The North American Wetlands Conservation Act: Working for Maine
The North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) is an incentive-based, landowner-friendly program that fosters the development of public-private partnerships to protect North America’s migratory bird habitat.
NAWCA Positively Impacts the Economy and Creates Jobs BAGADUCE RIVER WATERSHED PROJECT NAWCA has benefited the national economy by translating $1.26 billion in federal funds into more than $5 billion in on- the-ground conservation and economic activity in North America. These expenditures have created, on average, nearly 7,500 new jobs annually in the United States, generating more than $200 million in worker earnings each year.
NAWCA Effectively Leverages Private Sector Funds Since enactment in 1990, federal NAWCA grants have lev- eraged more than $3.8 billion in partner funds. Partners have included thousands of landowners, private companies, conservation non-profits, federal agencies and all 50 states. NAWCA requires a 1:1 match, but partners at the local level often triple or quadruple federal funds. Photo Courtesy of Maine Coast Heritage Trust The Bagaduce River Watershed project, which NAWCA Expands Recreational Opportunities for People received a $1 million NAWCA grant in March of 2012, The abundance of wildlife including many species of water- will protect and restore 1,188 acres of estuarine habitat in fowl, migratory birds, fish, and mammals supported by wet- southern Maine. The Federal grant was matched by the lands translates into multi-billion dollar activities for Americans Maine Coast Heritage Trust and partners with $2.1 who enjoy hunting, fishing, wildlife viewing and photography. million in private money. The Bagaduce River and associated uplands, NAWCA Benefits Hundreds of Wildlife Species which are connected to the Penobscot Bay, provide vital NAWCA helps fulfill the mission of the North American Wa- wintering and breeding habitat for migratory birds, terfowl Management Plan by providing migratory birds with waterbirds, and a host of other wildlife. The people in essential habitat needs. NAWCA projects also benefit other fish surrounding areas were also extremely excited upon and wildlife species, including rare, threatened and endangered hearing the news from the US Fish and Wildlife Service species that are dependent on wetlands ecosystems. of the $1 million grant. Maine Coast Heritage Trust is quoted as referring to the River as a place in which “local Conserving and Restoring Wetlands Increases Water residents and state biologists alike consider Quantity and Quality extraordinary—providing more than 2,700 acres of Wetlands store water and recharge aquifers, thus securing fu- intertidal habitat which supports migrating and wintering ture water supplies. Plants and soils in wetlands play a signifi- waterfowl, migrating shorebirds, wintering, migrating cant role in purifying water, removing high levels of nitrogen and nesting Bald Eagles, and Black Ducks.” * and phosphorus, and in some cases, removing toxic chemicals *Information from MCHT before entering the groundwater supply. Some wetland plants have been found to accumulate heavy metals in their tissues at 100,000 times the concentration in the surrounding water.
Maine Maine currently has 80 NAWCA projects either complete or underway. These projects have NAWCA conserved a total of 1,021,376 acres of wildlife habitat. NAWCA funding of more than $28.3 million stimulated partner contributions of more than $146.5 million. Projects:
Title NAWCA Partners Total Acres
1. COBSCOOK BAY $550,000 $1,355,000 $1,905,000 1,941
2. COBSCOOK BAY II $700,000 $1,174,320 $1,874,320 1,007
3. MERRYMEETING BAY $700,000 $950,200 $1,650,200 1,022
4. MERRYMEETING BAY II $700,000 $735,100 $1,435,100 1,075
5. SPRUCE POINT CONSERVATION $37,500 $50,000 $87,500 20
6. MERRYMEETING BAY III $680,000 $1,372,200 $2,052,200 2,246
7. BOOTHBAY HARBOR WETLANDS PROTECTION $50,000 $182,216 $232,216 66
