Western Reserve Land Conservancy

URBAN REFORESTATION THAT WILL PLANT AND PROVIDE MAINTENANCE TO TREES IN THE CITY OF CLEVELAND IN AREAS WITH LOW CANOPY AND HIGH SOCIOECONOMIC VULNERABILITY.

RESTORING HEALTH EQUITY AND RESILIENCE TO CLEVELAND THROUGH VACANT LAND IMPROVEMENTS

THIS PROJECT SUPPORTS THE GREAT LAKES RESTORATION INITIATIVE AND THE GREAT LAKES WATER QUALITY AGREEMENT, PURSUANT TO PUBLIC LAW 113-76. THE WESTER

PURPOSE: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE, COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING/CONGRESSIONAL DIRECTED SPENDING AWARDS ARE AUTHORIZED UNDER THE CONSOLIDATED APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2022 PUBLIC LAW 117-328 AND THE EXPLANATORY STATEMENT FOR DIVISION L OF THAT ACT. PROJECTS SELECTED FOR COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING/CONGRESSIONAL DIRECTED SPENDING ARE LISTED IN THE JOINT EXPLANATORY STATEMENT (JES) THAT ACCOMPANIES A SPECIFIC FISCAL YEAR’S APPROPRIATIONS ACT OR CONGRESSIONAL RECORD. THE JES LISTS PROJECT, RECIPIENT, STATE, AMOUNT AND CONGRESSIONAL SPONSOR.; ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE, COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING/CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING AWARD PROJECTS INCLUDE A WIDE VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES THAT RESULT IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OUTCOMES. HUD WILL NOT KNOW THE FULL SCOPE OF THE PROJECT UNTIL THE RECIPIENT SUBMITS THE REQUIRED PROJECT NARRATIVE AND CONFIRMS ALIGNMENT WITH THE LANGUAGE AS PROVIDED IN THE CONGRESSIONAL RECORD. TO FIND THE DETAILS OF THE GRANT AWARD AS WRITTEN WITHIN THE CONGRESSIONAL RECORD USE THE FOLLOWING LINK AND PATH SELECTIONS TO GET TO THE DESCRIPTION OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE, COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING GRANTS HTTPS://WWW.HUD.GOV/PROGRAM_OFFICES/COMM_PLANNING/EDI-GRANTS, SELECT THE FISCAL YEAR OF INTEREST, SCROLL DOWN TO PROGRAM LAWS AND REGULATIONS, UNDER FISCAL YEAR 20XX CONSOLIDATED APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 20XX: CONGRESSIONAL RECORD (JOINT EXPLANATORY STATEMENT).; EXPECTED OUTCOMES: COMPLETION OF THE PROJECT AS DESCRIBED IN THE JOINT EXPLANATORY STATEMENT (JES) PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND SUBSEQUENT APPROVED PROJECT NARRATIVE.; INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: THE PROJECT BENEFICIARIES ARE THE INDIVIDUALS AND/OR ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE AWARDED GRANT FUNDS OR SERVED BY THE ENTITIES THAT ARE AWARDED GRANT FUNDS AS IDENTIFIED IN THE JES RECIPIENT OR PROJECT DESCRIPTION SECTIONS.; SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES: THE SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES ARE UNKNOWN AT THE TIME OF AWARD.

THE GRANTEE WILL PURCHASE 290 ACRES OF EASEMENTS IN THE CHAGRIN RIVER WATERSHED, AND WILL ADD ANOTHER $1.2 MILLION IN DONATED EASEMENT VALUE AND STAF

BATES CREEK PRESERVE

CHAGRIN RIVER BIRD HABITAT CONNECTOR

WHITTLESEY BEACH RIDGE PRESERVE

GREAT LAKES RESTORATION INITIATIVE REFORESTING CLEVELAND NEIGHBORHOODS TO REDUCE RUNOFF

THE OVERALL PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT IS TO ACQUIRE AND PERMANENTLY PROTECT VIA CONSERVATION EASEMENT 87.90 ACRES IN SUMMIT COUNTY, OH. THE PROPERTY INCLUDES APPROXIMATELY 32 ACRES OF PALUSTRINE EMERGENT, PALUSTRINE SCRUB-SHRUB, AND PALUSTRINE FORESTED WETLANDS THAT PROVIDE CRITICAL HABITAT FOR WATERFOWL AND WETLAND-ASSOCIATED MIGRATORY BIRDS.

