wave energy. These natural stabilization techniques help prevent erosion while 

providing vital habitat for nearshore fish species. The highly successful partnerships 

formed as part of this project earned it a prestigious Coastal America Award in 2004.

The following year, NOAA held its annual Restoration Day at the Webster Field restoration 

site to supplement the existing project. Over 100 staff members planted 50 trays of underwater 

grasses (facing page) grown in tanks in NOAA offices, installed 5,400 wetlands plants, and 

placed 100 bags of native oysters on an offshore reef. The combined Webster Field projects 

will help restore over 2,000 feet of eroding shoreline.
PORTFOLIO OF SUCCESS

M A R Y L A N D

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NOAA COMMUNITY-BASED RESTORATION PROGRAM

D I S T R I C T O F C O L U M B I A

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PORTFOLIO OF SUCCESS 30

A N A C O S T I A R I V E R , W A S H I N G T O N , D C

The Anacostia River flows through the heart of Washington, DC, on its way 

to the Potomac River, Chesapeake Bay, and, finally, the Atlantic Ocean. The 

river and its tributaries (facing page and right), rising and falling with the tides, 

support an array of marine, estuarine, and freshwater fish, including striped 

bass, shad, perch, and herring. The Anacostia River also provides important 

habitat along a migration corridor for many birds, including geese and herons.

Although the Anacostia River is a rich natural resource, it has been degraded 

by the concentrated development along the river’s entire length. Pollution has 

destroyed historic fishing and made river water unsafe for both fishing and 

swimming. Every year, 20,000 tons of trash end up in the Anacostia River. 

NOAA’s Community-based Restoration Program supports programs throughout 

the Anacostia watershed to address some of these environmental problems and 

increase awareness of this important resource in the nation’s capital. Students 

from DC area schools learn about the importance of the Anacostia River in 

the classroom and then conduct hands-on restoration, including trash removal 

(above, left) and wetland planting (above, right). NOAA is also engaged in efforts 

to remove river barriers and provide fish passage at existing dams throughout 

the watershed. Through a combination of education and active restoration, 

the Anacostia River can be restored to a healthy functioning ecosystem and a 

national treasure.

D I S T R I C T O F C O L U M B I A
NOAA COMMUNITY-BASED RESTORATION PROGRAM

V I R G I N I A

31

E L I Z A B E T H R I V E R , V A

Oyster reefs support diverse populations of finfish, crabs, and other estuarine animals 

by providing important three-dimensional habitat for foraging and protection from 

predation. The reefs also offer essential settling surfaces for young oysters and maximize 

spawning efficiency by bringing male and female oysters closer together. The oysters 

also improve the health of the nearby environment, filtering the surrounding water and 

buffering wave energy to prevent shoreline erosion.

Unfortunately, harvesting pressures, oyster diseases, and poor water quality have 

significantly reduced native oyster populations in the Chesapeake Bay, which are 

currently at only 1 percent of their historic levels. NOAA has funded several oyster 

reef restoration projects on the Elizabeth River, a tributary of Chesapeake Bay. At one 

site, the Elizabeth River Project and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation joined with the 

Virginia Marine Resources Commission to rebuild an oyster reef. Local middle and 

high school students helped oyster gardeners grow more than 100,000 seed oysters in 

floating cages, then plant the oysters on reconstructed reefs (above). Establishing these 

reefs has increased the spat set (the number of young oysters settling on older oyster 

shells, left), bolstering the area’s oyster population.
PORTFOLIO OF SUCCESS

V I R G I N I A

32

N E W G O S P O R T , V A

The New Gosport Landfill is located along Paradise Creek, a tributary of the southern 

branch of the Elizabeth River in Portsmouth, Virginia. From the late 1960s to early 1970s, 

tons of abrasive sandblast waste, contaminated soil, and paint chips from the Norfolk Naval 

Shipyard were disposed of in the landfill, causing heavy metal contamination and concerns 

about human and environmental health. The remediation of the New Gosport Landfill site 

involved removing 55,000 tons of sandblast waste and other contaminants to improve local 

environmental conditions. Project planners filled the area with clean soil, then planted the area 

with wetland vegetation. 

NOAA personnel provided critical technical assistance for the New Gosport Landfill restoration 

project, which included surveying biological benchmarks from adjacent marshes, developing 

the grading and planting plan for the new marsh, and assisting with construction oversight.

The combined efforts resulted in the creation of 1.9 acres of tidal wetlands (above) on the site 

of the former landfill. These wetlands help filter stormwater before it flows into the river and 

into Chesapeake Bay, and provide important habitat along the banks of Paradise Creek for 

species such as striped bass, red drum, blue crabs, silver perch, summer flounder, killifishes, 

silversides, and spot and white perch.

‘‘

’’

Oysters are now striking on

every piling, up and down

the Elizabeth River! What

a fantastic outcome of

NOAA’s restoration support.

Marjorie Mayfield Jackson

Executive Director,

The Elizabeth River Project
restoration science restoration science

A d v a n c e
PORTFOLIO OF SUCCESS 34

From the coastal wetlands of North Carolina to the coral reefs of the Caribbean Sea, the coastal habitats of the South Atlantic region are 

as diverse as the fi sheries they support. Wetland marshes, oyster beds, mangrove systems, and coral reefs are just a few of the valuable 

coastal habitats that support an array of commercial and recreational species, such as blue crabs, grouper, and tarpon.

