TEACHERS & SCHOOLS NEEDED!

The Partners Program has worked with many schools across the country. The program supports hands-on learning opportunities, development of habitat based outdoor classrooms, the use of dynamic community based partnerships to create educational opportunities, and/or service learning experiences. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program can work with schools in nearly all US states to develop habitat restoration projects which can support a variety of learning opportunities. Projects focus on degraded wetland and/or streambank areas on or adjacent to school property. A Partners Program representative will help with site evaluation, project planning and design, and project implementation. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service can also provide funding to assist with the restoration practices.

Interested schools or teachers should contact:
http://partners.fws.gov/

Eric L. Derleth or Chris Smith
U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Lake Champlain Fish & Wildlife Res. Office
11 Lincoln Street
Essex Junction, VT 05452

Ph: (802) 872-0629 Fax: (802) 872-9704
eric_derleth@fws.gov
christopher_smith@fws.gov

The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service is looking for landowners in Vermont and the Lake Champlain watershed of New York interested in having wetlands or streambanks restored on their property. Using funds provided by the Service's Partners For Fish and Wildlife Program, restoration projects can be completed at little or no cost to landowners.

Since 1992, 288 projects have been completed that have resulted in the restoration of 973 acres of wetlands, 105.7 miles of riparian habitat, 678 acres of associated upland buffers, and 5.2 miles of in-stream habitat. "We seek areas that have been grazed or cultivated right to the top of the streambank or wetlands that have been drained by ditching or drain tiles. Our goal is to restore sites to their natural state," said Eric Derleth of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

At riparian sites selected for restoration, streambanks will be protected with permanent fencing, the installation of
bioengineering techniques to control bank erosion (tree revetments, brushrolls, fascines), or the planting of streambank vegetation. After controlling any excessive bank erosion, streambank areas will be planted or allowed to revert naturally so that woody vegetation will eventually provide breeding habitat and cover for wildlife. The restoration of forested buffers provides long term erosion control by stabilizing streambanks and improves water quality by trapping sediments and absorbing excess nutrients. Fisheries habitat is improved because a streamside forest provides protective cover, increases food, and cools water by creating shade.

Streambank fencing gives the farmer more
control where livestock graze and can be a first step in developing more a productive pasture management system. Fencing also will protect herd health by reducing contact with waterborne bacteria. Cost-share assistance also can be provided to establish alternate watering sources and stabilized stream crossings for livestock.

Wetland restorations are completed by plugging old agricultural ditches with small berms and are designed to have an average depth of 18-24 inches. Usually no wetland vegetation is planted because there is a wetland plant seed bank sufficient to revegetate the wetland naturally. Although the program cannot construct deep fish ponds, it seeks to restore wetlands that eventually will provide a diversity of wetland types ranging from open water to scrub/shrub and forested wetlands. The restored wetlands provide feeding and breeding areas for migratory birds, especially waterfowl and wading birds, as well as other wildlife that need shallow water.

Landowners volunteering for habitat restoration projects will be asked to sign agreements with the Service to maintain the restored areas for 10 to 25 years. Interested landowners should contact:
http://partners.fws.gov/

Eric L. Derleth or Chris Smith
U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Lake Champlain Fish & Wildlife Res. Office
11 Lincoln Street
Essex Junction, VT 05452

Ph: (802) 872-0629 Fax: (802) 872-9704
eric_derleth@fws.gov
christopher_smith@fws.gov