RESTORE AND ENHANCE 224 ACRES OF WETLANDS FOR WILDLIFE HABITAT AND IMPROVED HYDROLOGIC FUNCTIONING.

THE MUD BROOK WETLANDS PRESERVE (THE PROPERTY) PROJECT IN SUMMIT COUNTY, OHIO WILL ACQUIRE AND PROTECT 38.7 ACRES BY MARCH 31, 2026. THE PROPERTY CONSISTS OF CRITICAL BIRD HABITAT WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE NORTH AMERICAN WETLANDS CONSERVATION ACT (NAWCA) COASTAL ZONE BIRD PRIORITY AREA, THE NAWCA LANDBIRD PRIORITY AREA, UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER AND GREAT LAKES JOINT VENTURE (JV) REGION, AND BIRD CONSERVATION REGION 13 (BCR 13) APPROXIMATELY 0.25 MILES FROM THE DESIGNATED BCR 13 LANDBIRD FOCUS AREA #15- CUYAHOGA VALLEY. THE PROJECT INVOLVES ACQUISITION AND PROTECTION OF HIGH-QUALITY HABITAT, INCLUDING 22 ACRES OF FLOODPLAIN WETLANDS CONTAINING MATURE FOREST CATEGORY 3 WETLANDS 1,150 LINEAR FEET OF MUD BROOK, A TRIBUTARY TO THE CUYAHOGA RIVER AND 16.7 ACRES OF UPLAND FOREST. THE HABITAT TYPES ON THE PROPERTY BENEFIT WATERFOWL AND WETLAND-ASSOCIATED MIGRATORY PRIORITY SPECIES. WESTERN RESERVE LAND CONSERVANCY IS WORKING TO PROTECT THIS CRITICAL PIECE OF HIGH-QUALITY BIRD AND WILDLIFE HABITAT. THE HABITATS FOUND ON THE MUD BROOK WETLANDS PRESERVE PROPERTY PROVIDE CRITICAL STOPOVER, BREEDING, NESTING, FEEDING, AND ROOSTING HABITAT FOR DIVERSE WATERFOWL AND WETLAND-ASSOCIATED MIGRATORY BIRDS, INCLUDING SPECIES IDENTIFIED AS PRIORITIES BY NAWCA, BIRD CONSERVATION REGION (BCR) 13, THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER AND GREAT LAKES REGION JOINT VENTURE, AND OR USGS SPECIES OF GREATEST CONSERVATION NEED (SGCN). OVER 160 SPECIES HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTED ON AND NEAR THE PROPERTY, INCLUDING 15 NAWCA PRIORITY SPECIES AND 39 BCR 13 PRIORITY SPECIES. THE PROPOSED ACQUISITION WILL ADD TO CONSERVATION CORRIDORS THAT ARE EXPANDING TO PROTECT THE REGIONS WATERWAYS AND REMAINING FOREST AND WETLANDS. THE PROPERTY IS ADJACENT TO A 34-ACRE WETLAND OWNED AND MANAGED BY THE CITY OF STOW, AND IT IS ALSO 2.15 MILES FROM THE 33,000-ACRE CUYAHOGA VALLEY NATIONAL PARK. THE PROJECT REPRESENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROTECT MATURE FOREST AND FLOODPLAIN WETLANDS ALONG A TRIBUTARY OF THE CUYAHOGA RIVER AND ADD TO THE CONSERVATION CORRIDOR IN A DENSELY DEVELOPED URBAN AREA. ONCE FUNDING IS SECURED, PROJECT ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE OBTAINING AN APPRAISAL AND APPRAISAL REVIEW AND ACQUIRING FEE OWNERSHIP OF THE PROPERTY BY MARCH 2026. A PORTION OF THE MUD BROOK WETLANDS PRESERVE WILL BE ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC AS A PRESERVE FOR PASSIVE RECREATION. THE PROJECT WILL PROVIDE PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE GREEN SPACE WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE FOR UPWARDS OF 500 FAMILIES, GREATLY INCREASING ACCESS TO CONNECT WITH NATURE. ACQUISITION AND PROTECTION OF MUD BROOK WETLANDS PRESERVE WILL BENEFIT MULTIPLE PRIORITY BIRD SPECIES, PERMANENTLY PROTECT CRITICAL HABITAT, AND INCREASE PUBLIC ACCESS TO GREENSPACE. WESTERN RESERVE LAND CONSERVANCY WILL MONITOR AND MANAGE THE PROPERTY FOR THE BENEFIT OF CONSERVATION-DEPENDENT BIRD SPECIES IN PERPETUITY.