Much of the South Atlantic region is characterized by estuarine habitat, which provides critical nursery areas for commercially 

valuable species. Approximately 94 percent of the commercial fi sh and shellfi sh harvested along the southeast Atlantic coast 

depend on estuarine ecosystems for survival during some part of their life cycles, 

and the region’s economic health is heavily dependent on commercial and 

recreational fi shing industries. Despite the valuable contribution to the 

nation’s fi sheries, habitats of the South Atlantic region have suffered 

signifi cantly from coastal development. North Carolina and 

Florida are estimated to have lost approximately half of their 

original wetlands acreage. Habitat destruction has become 

one of the primary threats to the health and survival of many 

of the South Atlantic region’s valuable fi sheries.

In the South Atlantic region, NOAA works with communities 

from North Carolina to Puerto Rico to restore fi sh habitat 

through community-led restoration projects. Partnerships 

forged under the Community-based Restoration Program 

will continue to encourage the restoration and protection 

of our coastal habitats and will build stewardship values in 

future generations.

South-Atlantic and

Caribbean Projects

NOAA projects in the 

South Atlantic region (see 

map) undergo careful 

monitoring to evaluate 

project success. In Florida, 

for example, NOAA 

scientists put non-toxic 

dye in the water to track 

tidal fl ows (facing page). 

Monitoring also measures 

benefi ts to local resources 

(above and below).
NOAA COMMUNITY-BASED RESTORATION PROGRAM

N O R T H C A R O L I N A

N O R T H R I V E R F A R M S , N C

The North River in Carteret County, North Carolina, once supported an abundant and healthy 

supply of oysters. Coastal wetlands, including those along North River, provide fish and wildlife 

habitat and filter runoff entering local waterways, which supports the area’s oyster populations. 

However, as wetlands adjacent to the river were converted to agricultural use, surface runoff 

containing high levels of bacteria, sediments, and nutrients combined with abnormally high 

influxes of freshwater to decimate nearby oyster beds. In the past 100 years, North Carolina’s 

oyster population has declined by more than 90 percent.

NOAA’s Community-based Restoration Program is helping restore the historic wetlands at 

North Rivers Farms, a 6,000-acre farm (left) acquired by the North Carolina Coastal Federation. 

Contracted crews used large machinery to regrade and reshape the landscape to allow for more 

natural water flow. Volunteers began planting native species (above) in 2003, an effort that 

will continue for several years, returning this area to a functional wetland that will support the 

regeneration of local oyster populations and rehabilitate these valuable coastal wetlands.

35
PORTFOLIO OF SUCCESS

N O R T H C A R O L I N A

D U K E U N I V E R S I T Y M A R I N E L A B , N C

Shorelines armored with hardened structures, such as bulkheads and seawalls, can increase the 

rate of coastal erosion, restrict or eliminate natural sediment transport processes, and leach toxic 

chemicals from the structures into surrounding waters. These impacts greatly degrade estuarine 

habitats — an unfortunate situation, given that more than 65 percent of the fish species caught in 

North Carolina by recreational fishermen depend on the state’s 2.1 million acres of estuaries at 

some point in their life cycles.

To minimize these adverse impacts, NOAA’s Community-based Restoration Program and Restore 

America’s Estuaries have joined with the North Carolina Coastal Federation to fund natural 

shoreline restoration projects. One of these projects, located at the Duke University Marine 

Lab, removed 260 feet of degraded asbestos bulkhead, restored more than 700 feet of marsh 

along Bogue Sound (above and right), and created a viable oyster reef just offshore. Together, 

these projects create a natural system that buffers the shoreline, preventing coastal erosion and 

providing important habitat for fish and shellfish.

36
NOAA COMMUNITY-BASED RESTORATION PROGRAM

S O U T H C A R O L I N A

37

S A N D P I P E R I N L E T , S C

The tidal mud flats in Sandpiper Inlet, located in Huntington Beach State Park, 

historically supported a diverse estuarine community, including large populations 

of blue crab, brown shrimp, spot-tail bass, and shorebirds (above). Over a 

decade ago, several factors contributed to the blockage of the inlet (left, top), 

and subsequent ecological conditions caused a devastating fish kill during the 

summer of 1993. In 2005, South Carolina State Park built a 250-foot-wide inlet 

(left bottom and facing page) reestablishing tidal flow between Sandpiper Pond 

and the ocean, and restoring approximately 35 acres of coastal wetlands.

As a partner in the Sandpiper Inlet restoration, NOAA’s Community-based 

Restoration Program provided funds for scientific research and education activities. 

Faculty and students from Coastal Carolina University and local volunteer groups 

are rigorously monitoring changes to water quality, fisheries, vegetation, and 

birds at the project site. These observations will help verify the gradual return 

of healthy estuary function and provide important information to the field of 

restoration science. This monitoring, coupled with educational activities such as 

an audio-visual exhibit at the park interpretive center, have been a huge success, 

creating a sense of stewardship among project volunteers and the thousands of 

visitors to Huntington Beach State Park each year.

‘‘

’’

Coastal ecosystem restoration is important not 

only for the environmental benefits these projects 

provide, but also for the sense of optimism it gives 

citizens – that we can recover from past mistakes.

Dana Beach

Executive Director, South Carolina Coastal Conservation League
PORTFOLIO OF SUCCESS 38

S O U T H C A R O L I N A
NOAA COMMUNITY-BASED RESTORATION PROGRAM

G E O R G I A

39
PORTFOLIO OF SUCCESS

G E O R G I A

S A V A N N A H , G A

Overharvest, pollution, and disease have all contributed to declining 

oyster populations in Georgia, factors exacerbated by the practice 

of not returning shells to the ocean after harvest. Because oyster 

production depends on the availability of substrate or shell material 

for baby oysters to settle upon and grow, the constant long-term 

removal of shell has been a major contributor to declining populations. 

