“Our Bay, Our Forested Streams, Our Children’s Future”
Maryland’s Stream Restoration Challenge is a competitive grant program open to local governments and non-government organizations to establish 1,000 acres of stream-side forests by 2015. For this challenge, the State and its partners will make available $6 million to plant forested stream buffers with the goals of improving Bay water quality and creating opportunities for middle and high school students to engage in service-learning and environmental literacy activities.
Geographic Targeting
For this initiative, the StreamHealth website identifies specific stream segments that would benefit the most from forested buffer plantings. All are encouraged to apply, however proposals that include restoration projects located in the watersheds that would result in the greatest reduction in nutrient and sediment loads delivered to the mainstem of the Chesapeake Bay will receive higher scores. School groups and partners should input school addresses on the StreamHealth website to identify stream buffer needs within school catchment areas. To best target you forested buffer project, find local priority watersheds on the Trust Fund Priority Map.
The "Public Schools" and "Stream Reaches" layers are turned on in the initial view. Please zoom in to view these layers since they are not available in the statewide view.
Community Engagement and Environmental Education
Stream restoration projects offer unique experiential opportunities to engage school students and other citizens (i.e. watershed and community organizations, scout troops, faith-based organizations, businesses) in Chesapeake and Coastal Bay protection. Projects funded will engage and educate students and other citizens to promote an understanding of watershed issues and establish positive attitudes and behaviors that benefit local watersheds. Proposals that engage middle and high school students in earning Service Learning hours and align with the current State curriculum and learning standards will receive higher scores. To extend the reach of the challenge and promote community participation, urban communities that do not have available stream buffer opportunities may propose urban greening projects (i.e. greening of vacant urban lots, urban tree canopy, bioretention, bioswales, floating wetlands), which will be evaluated based on the potential environmental impact.
Eligibility
Through this RFP, the State and its Partners are soliciting proposals from local governments and non-governmental organizations, including bi-county agencies, counties, municipalities, forest conservancy district boards, soil conservation districts, faith-based organizations, and academic institutions, including school systems (collectively, “Applicants”).
Technical Assistance
For questions about the RFP and to gain technical assistance, please contact:
Gabe Cohee
gcohee@dnr.state.md.us
410.260.8753
For further assistance with educational components and connecting with school groups, please contact:
Gabe Cohee
gcohee@dnr.state.md.us
410.260.8753
For further assistance with educational components and connecting with school groups, please contact:
Connect with other organizations involved, ask questions, and gain support by joining the conversation on Facebook.
Watershed Assistance Collaborative (WAC)
Communities interested in undertaking comprehensive watershed protection and restoration activities are encouraged to take advantage of the services offered through this partnership. The Collaborative offers the tools, resources and outreach needed to work toward large nonpoint source pollution implementation and restoration efforts.
Gov. O'Malley learning to cast with Lefty Kreh on Maryland's Gunpowder River
Boom...Morgan
No comments:
Post a Comment