GREAT LAKES RESTORATION INITIATIVE - REFORESTING THE FOREST CITY: REDUCING RUNOFF FROM CLEVELAND TO LAKE ERIE

DESCRIPTION: THE PURPOSE OF THIS ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT IS TO PROVIDE MULTI-MEDIA FUNDING TO WESTERN RESERVE LAND CONSERVANCY TO BUILD UPON PREVIOUS INVESTMENTS IN VACANT LAND PLANNING TO ESTABLISH AN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE FRAMEWORK FOR VACANT LAND REUSE AND MANAGEMENT IN THE CITY OF CLEVELAND, OHIO. ACTIVITIES: PROJECT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE ENGAGING MAJOR STAKEHOLDERS IN VACANT LAND MANAGEMENT TO SYNTHESIZE EXISTING PLANS AND PRIORITIES; BUILDING A FRAMEWORK FOR VACANT LAND REUSE THAT ESTABLISHES METRICS FOR DETERMINING THE HIGHEST AND BEST USE OF A VACANT LOT; DEVELOPMENT OF DATA-DRIVEN POLICIES FOR IMPLEMENTATION; AND DEVELOPMENT OF A COLLABORATIVELY-BUILT, OPEN SOURCE DATABASE AND PLANNING TOOL TO GUIDE VACANT LAND REUSE PROJECTS AND MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, PUBLIC HEALTH, AND QUALITY OF LIFE. OUTCOMES: EXPECTED OUTCOMES OF THE PROJECT ARE ADOPTION OF VACANT LAND MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES, GREATER SENSE OF RESIDENT OWNERSHIP, IMPROVED AESTHETICS AND SAFETY ON VACANT LAND AND REDUCTION OF ILLEGAL DUMPING. THE ANTICIPATED GRANT DELIVERABLE IS A VACANT LAND PLANNING TOOL. INTENDED BENEFICIARIES ARE RESIDENTS OF UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES IN CLEVELAND, OH. SUBRECIPIENT: THE RECIPIENT INTENDS TO ISSUE SUBAWARD AGREEMENTS TO ITS PARTNERS IN COMPLIANCE WITH APPENDIX A OF EPA’S SUBAWARD POLICY. THE SUB-AWARDEES WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE FRAMEWORK AND METRICS AND PROVIDE STAFF FOR PLANNING AND COORDINATION.

GLRI: PLANTING THE F

UAIP BACKLOG FY 2022 FOR OHIO

EDI SPECIAL PROJECTS

THE LAND CONSERVANCY PROPOSES TO PURCHASE A CONSERVATION EASEMENT ON APPROXIMATELY 48.018 ACRES OF THE TOTAL 52.4 ACRES OWNED BY THE JEFFERSON CONSERVATION CLUB. THE TERMS OF THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT WOULD PROHIBIT TIMBERING, FUTURE IMPACTS TO THE SURFACE FROM OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION, AND AGRICULTURAL USES ON THE PROPERTY BUT WOULD ALLOW THE CLUB TO CONTINUE TO USE THE PROPERTY FOR PASSIVE RECREATION USES, SUCH AS HIKING, CAMPING, AND CONSERVATION OUTREACH ACTIVITIES TO THE COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS HUNTING, FISHING, AND TRAPPING, WHICH IS THE SPECIFIC INTENTION OF THE CLUB. THE LAND CONSERVANCY WOULD MONITOR THE EASEMENT ANNUALLY AND STEWARD AND DEFEND THE EASEMENT AS NECESSARY IN PERPETUITY.