Annual fisheries statistics show a downward spiral for Georgia oyster 

landings, from nearly 7 million pounds a century ago, to just over 

7,000 pounds today.

To combat this problem, NOAA funding helped set up the GEORGIA 

project (Generating Enhanced Oyster Reefs in Georgia’s Inshore 

Areas), which began in Savannah and has since expanded to Georgia’s 

entire coast. The project recycles shells donated from restaurants and 

local oyster roasts (facing page) to construct new oyster reefs (above 

and right), and also includes a extensive public education campaign that 

describes shell recycling and its benefits to oyster reef restoration.

40
NOAA COMMUNITY-BASED RESTORATION PROGRAM

M A T H E S O N H A M M O C K , FL

Matheson Hammock, an 832-acre park, is home to the last mangrove forest in urban Miami-Dade County, 

a county devastated by Hurricane Andrew in 1992. Prior to the hurricane, these mangrove wetlands (left) 

served as high-volume feeding, breeding, and spawning habitat for anadromous fish, baitfish, and sea 

turtles. The park’s tidal creeks offered migration habitat for horseshoe crabs and roosting habitat for 

wading birds. Manatees (facing page, bottom) and saltwater crocodiles have also been spotted in the 

mangrove-lined tidal creeks. After the hurricane, fallen trees and other debris clogged the tidal creeks 

and severely restricted tidal flow, cutting it off entirely in some areas. 

Since 2001, NOAA has supported almost 50 acres of habitat restoration in Matheson Hammock. Over 

150 volunteers have devoted some 7,100 hours to unclog tidal creeks and remove debris in cross corridors 

(above and facing page, top). Volunteers used canoes to carefully remove dead, decaying, and non-native 

trees such as Australian pine, opening 3.9 miles of creek for black mullet, fantail mullet, and snapper.

F L O R I D A

41
PORTFOLIO OF SUCCESS

‘‘

’’

NOAA is focused on restoring critical coastal ecosystems whose 

natural beauty and complexity can be regularly appreciated, 

indeed discovered, by our citizens. I applaud their extensive 

program that is substantially improving and preserving

Florida’s precious and productive coastal environments. 

Dr. Peter Betzer

Dean, College of Marine Science, University of South Florida

F L O R I D A

42
NOAA COMMUNITY-BASED RESTORATION PROGRAM

C A R I B B E A N

43
PORTFOLIO OF SUCCESS

C A R I B B E A N

44

V I E Q U E S , P U E R T O R I C O

Coral reefs support a tremendous diversity of marine life (right), but have declined dramatically over the past two 

decades due to increases in sediments and nutrients, rising sea temperatures, and damage caused by fishing gear 

and boat groundings. Staghorn coral, which once flourished in the waters off of Puerto Rico, has been particularly 

hard hit and was listed as a candidate species under the Endangered Species Act in 1999.

NOAA provided financial and technical assistance to the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental 

Resources (PRDNER) to help stabilize a reef off the coast of Vieques Island that was damaged when a ferry ran 

aground. The assistance included state-of-the-art, on-the-job training for PRDNER staff to reattach 100 coral 

fragments using underwater cement (above).

NOAA has also supported groups in the Caribbean to assess changes in coral condition, train volunteer divers in 

coral aquaculture, and conduct research on techniques for repairing reefs and transplanting corals. Other projects 

in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have focused on protecting and restoring seagrass habitat and mangrove 

forests. These habitats, degraded due to urbanization and decreased water quality, are important areas for manatees, 

shorebirds, moray eels (facing page), as well as a variety of other reef fishes and invertebrates.
45 NOAA COMMUNITY-BASED RESTORATION PROGRAM

Gulf of Mexico Projects

The Gulf of Mexico supports some of the nation’s most productive fisheries. In fact, the region hosts three of the top five fishing ports 

in the nation in terms of landings. These fisheries provide a wholesome food source for U.S. citizens, contribute to a robust economy, 

and support traditional fishing livelihoods. Healthy marine and coastal habitats are the foundation of the Gulf’s fisheries production 

and help protect the shoreline and the nation’s oil and gas infrastructure when storms threaten to erode coastal areas. 

Land development, pollution, erosion, and loss of freshwater inflows have all contributed to habitat loss and degradation in the Gulf 

of Mexico region. Seagrass beds and oyster reefs, which provide homes for numerous marine species and help filter sediment and 

nutrients from the water column, have suffered from pollution and poor land management. In Alabama alone, half of the state’s native 

oysters have disappeared in the past 100 years. Coastal wetlands, which are among the most productive ecosystems in the world, have 

also disappeared at an alarming rate in the Gulf of Mexico region, most notably in Louisiana, which loses 25 square miles of wetlands 

every year from natural subsidence and human impact.

In the Gulf of Mexico region, NOAA’s 

Community-based Restoration Program meets 

local habitat restoration needs by partnering 

with grassroots organizations and state and 

federal agencies. From marsh and oyster 

reef creation to marine debris removal and 

hydrologic restoration, NOAA reestablishes 

crucial fisheries habitat and establishes a 

conservation ethic at the core of the region’s 

citizenry by involving communities in local 

restoration projects.

