INSIDE:
URGENT: PLEASE CONTACT LEGISLATORS TODAY! RE: 2006 WATER
BOND
Support Coastal Habitat Restoration
SRF Conference Thank You and Evaluation Form
River Network River Rally May 5-9, Scholarship applications are
due on March 15
URGENT: PLEASE CONTACT LEGISLATORS
TODAY!
2006 Water Bond Needs Community-Based Watershed Management!
Governor Schwarzenegger’s Water Bond Proposal (SB1166 and
AB1839) is heading for the June 2006 ballot, but unfortunately,
it is lacking state support for community-based watershed partnership
efforts. Vote likely to occur tomorrow within the Legislature…
Contact Legislators Today!
1. Contact Your Own Legislators
Go to http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html
to find your Senator and Assembly Member. In the blank box, enter
your zip code and press the "search" button. This will
tell you who your Legislators are by your zip code. To find your
Legislator's fax number and/or email address go to http://www.senate.ca.gov
(for your Senator's information) and http://www.assembly.ca.gov
(for your Assembly Member's information.)
2. Contact Senate President pro Tem: Senator Don Perata
Telephone: 916-651-4009
Fax: 916-327-1997
E-mail: senator.perata@sen.ca.gov
3. Contact Speaker of the Assembly: Assembly Member Fabian Nunez
Telephone: 916-319-2046
Fax: 916-319-2146
E-mail: assemblymember.nunez@assembly.ca.gov
Simply Let the Legislators Know That…
Ø Governor’s Water Bond needs a component for community-based
watershed management and you support the Assembly recommendation
for $50 million for a local watershed program!
Ø Local community-based watershed management needs to be
included in the Integrated Regional Water Management Program!
** Please send a quick email to CWN to let us know that you
made contact with the legislators.**
For more information on watersheds, visit our website at: http://www.watershednetwork.org/
Support Coastal Habitat Restoration
***Deadline Extended: Tuesday , March 14 COB***
SUPPORT COASTAL HABITAT RESTORATION
March 3, 2006
Dear Colleague:
I am writing to ask you to join me in signing the attached letter
in support of $30 million for NOAA Restoration Programs in FY2007
- $20 million for the Community-based Restoration Program and
$10 million for the new Open Rivers Initiative.
Both programs will continue a model that has been wildly successful,
both in achieving results on the ground and in involving local
communities that includes:
Engaging local communities in restoration and stewardship of coastal
habitats - supporting local and national goals - creating a coordinated
network that addresses a range of needs. Helping to develop and
share important technical skills across projects. Employs staff
with special technical skills to help improve project design,
ensure environmental compliance, and advance restoration techniques.
Leveraging investments and services to stretch federal dollars
further. Providing educational opportunities and promotes environmental
stewardship through hands-on participation.
At current funding levels, NOAA is able to fund 10 - 15% of the
applications received under Community-based Restoration. Each
year, NOAA is forced to turn away $15 million worth of requests
- backed up by matching funds and volunteer commitments - for
lack of funds. While the President has requested $12.8 million
for Community-based Restoration in FY2007 and $6 million for the
Open Rivers Initiative, I ask you to join me in requesting a modest
increase to $30 million for both programs to help meet the demand.
These types of strategic, partnership driven, on the ground projects
are the most effective way to bring about real improvements in
fish habitat. They fit well with the growing national interest
in addressing fish habitat declines, and will support the diverse
partnership working on a new National Fish Habitat Action Plan.
That effort, led by the International Association of Fish and
Wildlife Agencies, and supported by federal agencies, conservation
organizations, sportsmen and resource based industries, is seeking
to do for fish what the North American Waterfowl Management Plan
has done for waterfowl over the past 20 years.
In an effort to protect fisheries, restore estuaries and coastal
areas around the country and reap the economic and environmental
benefits, please support coastal habitat restoration in the FY
2007 Science, the Departments of State, Justice and Commerce,
and Related Agencies appropriations bill.
To sign on, please contact Shauna Hewes of my staff at x52076
or email at shauna.hewes@mail.house.gov
by March 14, 2006.
All the best,
Rob Simmons
Member of Congress
Second District, Connecticut
-----
March xx, 2006
The Honorable Frank R. Wolf, Chairman The Honorable Alan B. Mollohan,
Ranking Member Appropriations Subcommittee on Science, the Departments
Appropriations Subcommittee on Science, the Departments of State,
Justice and Commerce, and Related Agencies of State, Justice and
Commerce, and Related Agencies Room H-309 The Capitol 1016 Longworth
House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Washington, DC 20515
Dear Chairman Wolf and Ranking Member Mollohan,
We appreciate your past support for Community-based Restoration
Programs and invite your support of the new Open Rivers Initiative.