WESTERN RESERVE LAND CONSERVANCY (WRLC) IS ONE OF THE LARGEST LAND TRUSTS IN THE NATION, FORMED IN 2006 BY THE LARGEST MERGER OF LAND TRUSTS IN U.S. HISTORY. THEIR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE THE PEOPLE OF OUR REGION WITH ESSENTIAL NATURAL ASSETS THROUGH LAND CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION. THEY ENVISION THRIVING, PROSPEROUS COMMUNITIES NOURISHED BY VIBRANT NATURAL LANDS, WORKING FARMS, AND HEALTHY CITIES. WORKING TOGETHER, WRLC AND PFW PROGRAM WILL IDENTIFY STRATEGIC HABITAT RESTORATION PROJECTS THAT WORK TOWARDS ACHIEVING THE MUTUAL GOALS EACH ORGANIZATION HAS. WRLC WILL ASSIST WITH OUTREACH TO PRIVATE LANDOWNERS THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, IN PERSON GATHERINGS, AND HANDOUTS. WRLC WILL ALSO ASSIST WITH THE ADMINISTRATIVE PORTIONS OF THE PROJECTS AND PROVIDE REIMBURSEMENT TO PRIVATE LANDOWNERS FOR ELIGIBLE EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH THE RESTORATIONS. THE PARTNERS FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE (PFW) HAS A LARGE RESTORATION FOOTPRINT IN NORTHEAST OHIO PROVIDING LANDSCAPE SCALE RESTORATION BENEFITS TO COUNTLESS FEDERAL TRUST RESOURCES. THIS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WILL FOCUS EFFORTS TO RESTORE HABITAT FOR MIGRATORY BIRDS, FEDERALLY THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES, AND OTHER FEDERAL TRUST SPECIES IN NORTHWEST OHIO. THE WORK WILL FOCUS ON RESTORING WETLAND AND UPLAND COMPLEXES IN THE LAKE ERIE WATERSHED OF NORTHEAST OHIO. THE WETLAND RESTORATION EFFORTS WILL AIM TO RESTORE WETLAND HYDROLOGY BY REMOVING FIELD TILE AND CONSTRUCTING LOW LEVEL BERMS, EXTENDING HYDROPERIODS IN EXISTING WETLANDS AND PROVIDING CRITICAL MIGRATORY BIRD HABITAT. UPLAND EFFORTS WILL FOCUS ON RESTORING HABITAT FOR MIGRATORY BIRDS AND POLLINATORS. PFW WILL WORK IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE RECIPIENT, AS WELL AS OTHER PARTNERS WHO ALSO SHARE A MUTUAL INTEREST IN RESTORING AND ENHANCING NATIVE HABITATS IN THIS AREA.

ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING TO DEVELOP CARBON CREDIT PROGRAM

WRLC WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2006 CREATED BY THE LARGEST EVER MERGER OF LAND TRUSTS IN THE UNITED STATES. WRLC IS THE LARGEST LAND TRUST IN OHIO PROVIDING CONNECTIONS BETWEEN LAND PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES. WRLC HAS BEEN A PRIMARY PARTNER FOR PFW PROVIDING HABITAT BENEFITS AT A LANDSCAPE SCALE LEVEL. WORKING TOGETHER WRLC AND PFW PROGRAM WILL IDENTIFY STRATEGIC HABITAT RESTORATION PROJECTS THAT WORK TOWARDS ACHIEVING THE MUTUAL GOALS EACH ORGANIZATION HAS. WRLC WILL ASSIST WITH ADMINISTRATION OF GRANT FUNDING TO FACILITATE PFW RESTORATION PROJECTS. PFW WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL RESTORATION COMPONENTS INCLUDING PLANNING DESIGN COORDINATION AND CONSTRUCTION OVERSIGHT.THE PURPOSE OF THIS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN PFW AND WRLC IS TO RESTORE AND ENHANCE WETLAND RESOURCES ON PRIVATELY OWNED PARCELS IN THE LAKE ERIE WATERSHED COUNTIES OF ASHTABULA CUYAHOGA LORAIN ASHLAND RICHLAND MEDINA SUMMIT PORTAGE GEAUGA LAKE AND TRUMBULL IN NE OHIO. ALL PROJECTS WILL OCCUR WITHIN THE LAKE ERIE WATERSHED IN THESE IDENTIFIED COUNTIES. THROUGH THE COMPLETION OF IDENTIFIED PROJECTS IDENTIFIED WETLAND HABITAT RESOURCES WILL BE RESTORED ENHANCED AND PRESERVED. PFW WILL WORK IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE RECIPIENT AS WELL AS OTHER PARTNERS INCLUDING THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES ODNR THE USDANATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE USDANRCS AND OTHER PARTNERS WHO ALSO SHARE A MUTUAL INTEREST IN RESTORING AND ENHANCING NATIVE HABITATS IN THIS AREA.