From marsh and seagrass 

restoration (above) to marine 

debris removal (below), 

NOAA’s Community-based 

Restoration Program repairs 

habitat important to the Gulf 

Coast’s commercial and 

recreational fisheries (facing 

page). Projects throughout 

the Gulf of Mexico region 

(see map) engage local 

communities and promote 

environmental stewardship.
PORTFOLIO OF SUCCESS

Enhance natural

re s ou rce s
NOAA COMMUNITY-BASED RESTORATION PROGRAM

F L O R I D A

47
PORTFOLIO OF SUCCESS

F L O R I D A

48

F O R T D E S O T O P A R K , F L

In 2004, tidal flow was restored between two lagoonal waterways of Ft. De Soto Park. 

Natural circulation was eliminated within the park’s lagoon-bay complex through the 

construction of causeways in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Without water from the 

Gulf of Mexico flowing into the lagoons, bay waters became stagnant, and temperatures 

rose — scientists recorded temperatures as high as 106 degrees during summer months. 

Dissolved oxygen levels plummeted and important seagrasses vanished. 

To correct the problem, part of a causeway dike was replaced with a 40-foot span 

bridge (facing page). On the day tidal exchange was restored, scientists used nontoxic 

dye to observe the initial movement of the water between the lagoons (above, left). 

The restored water circulation is expected to improve water quality and the habitat 

value of 1,000 acres of productive lagoon area. Multiple fish and bird species (such as 

the reddish egret, above right) will benefit from the restored areas, capitalizing on the 

new habitat and prey available. Just three days after it was opened, a local fisherman 

landed a 33-inch snook off the new bridge — a sure sign that things are improving.

‘‘

’’

As custodians of public resources, Pinellas 

County must manage these resources for

the good of not only the people, but the 

natural systems as well. We hope the

Fort De Soto project establishes a model

for corrective measures to restore tidal

flows in dredged and filled projects.

Jake F. Stowers, C.E.P.

Assistant County Administrator, Pinellas County, Florida
NOAA COMMUNITY-BASED RESTORATION PROGRAM

A L A B A M A

49

M O B I L E B A Y , A L

An estimated 10,000 acres of coastal wetlands have been lost in Alabama 

since the 1950s. Much of the loss is due to development, dredge and fill 

operations, and hardened shorelines. Fortunately, several projects in Mobile 

Bay have been able to restore and protect these rich coastal habitats. 

The Mon Luis Island Marsh Restoration Project has restored five acres 

of salt marsh (above, right). This land at the mouth of Fowl River, which 

once served as a disposal site for dredge material, had become infested 

with invasive reeds (Phragmites australis) more than ten feet tall. Heavy 

machinery was used to remove the reeds and scrape down the soil. 

Following construction, volunteers planted the entire area with native 

marsh grasses. The grasses quickly colonized the restoration site, and daily 

tidal flooding has created a perfect home for hermit crabs and many other 

marine species (facing page). 

At a separate project on Dauphin Island (above, left and center), small 

breakwaters protect the salt marsh against coastal erosion caused by boat 

wakes from personal watercraft, ferries, and small ships. The breakwaters 

were placed off-shore of the marsh to prevent further erosion and to 

encourage oyster reef formation. Oyster shell on such structures provides 

habitat for larval oysters to settle and grow in these intertidal areas (left).
PORTFOLIO OF SUCCESS

A L A B A M A

50
NOAA COMMUNITY-BASED RESTORATION PROGRAM

M I S S I S S I P P I

51
PORTFOLIO OF SUCCESS

M I S S I S S I P P I

52

G U L F C O A S T , M S

Crab trap recovery is essential for enhancing habitat along the coastlines 

of Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, and Texas. Since the widespread 

use of crab traps began in the 1950s, derelict traps lost to storms, broken 

lines, and neglect have accumulated in the intertidal zone, marsh and 

offshore areas. Derelict traps can be found in sensitive ecosystems 

including oyster reefs, saltwater marshes, and tidal flats.

NOAA and the Gulf of Mexico Foundation have worked together since 

2002 to fund the removal of over 15,000 derelict crab traps along the 

Gulf Coast. Project staff and local volunteers of all ages (facing page 

and above, left) routinely scout Gulf waters and remove lost traps to 

prevent habitat degradation. Removing derelict traps also protects 

aquatic vegetation from harm, reduces damage to boats, and protects 

a variety of animals such as shellfish, fish, and turtles from unintended 

entanglement (above, right).

‘‘

’’

What example of success could trump this project?

Recreational and commercial fishermen, state 

biologists, the crab industry, a regional state 

commission, and state and federal governments

teamed up to do a good thing for the health of

our coastal waters. That is more than success.

That is the way all things should be handled.

Larry B. Simpson

Executive Director, Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission
NOAA COMMUNITY-BASED RESTORATION PROGRAM

L O U I S I A N A

V E R M I L I O N P A R I S H , L A

Habitat loss along the Gulf of Mexico coastline is one of the most urgent environmental threats facing the United States today, made evident by the 

massive devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina in late summer 2005. NOAA restores coastal wetlands that buffer storm waves, helping to protect 

human life and the nation’s oil and gas infrastructure when devastating storms hit. These same wetlands support our marine resources, including 

large recreational and commercial fisheries.

