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Fixing Our Earth

After four centuries as a major center of ocean commerce and 

naval power, the Elizabeth River is the most polluted waterway on 

the Chesapeake Bay for some cancer-causing chemicals.

Courtesy Captain Albert E. Theberge, NOAA Corps (ret.)

Adobe Creek in Sonoma County, California was once alive with 

salmon and steelhead trout; but after years of pollution and neglect, 

state offi cials declared it “dead.” Courtesy NOAA Restoration 

Center

Seagrasses provide food and habitat for different species of fi sh, 

lobster, wading birds, manatees and sea turtles. In Tampa Bay, more 

than 70 percent of seagrass meadows have been destroyed by pollution, coastal development, dredging, and boat propellers. Courtesy 

NOAA Restoration Center

After four centuries as a major center of ocean commerce and Adobe Creek in Sonoma County, California was once alive with Seagrasses provide food and habitat for different species of fi sh, 

There are hundreds of stories about damage to 

coral reefs, rivers, fi sheries and other resources 

caused by storms, oil spills, chemical pollution, 

and many other events. 

So, is there anything we can do?

Yes! We can help restore habitats and save 

many species!

NOAA has worked with more than 2,500 groups 

throughout the U.S. to protect and restore 

marshes, wetland forests, oyster reefs, seagrass 

beds, beaches, and tidal streams that have 

been damaged by natural events and human 

activities. Restoration projects include:

What You Will Do

Get involved in a project to restore damaged natural resources

• Removing invasive species

• Repairing damaged habitats

• Cleaning up pollution

• Restoring natural ecosystem processes such 

as water fl ow

• Re-introducing native organisms

• Monitoring activities to evaluate long-term 

success
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Science | Service | STEWARDSHIP PROTECT THE EARTH

Local middle and high school students grew more 

than 100,000 bushels of seed oysters that were used 

to successfully restore oyster reefs in the Elizabeth 

River, Portsmouth, VA. Courtesy NOAA Restoration 

Center

Students in the Tampa Bay area grow marsh grasses 

and seagrasses, and assist with monitoring and planting to restore damaged habitats. Courtesy Tampa 

BayWatch

Students at Casa Grande High School built the only student run fi sh hatchery in the lower 48 states, removed 

trash from Adobe Creek, planted trees, so that Steelhead 

and Chinook salmon are once again spawning in the 

steam. Courtesy NOAA Restoration Center

Local middle and high school students grew more Students at Casa Grande High School built the only stu- Students in the Tampa Bay area grow marsh grasses 

What You Will Need

❒ Good ideas

❒ Desire to make things better

❒ Willingness to get involved

Warning

Work on this project with an adult partner! Be 

sure you have permission and expert advice before starting any restoration activities.

Here’s how you can start helping 

to fix our Earth!

Kids play a big part inmany restoration projects!
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Some Organizations Involved with 

Habitat Restoration Projects

American Littoral Society

American Rivers

American Sportfishing Association

Chesapeake Bay Foundation

Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana

Connecticut River Watershed Council

Conservation Law Foundation

Ducks Unlimited

EarthCorps

Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine 

Environment

Gulf of Mexico Foundation

Institute for Fisheries Resources

Institute For Sustainable Forestry

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

North Carolina Coastal Federation

Ocean Trust/National Fisheries Institute

Save the Bay (Narragansett Bay)

The Nature Conservancy

Tampa Bay Watch

Trout Unlimited

How to Do It

1. Visit the Web sites listed on “NOAA’s 

Restoration Programs.” Read some of the 

case studies to get ideas about different 

kinds of restoration projects. Also, check out 

the “Volunteers” page at NOAA’s Restoration 

Portal www.habitat.noaa.gov/highlights/

hlrestorehabitatsoutheast.html

2. Look over “Some Organizations Involved with 

Habitat Restoration Projects.” Check your 

local telephone directory to see if any of 

these organizations have an office nearby. If 

so, give them a call and ask about restoration 

projects in your area. If not, contact NOAA’s 

Fisheries Restoration Center (see the contact 

list at www.habitat.noaa.gov/restoration/

connection/partnerships.html).

3. Talk to your parents, friends, teachers, 

and other groups about getting involved 

in a restoration project. Many successful 

restoration projects begin with one person 

who wants to make things better. Maybe you 

can be that person!

NOAA’s Restoration Programs

The Damage Assessment and Restoration Program focuses on events such as oil spills, release 

of toxic chemicals, or ships that run aground. 

www.darrp.noaa.gov/

The Community-Based Restoration Program 

works with local partners to restore fishery habitats and encourage conservation of living marine 

resources. www.habitat.noaa.gov/restoration/

programs/crp.html

The Office of Response and Restoration investigates natural resource damage, plans restoration 

projects, and helps local groups design monitoring plans to measure the success of restoration 

projects. response.restoration.noaa.gov/

Through the National Coastal Zone Management 

Program, NOAA partners with state coastal zone 

management programs to develop habitat restoration plans and carry out a variety of restoration 

projects. coast.noaa.gov/czm/

The National Estuarine Research Reserve System 

works with local and state partners as well as 

other NOAA offices and federal agencies carry out 

habitat restoration projects based on scientific 

observations and historical analysis of ecosystems. coast.noaa.gov/nerrs/

The Coral Reef Conservation Program provides 

funding and technical assistance to NOAA offices 

and partner groups to support restoration, monitoring, and research on the effectiveness of coral 

reef restoration methods. coralreef.noaa.gov/