LAMPSON LAKE EXPANSION

AUSTINBURG LOWLANDS, OH

MESOPOTAMIA SWAMP

EAGLE CREEK WETLANDS PROJECT, OH

2016 WESTERN RESERVE LAND CONSERVANCY COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH USFWS PARTNERS FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE PROGRAM

WRLC WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2006, CREATED BY THE LARGEST EVER MERGER OF LAND TRUSTS IN THE UNITED STATES. WRLC IS THE LARGEST LAND TRUST IN OHIO PROVIDING CONNECTIONS BETWEEN LAND, PEOPLE, AND COMMUNITIES. WRLC HAS BEEN A PRIMARY PARTNER FOR PFW, PROVIDING HABITAT BENEFITS AT A LANDSCAPE SCALE LEVEL. WORKING TOGETHER, WRLC AND PFW PROGRAM WILL IDENTIFY STRATEGIC HABITAT RESTORATION PROJECTS THAT WORK TOWARDS ACHIEVING THE MUTUAL GOALS EACH ORGANIZATION HAS. WRLC WILL ASSIST WITH ADMINISTRATION OF GRANT FUNDING TO FACILITATE PFW RESTORATION PROJECTS. PFW WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL RESTORATION COMPONENTS INCLUDING, PLANNING, DESIGN, COORDINATION, AND CONSTRUCTION OVERSIGHT.THE PURPOSE OF THIS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN PFW AND WRLC IS TO RESTORE APPROXIMATELY 65 ACRES OF WETLAND OWNED BY THE CITY OF AKRON. PFW IS PROVIDING ASSISTANCE FOR ALL PLANNING, DESIGN, AND CONSTRUCTION PHASES OF THIS PROJECT, WHILE WRLC IS FACILITATING THE DELIVERY OF FUNDING TO PAY A PORTION OF THE CONTRACTOR CHARGE TO COMPLETE THIS PROJECT. PFW WILL WORK IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE RECIPIENT AND LANDOWNER TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT AS PROPOSED IN THE SIGNED PFW LANDOWNER AGREEMENT UNDER THE DIRECT COORDINATION OF PFW.WRLC STAFF WILL WORK WITH PFW STAFF TO IMPLEMENT THIS HABITAT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. WRLC WILL FACILITATE A PORTION OF FUNDING FOR THIS PROJECT. PFW STAFF WILL DEVELOP, DESIGN RESTORATION ACTIVITIES, AND ENSURE CONSTRUCTION IS DONE IN ACCORDANCE WITH FWS 640.1. PFW BIOLOGISTS WILL COMPLETE THIS PROJECT AS PROPOSED. IT WILL BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PFW BIOLOGISTS TO COMPLETE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT (ESA) SECTION 7, NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT (NEPA), AND NATIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION ACT (NHPA) SECTION 106 CLEARANCES FOR THIS PROJECT AND TO PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION TO PCCB FOR THE OFFICIAL AWARD FILE.