As you craft your appropriations bill this year, we ask you to
support $30 million for NOAA Restoration Programs in FY2007 -
$20 million for the Community-based Restoration Program and $10
million for the Open Rivers Initiative.
In its 10-year history, NOAA's Community-based Restoration Program
has compiled an impressive record of accomplishments. By working
collaboratively with more than 1,500 organizations, they have
funded more than 1000 projects to restore 24,000 habitat acres
- such as oyster reefs, wetlands, and other coastal habitats -
and to open 900 stream miles for fish passage. In addition, this
investment has contributed $37 million to grassroots restoration
projects, which has, in turn, generated three to five times that
in cash and in-kind contributions from non-federal partners; and
has involved 102,000 volunteers in projects, resulting in 632,000
volunteer hours contributed.
In FY2007, the President has called for the establishment of
a new program - the Open Rivers Initiative - which will build
upon the successful Community-based model to remove obstructions
to fish passage in streams and rivers. Over 2.5 million small
dams, some up to 200 years old, and countless dilapidated or poorly
designed culverts block passage for migratory fish, such as striped
bass, shad, salmon, and sturgeon, from their native upstream spawning
habitat. Through the Community-based Restoration Program, more
than 100 dams and stream blockages have already been removed,
opening 900 miles of high quality river habitat for migratory
fish. The Open Rivers Initiative, will support up to 50 more projects
per year for five years, opening several thousand river miles
and creating new opportunities for recreational fishing, river
rafting, and kayaking; provide cost savings by eliminating the
need for dam repairs; and remove safety and liability risks associated
with outdated structures.
Both programs will continue a model that has been wildly successful,
both in achieving results on the ground and in involving local
communities that includes:
Engaging local communities in restoration and stewardship of coastal
habitats - supporting local and national goals - creating a coordinated
network that addresses a range of needs. Helping to develop and
share important technical skills across projects. Employs staff
with special technical skills to help improve project design,
ensure environmental compliance, and advance restoration techniques.
Leveraging investments and services to stretch federal dollars
further. Providing educational opportunities and promotes environmental
stewardship through hands-on participation.
At current funding levels, NOAA is able to fund 10 - 15% of the
applications received under Community-based Restoration. Each
year, NOAA is forced to turn away $15 million worth of requests
- backed up by matching funds and volunteer commitments - for
lack of funds. While the President has requested $12.8 million
for Community-based Restoration in FY2007 and $6 million for the
Open Rivers Initiative, I ask you to join me in requesting a modest
increase to $30 million for both programs to help meet the demand.
In an effort to restore estuaries and coastal areas around the
country and reap the economic and environmental benefits, please
support coastal habitat restoration in the FY 2007 appropriations
bill for the Community-Based Restoration Program. We thank you
for your attention and look forward to working with you in the
coming weeks.
Sincerely,
The
24th Annual Salmonid Restoration Conference in Santa Barbara was
a Huge Success
Thank you to all the Field Tour, Workshop and Session Coordinators
and Presenters. Thank you to all the Watershed Stewards Project
Members and California Conservation Corps crews that volunteered
at the conference as well as all our wonderful co-sponsors
SRF also wants to thank all of the participants from Southern
California and the Central Coast as well as those who migrated
to this premiere salmonid restoration conference. If you did not
have an opportunity to fill out the conference evaluation form
at the conference, please fill out the attached form and mail
it to SRF at PO Box 784, Redway, CA 95560 or email it to srf@calsalmon.org
SRF values your input.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR! MAY 5-9
For River Network’s 7th Annual NATIONAL RIVER RALLY 2006
To register, go to www.rivernetwork.org/rally
The River Rally will be in Northern New Hampshire, May 5-9. The
scholarship application deadline for the National River Rally
is fast approaching. We have $$ for scholarships making Rally
as financially reasonable and inclusive as possible. People must
go online, register and apply for scholarships by March 15. There
is no financial risk for applying. We ask a $50 application fee,
refundable if you don’t get enough assistance to attend.
See you there!
Wendy Wilson, Organizational Development Program Director
(208) 345-3689
wwilson@rivernetwork.org
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