Marsh within the Paul J. Rainey Wildlife Sanctuary, like much of coastal Louisiana, has eroded due to altered hydrology, subsidence, lack of 

sediment input, and high wave energy from storms. The Rainey Refuge restoration project — at the National Audubon Society’s oldest and largest 

wildlife refuge — will help to restore a 640-acre shallow pond that was formerly vegetated marsh. The project used heavy equipment (above) to 

create 36,000 linear feet of earthen terraces and included the planting of 15,400 plugs of salt marsh grass. The terraces will help enable a more natural 

tidal flow as well as reduce wave erosion along the shoreline, and the plantings will provide an initial “boost” that will lead to long-term increases 

in submerged aquatic and emergent vegetation. This restored habitat will provide great benefits for fish, birds, and other wildlife along the Louisiana 

coast (facing page), as well as protect the wetlands that provide a storm buffer for energy facilities in the area.

53
PORTFOLIO OF SUCCESS

L O U I S I A N A

54

’’

‘‘

When a restoration project has clear

environmental benefits and at the

same time protects critical energy 

infrastructure for the country,

it’s a win-win for everyone.

Ted Falgout

Executive Director, Greater Lafourche Port Commission
NOAA COMMUNITY-BASED RESTORATION PROGRAM

T E X A S

55
PORTFOLIO OF SUCCESS

T E X A S

56

B R O W N S V I L L E , T X

Tidal flooding of the Bahia Grande, an 11,000-acre estuary between 

Brownsville and Port Isabel, Texas, was impeded by the construction 

of the Brownsville Ship Channel and the construction of State Highway 

48 in the 1930s. Cutting off tidal flow changed this highly productive 

shallow water system — which once boasted a shrimp fishery — into a 

massive salty sand flat (facing page). With the Bahia Grande dried up, 

the area provided few ecological benefits, and its wind-blown sands 

caused numerous health problems in the Brownsville area.

In 2005, local authorities opened a pilot channel (above) between 

the Brownsville Ship Channel and the Bahia Grande, reconnecting 

permanent tidal flow to the area for the first time in 70 years (right). The 

pilot channel was only an initial step in restoring the degraded wetlands 

of the Bahia Grande. Additional channels, funded by NOAA, will be 

constructed between the Bahia Grande and adjacent basins — Little 

Laguna Madre and Laguna Larga — to enhance water circulation 

throughout the area and to reestablish native mangrove stands and 

seagrass beds. 
NOAA COMMUNITY-BASED RESTORATION PROGRAM

restoration project success restoration project success

M o n i t o r
PORTFOLIO OF SUCCESS 58

The western coastal states abound in a remarkable array of habitats and coastal species. Nearly 10,000 miles of shoreline encompass 

diverse and productive habitats that support fi nfi sh, shellfi sh, and other wildlife. The region’s picturesque rivers and streams provide 

rearing and spawning habitat for anadromous fi sh — species that spend part of their lives in freshwater and part of their lives in 

saltwater. Salmon, an important recreational fi shery and cultural icon, rely on these networks of estuaries and streams to complete their 

life cycles. Olympia oysters, once an important food source for Native Americans, can provide habitat for many marine species. Kelp 

beds, sea grasses, salt marshes, and other wetlands also serve as important shelter, food sources, and spawning habitats.

Unfortunately, many of these habitats have diminished greatly 

in recent years. Bulkheads and armoring modify 33 percent of 

Washington’s shoreline. Dams, irrigation diversions, and road 

crossings in Idaho limit fi sh access to thousands of miles of upstream 

salmon habitat. In Oregon, approximately 50 percent of historic 

tidal wetlands have been lost, and in parts of California nearly 80 

percent of tidal wetlands have been damaged or destroyed.

The loss and degradation of these habitats has resulted in greatly 

reduced fi sheries populations. Chinook, coho, pink, and chum 

salmon, as well as steelhead trout are now listed under the 

Endangered Species Act, and the native Olympia oyster no longer 

supports a large commercial harvest. NOAA’s Community-based 

Restoration Program has been active throughout the West Coast 

region since 1996, funding hundreds of projects to help reverse 

habitat decline.

West Coast Projects

On the West Coast, 

NOAA’s Community-based 

Restoration Program works 

in a variety of habitats from 

marine kelp forests (above) 

to coastal oyster beds 

(facing page) and inland 

riparian streams (below). 

Habitat restoration projects 

throughout Washington, 

Oregon, California, and 

Idaho (see map) provide 

important benefi ts for the 

region’s fi sh and wildlife.
NOAA COMMUNITY-BASED RESTORATION PROGRAM

W A S H I N G T O N

59

P U G E T S O U N D , W A

Derelict gear includes equipment such as nets, lines, and crab and shrimp pots 

abandoned or lost during commercial or sport fishing operations. The abandoned 

gear is typically composed of synthetic materials, which can remain in the marine 

environment for years or even decades, trapping and killing marine species. Recently 

recovered derelict nets on the Pacific Coast of Washington that had been “ghost 

fishing” for over 15 years contained carcasses of sea birds, marine mammals, and 

mature salmon returning to spawn.

Through grants provided by NOAA, the Northwest Straits Commission developed 

derelict gear removal protocols focusing on safe and environmentally friendly 

removal and disposal of the derelict fishing gear. Since 2001, gear removal efforts 

have recovered 686 shrimp and crab pots and 3.15 million square feet of nets. Fishing 

gear is brought to the surface by floats or reels (above, left), pulled out of the water, and 

placed onto the recovery vessel for disposal (above, center). To date, 498 entangled 

salmon and rockfish, 1,100 live and dead crabs, and four dead marine mammals have 

been removed from the retrieved gear (left and above, right). The protocol, adopted 

by the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, has encouraged further gear 

removal projects in Puget Sound and King County.
PORTFOLIO OF SUCCESS

W A S H I N G T O N

60

T A R B O O C R E E K , W A

From the forested headwaters, to the farmed floodplain, to the estuarine Dabob Bay (above, left), 

Tarboo Creek has all the ingredients necessary for watershed-wide protection and restoration despite 

its degraded floodplains, blocked streams, and imperfect forestry practices.