DEER MEADOW BROOK MARSH CONSERVATION 8. INITIATIVE $47,000 $116,300 $163,300 179
9. LEAVITT FOREST $50,000 $1,880,000 $1,930,000 8,600
10. NORTHEAST CREEK $50,000 $474,110 $524,110 136
11. PINGREE FOREST PARTNERSHIP PROJECT $1,000,000 $3,391,774 $4,391,774 108,389
12. WESCOTT'S ISLAND ON THE BAGADUCE RIVER $40,000 $44,100 $84,100 27
13. FLORIDA LAKE CONSERVATION & RECREATION AREA $50,000 $401,000 $451,000 152
14. MORONG COVE ACQUISITION $50,000 $175,000 $225,000 181
15. CROWLEY ISLAND $50,000 $320,000 $370,000 312
16. HOOPER POND CONSERVATION INITIATIVE $12,500 $36,500 $49,000 54
17. KENNEBEC ESTUARY $1,000,000 $2,830,500 $3,830,500 1,573
18. MARSH RIVER - WADE ACQUISITION $50,000 $104,800 $154,800 36
MIDDLE BAY HABITAT PROTECTION: SKOLFIELD 19. SHORELANDS $50,000 $515,000 $565,000 77
20. PRESUMPSCOT RIVER PRESERVE ACQUISITION $50,000 $1,071,900 $1,121,900 58
21. CARNEY ISLAND & THE CAUSEWAY INTERTIDAL BASIN $50,000 $156,400 $206,400 17
22. DAY'S MARSH ACQUISITION $50,000 $73,300 $123,300 68
KILLOCK POND CONSERVATION AREA - GANNETT 23. TRACT $50,000 $270,000 $320,000 107
24. DOWNEAST LAKES FORESTRY PARTNERSHIP $1,000,000 $23,970,000 $24,970,000 339,080
25. GREATER PLEASANT BAY PROJECT AREA $650,000 $1,328,500 $1,978,500 762
26. MAINE FOREST ECOSYSTEM PROJECT (MFEP) $1,000,000 $29,429,265 $30,429,265 476,291
27. NORTH BRANCH TIDAL WETLAND ACQUISITION $50,000 $156,000 $206,000 30
28. SCHOODIC BOG ACQUISITION $50,000 $258,500 $308,500 500
29. BLAISDELL - CLOUGH I ON THE YORK RIVER $30,000 $241,200 $271,200 25
CONSERVING A NETWORK OF WETLANDS IN THE 30. TATNICS: TATNIC WOODS III $50,000 $211,000 $261,000 29
31. GREATER YORK RIVER PROJECT AREA $1,000,000 $2,380,200 $3,380,200 934 32. MACHIAS RIVER PROJECT $1,000,000 $9,100,000 $10,100,000 7,785
33. RICHARDSON SEAL COVE PROPERTY ACQUISITION $50,000 $700,000 $750,000 43
34. UPPER SACO RIVER PROJECT: HANCOCK I $50,000 $105,000 $155,000 408
35. BIG HILL & SECOND POND FOREST RESERVE $75,000 $505,000 $580,000 1,609
36. CARIBOU BOG / KATAHDIN IRON WORKS $75,000 $473,000 $548,000 3,070
37. GREATER PLEASANT BAY PROJECT AREA II $950,000 $1,942,000 $2,892,000 676
38. KENNEBEC ESTUARY, MAINE PHASE II $1,000,000 $2,254,100 $3,254,100 631
39. NORTHEAST PENJAJAWOC PROPERTY ACQUISITION $75,000 $147,246 $222,246 83
40. NORTHERN COREA HEATH ACQUISITION $75,000 $261,307 $336,307 606
41. SUCKER BROOK PROJECT $75,000 $494,800 $569,800 227
CARIBOU BOG - PENJAJAWOC WETLAND 42. CONSERVATION PROJECT $666,566 $1,427,500 $2,094,066 3,804
43. CATHANCE RIVER: HEAD OF TIDE $75,000 $152,000 $227,000 91
HAMILTON AUDUBON SANCTUARY PROPERTY 44. ACQUISITION $75,000 $475,000 $550,000 148
45. SOUTH POND CONSERVATION AREA ACQUISITION $75,000 $495,000 $570,000 1,279
ST. GEORGE RIVER COASTAL WETLANDS 46. ACQUISITION PROJECT $75,000 $441,414 $516,414 91
47. THE BASIN, VINALHAVEN ACQUISITION $75,000 $3,029,000 $3,104,000 455
48. THE FAIRCHILD EASEMENT $75,000 $2,100,000 $2,175,000 16
49. UPPER SACO RIVER II $75,000 $350,000 $425,000 512
50. COBSCOOK BAY - BOLD COAST PROJECT AREA $1,000,000 $2,585,010 $3,585,010 2,615
51. KATAHDIN FOREST EXPANSION $950,000 $3,832,000 $4,782,000 7,299
52. KENNEBEC RIVER ESTUARY III $1,000,000 $2,215,000 $3,215,000 2,386
MASON BAY COASTAL WETLANDS & WATERBIRD 53. CONSERVATION PROJECT $75,000 $395,000 $470,000 95
54. OLD POINT EASEMENT ACQUISITION $65,000 $144,500 $209,500 48
55. WABASSUS LAKE PROJECT $640,000 $2,810,000 $3,450,000 6,644
56. AMHERST COMMUNITY FOREST PROJECT $75,000 $107,500 $182,500 200
57. GRANTS MEADOW III $75,000 $264,467 $339,467 150
HEADS OF THE ESTUARIES PARTNERSHIP, MAINE: 58. HABITAT PROTECTION - PHASE I $1,000,000 $3,236,500 $4,236,500 952
59. CENTRAL PENJAJAWOC PROPERTY ACQUISITION $75,000 $149,471 $224,471 75
60. SMELT BROOK CONSERVATION AREA $75,000 $584,750 $659,750 41
GREAT HEATH ECOLOGICAL RESERVE EXPANSION 61. PROJECT $59,500 $106,500 $166,500 366
MASON BAY COASTAL WETLANDS AND WATERBIRD 62. CONSERVATION PROJECT, PHASE III $75,000 $83,500 $153,500 30
