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EPA'S FIVE STAR RESTORATION PROGRAM TO RECOGNIZE COMMUNITY-BASED WETLANDS RESTORATION PROJECTS

Release Date: 05/24/2000
Contact Information: Wesley Lambert, EPA Media Relations, 404-562-8316

EPA, Region 4 announced today that it will recognize 8 Five Star Restoration Challenge Grant recipients for their work in restoring wetlands.. The Five Star Restoration Program brings together citizen groups, corporations, youth conservation corps, students, landowners and government agencies to undertake projects that restore stream banks and wetlands. The program provides challenge grants, technical support, and information exchange to enable community-based restoration projects. The following projects are being recognized: B.P. Amoco Wetlands Enhancement Project, Decatur, Alabama The J. Larry Newton School Wetland Restoration Project, Fairhope, Alabama The Cedar Key Garden Club Pepper Free Project, Cedar Key, Florida Emerson Point Environmental Restoration Project, Manatee County, Florida Reforest the Bluegrass, Fayette County, Kentucky Restore the Environment and the Lagoon (REAL), St. Lucie County, Florida Banking on the Future, Decatur, Alabama Cahaba/Black Warrior River CLEANers, Birmingham, Alabama The 1998 Clean Water Action Plan includes a goal of a net increase of 100,000 acres of wetlands per year by 2005. One of its key actions calls for the Environmental Protection Agency to work with its partners on community-based wetlands restoration projects in 500 watersheds. The Five Star Restoration Program is specifically designed to meet that challenge. The National Association of Counties, the National Association of Service and Conservation Corps , the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and the Wildlife Habitat Council have joined together with EPA to organize the Five Star program. The National Marine Fisheries Service has provided financial support to increase the number of projects that can be initiated in 1999. The Five Star Challenge Grants Program champions restoration projects that involve contributions from multiple and diverse partners. Its objective is to engage five or more partners in each project to contribute funding, land, technical assistance, workforce support or other in-kind services that match EPA's funding assistance. To qualify for the program a project must have a strong on-the-ground habitat restoration component that provides long-term ecological, educational, or social benefits for people and their communities. EPA's grants are modest, averaging about $10,000 per project. When combined with the contributions of partners, however, projects that make a measurable difference in communities become possible. At the completion of Five Star projects, each partnership will have experience and a demonstrated record of accomplishment, and will be well positioned to take on other projects. Aggregated over time and space, these grassroots efforts will make a significant difference in our landscape and the welfare of our communities. In 1998, EPA undertook a trial program involving 12 projects, which demonstrated the feasibility of the program and helped guide the development of the full-scale program. In 1999, 50 or more projects are being initiated. Over 300 applications have been received, involving over 1,500 grass roots organizations in 47 States and several Tribes. Additional funding sources are being sought to respond to this overwhelming level of interest. For a contribution between $5,000 and $20,000, other organizations can sponsor a Five Star project. This is a particularly good opportunity for groups that seek to leverage their investments. On average, for each dollar of sponsor funds, five additional dollars in matching contributions will be provided by restoration partners in funding, labor, materials, equipment or in-kind services. For further information regarding the Five Star Restoration Program, interested parties can surf the web at: www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/restore/5star/.