NOAA’s Community-based Restoration Program has played a substantial role in several restoration 

projects in this watershed and has worked with many local partners, including the Northwest 

Watershed Institute, Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group, and National Fish and Wildlife 

Foundation. Through several NOAA-funded restoration efforts, local partners removed a series of 

fish passage barriers (above, center), opening over 17 miles of spawning and rearing habitat in the 

Tarboo watershed to salmon (above, right). NOAA helped return over 1,500 feet of Tarboo Creek 

from a ditch to its natural meandering course on the Old Freeman Farm, and NOAA partners and 

volunteers also planted the floodplain with native shrubs and trees, and placed large logs in the stream 

to recreate the aquatic refuges found in healthier creeks.

Tarboo Creek will develop, change, and grow, but the foundation for a healthy watershed has been 

established. Today, local school children come to the creek, watch the coho push upstream, and 

become involved in watershed restoration. Equipped with these experiences, these children can 

become tomorrow’s river stewards, acting to protect this rich natural resource for future generations.

’’

‘‘

Habitat is the key to the survival 

of wild salmon. When we, as 

a community, take care of the 

salmon’s home, we are taking 

care of our home, too. We must

work together – all of us – to 

protect and restore the salmon

for our children, and for 

generations to come.

Billy Frank, Jr.

Chairman,

Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission
NOAA COMMUNITY-BASED RESTORATION PROGRAM

I D A H O

61
PORTFOLIO OF SUCCESS

I D A H O

62

R O U N D V A L L E Y C R E E K , I D

The NOAA-supported Idaho Department of Fish and Game’s Volunteer Program provides a link between 

conservation-minded citizens and ecologically meaningful habitat restoration. In the program’s southwest 

region, 2,100 volunteers have committed over 20,500 hours of service (above and right) to restore wetland 

and riparian areas essential to Idaho’s migrating salmon. The volunteer program stretches limited resources 

to implement high-priority projects that would not be possible otherwise.

The program relies on members of the local communities to facilitate restoration on private lands that were 

previously inaccessible to government personnel. Through volunteer efforts, local landowners have begun 

opening their gates to become partners in habitat restoration efforts (facing page). As other landowners 

witness successful projects on their neighbors’ properties, they come to recognize the benefits of healing the 

rivers and creeks. Each year, a growing number of Little Salmon River Valley landowners partner with the 

volunteer program and other natural resources agencies to work cooperatively toward habitat restoration.
NOAA COMMUNITY-BASED RESTORATION PROGRAM

O R E G O N

63

L O W E R D R I F T C R E E K , O R

Alsea Bay on the Oregon Coast provides important habitat 

for many marine species, including Pacific herring, English 

sole, dungeness crab, and harbor seals (above). The Bay 

also hosts Chinook, coho, and chum salmon, as well as 

steelhead and sea-run cutthroat trout. 

When the Drift Creek valley near Alsea Bay was originally 

colonized, some of the associated salt and freshwater 

marshes were diked, drained, and converted to pasture. To 

restore the area, the MidCoast Watershed Council and the 

Siuslaw National Forest, with NOAA support, removed 

a man-made levee (above, left), which restored the tidal 

connection between Lower Drift Creek and approximately 

82 acres of wetland habitat (left). On the first high tide 

following the levee removal, thousands of juvenile fish 

were observed in the newly available shallow marsh habitat. 

Other restoration activities included controlling invasive 

plants, revegetating the area with native plants, removing 

culverts that blocked fish passage, and installing fencing 

and guards to prevent cattle from grazing upstream and 

impacting the newly restored area.
PORTFOLIO OF SUCCESS

O R E G O N

64

Y A Q U I N A B A Y , O R

The native Olympia oyster (above) was historically found 

in bays and estuaries along the West Coast, from Mexico 

to southeastern Alaska. Intense harvest during the 19th 

century, as well as later development and pollution, 

exhausted oyster populations along the coast, and only 

small remnant populations remain today. With support 

from NOAA and student volunteers, the Confederated 

Tribes of Siletz Indians began restoring native Yaquina Bay 

oysters in 2004. 

The Siletz Indians collect native oyster broodstock from 

Netarts Bay, and spawn and grow the oysters at the 

Whiskey Creek Shellfish Hatchery. When the oysters reach 

an appropriate age, the tribe then transplants them to stateowned sites within Yaquina Bay (right). 

With recreational harvest of Olympia oysters currently 

prohibited in Oregon, increased harvest is not the primary 

goal of this project; rather, the goal is to rebuild the 

foundation of a healthy estuarine ecosystem, enhancing 

habitat and water quality to benefit many other species.

’’

‘‘

Native oysters have been a major food source for

Native Americans in the Yaquina Bay area for

thousands of years. Commercial harvests from

San Francisco in the 1800s took nearly everything.

How do I feel about this first step to put oysters back?

It’s the beginning of a new life. We want oysters here,

not just for Native Americans, but for all.

