WASHINGTON – Individual landowners and conservation groups in Ohio received more than $120,000 to restore and conserve wildlife habitat through a private stewardship grant program first envisioned by President Bush when he was still Texas governor.
Including Ohio, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced 113 grants totaling more than $9.4 million for individuals and groups in 43 states.
These individuals or groups are undertaking conservation projects on private lands for endangered, threatened and other at-risk species.
Ohio grants. The grants funded in Ohio are:
* Gale Larue, Protection of the State Threatened Plant Raven’s Foot Sedge in a Private Class One Forest Wetland ($8,203).
This project will erect and maintain a perimeter fence around a class one forested wetland. The fencing will restrict the area from grazing and will enhance habitat conditions for the Raven’s foot sedge.
* The Nature Conservancy Ohio Chapter, Oak Openings Habitat Restoration at the Kitty Todd Preserve ($86,711).
This project will restore 40 acres of black oak lupine barrens and 20 acres of twig-rush wet prairie within the Kitty Todd Preserve to support Karner blue butterfly, Persius dusky wing, frosted elfin and Edward’s hairstreak conservation.
* Purdue University, Phase I Landscape Scale Habitat Restoration for the Copperbelly Water Snake and Associated Species in northeast Indiana and northwest Ohio ($26,400).
Grant funds will be used to cut drainage tiles, construct ditch plugs, and excavate shallow basins for habitat for the northern population copperbelly water snakes, Blanding’s turtle, spotted turtle and Blanchard’s cricket frog.
Matching. Each grant must be matched by at least 10 percent of the total project cost either in non-federal dollars or in-kind contributions.
Bush requested funding of $10 million for this program in 2004.