63. HUNTER COVE, RANGELEY LAKE $75,000 $1,802,559 $1,877,509 175
64. OCEAN POINT PRESERVE PROJECT $75,000 $388,455 $463,455 21
MASON BAY COASTAL WETLANDS & WATERBIRD 65. CONSERVATION PROJECT - PHASE II $75,000 $82,000 $157,000 63
66. PISCATAQUIS RIVER / ALDER STREAM WETLANDS $1,000,000 $2,048,718 $3,048,718 9,428
67. REST & ENH OF WATERBIRD NESTING HABITAT ON $75,000 $106,280 $181,280 26 MAINE COAST ISLANDS
68. WATKINS CROOKED RIVER EASEMENT ACQUISITION $75,000 $136,750 $211,750 475
69. WEST GRAND LAKE COMMUNITY FOREST - PHASE I $1,000,000 $5,825,000 $6,825,000 13,050
70. ACADIA ARCHIPELAGO $1,000,000 $4,450,000 $5,450,000 1,101
COBSCOOK BAY-BOLD COAST PROJECT AREA PHASE 71. III $1,000,000 $2,202,240 $3,202,240 974
PISCATAQUIS RIVER/ ALDER STREAM WETLANDS 72. PHASE II $1,000,000 $2,137,900 $3,137,900 1,374
HEADS OF THE ESTUARIES PARTNERSHIP, MAINE: 73. HABITAT PROTECTION: PHASE II $1,000,000 $2,026,250 $3,026,250 1,217
RESTORATION AND ENHANCEMENT OF WATERBIRD 74. NESTING HABITAT ON MAINE COAST ISLANDS II $75,000 $564,280 $639,280 19
75. SUCKER BROOK WEST PROJECT $75,000 $210,194 $285,194 329
76. BAGADUCE RIVER WATERSHED PROJECT $1,000,000 $2,118,800 $3,118,800 1,188
77. PKENNEBEC RIVER ESTUARY: PHASE IV $995,500 $5,023,300 $6,018,800 758
78. BELGRADE WETLANDS RESTORATION $75,000 $75,000 $150,000 2,716
HURDS POND FOCUS AREA PHASE I: HAUK-FRY 79. PROPERTY $19,540 $154,042 $173,582 163
80. PERLEY MILLS $75,000 $625,000 $700,000 870
Total $28,368,106 $146,597,718 $174,961,274 1,021,376
Maine Maine currently has 2 multi-state NAWCA project completed. This project conserved a total of Multi-State 114 acres of wildlife habitat. NAWCA funding of $150,000 stimulated partner contributions of $207,540. Projects:
Title Grant Total Partners Total Acres
1. PROTECTION AND RESTORATION OF TIDAL $75,000 $98,920 $173,920 47 WETLANDS-PARKER AND RACHEL CARSON NWR
2. PARKER RIVER & RACHEL CARSON NATIONAL $75,000 $108,620 $183,620 67 WILDLIFE REFUGES
Total $150,000 $207,540 $357,540 114
Parker River & Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuges
Parker River and Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuges were established to provide critical habitat for migrating and overwintering birds, principally waterfowl and shorebirds, along the North Atlantic Coast. Located less than 40 miles apart, they provide strategic links in the chain of migratory stopovers along the Atlantic corridor. By the 1930’s, over ninety percent of the salt marshes in the northeastern US were parallel-grid ditched for mosquito control. Led by Ducks Unlimited, the objective of this project was to both provide permanent protection to a 33-acre salt marsh, and to restore natural tidal hydrology to an additional 34 acres of salt marsh by remediating the past ditching activities that served to drain the marsh. The unique nature of this project, which links protection and restoration efforts between joint venture focus areas and across state boundaries, reinforces the critical need for quality coastal habitats for use as migratory stopovers throughout the North Atlantic Coast, and regardless of political boundaries. The project areas in Parker River and Rachel Carson NWR are both located within Atlantic Coast Joint Venture focus areas, and provide valuable foraging, migration and wintering habitat for a variety of waterfowl species such as the American black duck, northern pintail, mallard, gadwall, Atlantic brant, Canada geese, and American wigeon. In particular, the coastal marshes in both areas are used extensively by American black duck during migration and for overwintering, where the extensive system of emergent marsh, tidal creeks with exposed mudflats, and small ponds and pannes on the marsh surface provide a source of seeds and invertebrates which is critical for foraging birds.
For additional information please contact Ducks Unlimited, Inc.’s Governmental Affairs Office at 1301 Pennsylvania Ave., NW Suite 402, Washington, D.C., 20004 or call (202) 347-1530.