Frank Simmons

Siletz Tribal Elder and Natural Resources Technician
NOAA COMMUNITY-BASED RESTORATION PROGRAM

C A L I F O R N I A

65

S O U T H E R N C A L I F O R N I A B I G H T , C A

Giant kelp was once abundant along the southern California coast 

from north of Monterey to San Diego. Giant kelp (above) can 

grow up to 2 feet per day, and kelp forests support a diversity of 

marine species, including rubberlip surfperch (left, top), anchovy 

(left, bottom), lingcod, and sea otters. However, these marine 

forests have decreased by 80 percent in southern California, 

and some areas are now almost completely destroyed. Under 

normal conditions, giant kelp will recolonize an area following 

destructive storms or periods of increased water temperatures, but 

pollution and disease still challenge natural kelp regeneration. 

Healthy, dense giant kelp forests can be reestablished using 

techniques that have been successfully tested and refined since 

the 1970s. The California Coastkeeper Alliance, in partnership 

with NOAA, has launched the Southern California Regional 

Kelp Restoration Project, a community-based program to restore 

the kelp forests of southern California from Santa Barbara to 

San Diego. Since the project’s inception in 2001, divers and 

other volunteers have donated thousands of hours to growing, 

maintaining, transplanting, and monitoring the kelp, and have 

restored thousands of square meters of kelp forest.
PORTFOLIO OF SUCCESS

C A L I F O R N I A

66

C O A S T A L S T R E A M S , C A

California’s coastal streams are home to coho and Chinook 

salmon and steelhead, which have been classified as threatened 

or endangered throughout much of their ranges. Though welladapted to withstand high water flows in winter and low flows in 

summer, these fish require healthy instream and riparian habitat 

to survive in their highly dynamic environments. Unfortunately, 

many of California’s streams have been heavily damaged by 

development pressures and past land use practices. 

With NOAA funding, the California Conservation Corps 

(CCC) trains young adults and provides them with a variety 

of opportunities to conduct hands-on restoration. In northern 

California, CCC crews installed large woody debris in Austin 

Creek near the Russian River (above) to provide instream 

habitat for coho salmon and steelhead. In southern California, 

CCC crews stabilized a 60-foot section of eroding stream bank 

and planted native vegetation along Lion Creek, which supports 

steelhead. Crews also repaired existing riparian fencing (right) 

to keep livestock out of the creek. These habitat improvements 

are small steps toward salmon and steelhead recovery along the 

California coast.

’’

‘‘

Communities and government are working hand in hand in

California to restore habitat for our marine resources. The 

partnership between the California Conservation Corps and 

NOAA is an excellent example of how these efforts will help 

sustain our commercial and recreational fisheries, and ensure 

the health of our environment for the children of tomorrow. 

Mike Chrisman

Secretary for Resources, State of California
67 NOAA COMMUNITY-BASED RESTORATION PROGRAM

Alaska and Pacific Island Projects

Alaska and the Pacific Islands span the North and West Pacific Ocean, as far north as the Arctic Circle and as far south as the equator. 

Alaska has more than 33,000 miles of tidal coastline, and the exclusive economic zones of the Pacific Islands cover more than 1.5 

million square miles of ocean. Alaska, Hawaii, and the island territories share many similarities — close ties with native communities 

and cultural resources, a large commercial fishing industry, remote and unique natural beauty, and rapid coastal development. Yet the 

North and West Pacific are worlds apart in terms of habitat types, climates, and geography. 

Although Alaska’s environment ranks among the most pristine in the world, coastal development, resource extraction, pollution, and 

marine traffic have all contributed to localized habitat degradation. Alaska provides close to 40 percent of the nation’s wild salmon 

catch, but more than half of the culverts in salmon streams obstruct fish 

passage to native spawning grounds. In the Pacific Islands, marine 

debris, invasive species, and urbanization have contributed to 

coastal and marine habitat degradation. Coral reefs, which 

contribute more than $360 million to the Hawaiian economy 

each year, suffer from derelict fishing net abrasion, 

highly invasive marine algae, and sedimentation due to 

channelized urban streams. 

In Alaska and the Pacific Islands, NOAA partners with 

grassroots organizations and state and federal agencies to 

address local habitat restoration needs. From invasive species 

removal and shellfish restoration to marine debris removal and riparian restoration, 

the Community-based Restoration Program repairs crucial fisheries habitat and 

establishes a conservation ethic by involving local communities in local restoration projects.

From invasive species 

removal (facing page) 

and shellfish restoration 

to stream enhancements 

and riparian restoration 

(above and below), 

NOAA’s Community-based 

Restoration Program 

supports vital fisheries 

habitat restoration projects 

throughout the vast 

regions of Alaska and the

Pacific Islands (see map).
PORTFOLIO OF SUCCESS

Promote environmental

stew a r d shi p
NOAA COMMUNITY-BASED RESTORATION PROGRAM

E Y A K L A K E , A K

Over the years, sockeye salmon production from Eyak Lake has sustained Native Alaskan 

populations and today it supports a modern-day fishing fleet. Eyak Lake, which flows via the 

Eyak River into the Copper River Delta, is noted for the length of its sockeye salmon run and 

receives some of the earliest and the latest ocean returns. The early return of sockeye to the 

Copper River Delta historically provided welcome bounty after long winters. Today, the high oil 

quantity and deep red flesh of this area’s sockeye salmon make it a specialty on the international 

fish market. 

Unfortunately, urban growth in nearby Cordova has diminished the functioning habitat available 

for salmon populations. Problems include polluted storm water outflow, eroded banks from 

shoreside construction, and disrupted spawning grounds from in-water structures such as docks.

With local partners, NOAA’s Community-based Restoration Program has dedicated funding to 

restore functioning habitat on Eyak Lake. This streambank restoration project brought together 

volunteers and professional contractors to secure the bank using bioengineering techniques such 

as soil and willow wraps, root wad structures, and revegetation (above and left).

A L A S K A

69
PORTFOLIO OF SUCCESS

A L A S K A

70

Q U A R T Z C R E E K , A K

Although large river systems like the Yukon, Kenai, Copper, and Russian 

rivers are famous for producing salmon, it is the tributaries of these great 

rivers that actually provide much of the spawning and rearing habitat for 

Alaska’s juvenile salmon. Many of these tributaries have been degraded by 

human activities. Abandoned gravel mines, for example, can alter stream 

courses and increase turbidity levels — both of which can be detrimental 

to salmon.

Quartz Creek, a tributary of the Kenai River, has been the focus of NOAA 

efforts to improve rearing habitat for juvenile salmon. In the Quartz Creek 

project, an abandoned gravel pit mine was transformed into a wetland 

pond and connected to the creek channel. To restore the creek’s stream 

banks, volunteers anchored a fallen tree along the shore and bank (above, 

left). The tree will slow water velocity and create shelter for juvenile fish. 

Additional stream bank protection was added using other bioengineering 

techniques (above, center and right).

‘‘

’’

Working as part of an Alaska Youth Restoration 

Corps team, young adults will move more than

just mountains of soil, sod, root wads and

trees. They will become the stewards of

our environment, and they will move their

generation to respect and protect the

natural resources around them.

Elvira Wolfe

Director, Alaska Youth Restoration Corps
NOAA COMMUNITY-BASED RESTORATION PROGRAM

H A W A I I

71

O ‘ A H U , H I

The spread of invasive marine algae is one of the greatest threats to Hawaii’s coral 

reef ecosystems. In the absence of natural control mechanisms, such as fish grazing, 

disease, and competition, these alien algae species can quickly overgrow and smother 

native reef communities. With NOAA funding, The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii 

cultivated one of the largest grassroots partnerships in Hawaii to combat the spread of 

alien algae and restore native reef habitat in Waikiki and Kane’ohe Bay.

Community volunteers devote Saturday mornings to manually removing the alien 

algae from reefs in Waikiki. Trained divers retrieve the algae from the sea bottom 

using burlap bags and pass the bags to volunteers on surfboards who paddle them to 

shore (above, left). Shore-based volunteers sort out and return any native species that 

were inadvertently collected (above right and facing page), and the collected algae 

is then used as fertilizer by local taro farmers. To date, thousands of volunteers have 

helped remove over 100 tons of alien algae.

By fostering community stewardship through education and volunteerism, this 

project is making significant strides toward restoring and protecting Hawaii’s coral 

reef ecosystems and maintaining an abundance of marine life, such as endangered 

green sea turtles (left) that forage on native algae.
PORTFOLIO OF SUCCESS

H A W A I I

72
NOAA COMMUNITY-BASED RESTORATION PROGRAM

Credits

Photography

Introduction (river herring): Tim Watts; ME (river herring): Tim Watts; NH 

(all): New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services - Dams Bureau;

VT (community restoration): FishAmerica Foundation; VT (Atlantic salmon): 

Gilbert van Ryckevorsel; MA (train): Andrew Eldridge; RI (volunteers hand 

transplanting, woman in water monitoring): Thomas Freeman; CT (river 

herring): Tim Watts; NJ (all): NY/NJ Baykeeper; PA (dam before): Reading 

Public Museum; DE (elvers): Tim Watts; DC (boy with trash, smiling girl): 

Anacostia Watershed Society; South Atlantic Overview (brittle star): Andy 

Bruckner; NC (aerial shots, North River planting): North Carolina Coastal 

Federation; GA (all): Alan Power; FL (volunteers) Wildlife Research Team; FL 

(manatee, roseate spoonbill): istockphoto.com; Caribbean (moray eel, anemone, 

reef fi sh): Andy Bruckner; Gulf of Mexico Overview (crab trap removal): Gulf 

States Marine Fisheries Commission; Gulf of Mexico Overview (shrimp trawlers): 

istockphoto.com; MS (all): Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission; West 

Coast Overview (Idaho stream): Mountain Visions; West Coast Overview (kelp): 

California Coastkeeper Alliance; WA (crane lifting net): U.S. Army Corps of 

Engineers; WA (Pacifi c salmon): istockphoto.com; ID (all): Mountain Visions; 

OR (harbor seal): istockphoto.com; CA (rubberlip surfperch): Dave Witting; 

CA (kelp blades, anchovies): California Coastkeeper Alliance; Alaska and 

Pacifi c Islands Overview (volunteers): Hawaii Marine Algae Group; Alaska and 

Pacifi c Islands Overview (bear with salmon): istockphoto.com; AK (Eyak Lake): 

Copper River Watershed Project; AK (Quartz Creek): Youth Restoration Corps; 

HI (volunteers): Hawaii Marine Algae Group; HI (sea turtle): John Naughton.

Design/Production

Milena Viljoen

Editing

Stephanie Hunt

David Landsman

Cathy Bozek

Tom Moore

Special Thanks

Doug Robb

73
‘‘

’’

By educating the public about these environmental issues, and with the

hands-on approach to activate that knowledge, an individual becomes 

better equipped and informed to make decisions as he/she develops a 

personal stake in affecting the environment.

Andi Olsen,

Idaho landowner and partner in NOAA community-based restoration efforts
NOAA Restoration Center

Community-based Restoration Program

1315 East-West Highway

Silver Spring, Maryland 20910

(301) 713-0174

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/habitat/restoration

March 2006