THE WESTERN RESERVE LAND CONSERVANCY WRLC AND THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE PARTNERS FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE PROGRAM PFW HAVE COME TOGETHER TO FURTHER SUPPORT THEIR LONG STANDING PARTNERSHIP PROVIDING VOLUNTARY CONSERVATION TO PRIVATE LANDOWNERS IN EASTERN OHIO SPECIFICALLY NORTHEAST OHIO. SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2006 WRLC HAS CHAMPIONED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PFW THE CONSERVATION OF THESE INVALUABLE PARCELS FOCUSED ON INCREASING AWARENESS AND BUILDING THE CAPACITY OF OHIOS NATURAL RESOURCES. WITH THIS NEW COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT THEY AIM TO DEEPEN THAT COMMITMENT BY COLLABORATIVELY RESTORING CRITICAL HABITATS THAT WILL BENEFIT BOTH THE ENVIRONMENT AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES. THROUGH THIS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT THE TWO ORGANIZATIONS COME TOGETHER WITH A SHARED VISION OF ENHANCING HABITAT FOR MIGRATORY BIRDS POLLINATORS AND OTHER FEDERAL TRUST SPECIES WITHIN THE REGION. THEIR EFFORTS WILL CONCENTRATE ON RESTORING WETLAND AND UPLAND COMPLEXES ACROSS EASTERN OHIO. BY PRIORITIZING SITES TRANSITIONING OUT OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION ALONG WITH EXISTING CONSERVATION AREAS THE PARTNERSHIP ASPIRES TO CONTINUE PROTECT AN ECOLOGICAL NETWORK THAT NOT ONLY SUPPORTS WILDLIFE BUT ALSO AMPLIFIES THE HEALTH OF SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. WRLC PLAYS A CRUCIAL ROLE IN THIS COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR PARTICULARLY IN OUTREACH TO PRIVATE LANDOWNERS AND FACILITATION OF RESTORATION FUNDING. RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT WRLC UTILIZES A VARIETY OF COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES INCLUDING SOCIAL MEDIA IN PERSON GATHERINGS AND INFORMATIONAL HANDOUTS ALL TO ENGAGE LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS. THIS OUTREACH IS DESIGNED TO FOSTER COLLABORATION AND ENCOURAGE PRIVATE LANDOWNERS TO PARTICIPATE IN RESTORATION PROJECTS WHILE UNDERSTANDING THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS TO THEIR LANDS AND COMMUNITIES. TO FURTHER SUPPORT LANDOWNERS WRLC STREAMLINES THE PFW PROJECTS ADMINISTRATIVE ASPECTS ASSISTING THEM IN NAVIGATING THE COMPLEXITIES OF FEDERAL AND STATE REGULATIONS. IMPORTANTLY THE ORGANIZATION WILL PROVIDE REIMBURSEMENT FOR ELIGIBLE EXPENSES INCURRED DURING RESTORATION ACTIVITIES EFFECTIVELY MINIMIZING FINANCIAL BARRIERS AND INCENTIVIZING VOLUNTARY PARTICIPATION THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY. WETLAND RESTORATION WILL BE A FOCAL POINT OF THE AGREEMENT AIMING TO RESTORE NATURAL HYDROLOGICAL FUNCTIONS BY REMOVING FIELD TILES AND CONSTRUCTING LOW LEVEL BERMS TO EXTEND HYDROPERIODS IN EXISTING WETLANDS. THIS STRATEGIC APPROACH WILL NOT ONLY REVITALIZE ECOSYSTEMS HELPING TO SUSTAIN MIGRATORY BIRDS AND THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES BUT ALSO ENHANCE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY AND WATER QUALITY BY IMPROVING SOIL HEALTH AND REDUCING EROSION IN ADJACENT FIELDS. THE ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS OF THESE VOLUNTARY RESTORATION EFFORTS WILL BE PROFOUND. HEALTHY WETLANDS SERVE AS NURSERIES FOR FISH POPULATIONS WHERE THEY ARE CONNECTED TO THE LAKE VITAL FOR BOTH COMMERCIAL AND RECREATIONAL FISHING. AS FISH STOCKS THRIVE LOCAL FISHERIES WILL BENEFIT LEADING TO INCREASED ECONOMIC ACTIVITY. ADDITIONALLY THE RESTORED LANDSCAPES WILL ATTRACT TOURISTS BIRDWATCHERS ANGLERS AND NATURE ENTHUSIASTS INJECTING REVENUE INTO LOCAL BUSINESSES SUCH AS HOTELS RESTAURANTS OUTFITTERS AS WELL AS LOCAL CONTRACTORS HIRED TO COMPLETE PROJECTS. BY SUPPORTING CONTRACTS WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES THIS AGREEMENT ENSURES THAT THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF RESTORATION EXTEND THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY. A FOCUS ON INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION ADDS ANOTHER LAYER OF IMPORTANCE TO THE COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT. RESTORED WETLANDS FUNCTION AS NATURAL BUFFERS AGAINST FLOODING WHICH CAN HELP SAFEGUARD HOMES AND PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE FROM STORM DAMAGE. BY MITIGATING RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH EXTREME WEATHER THE PARTNERSHIP SUPPORTS COMMUNITY SAFETY AND ENHANCES RESILIENCE AGAINST NATURAL WEATHER IMPACTS. POLLINATORS PLAY A CRUCIAL ROLE IN MAINTAINING HEALTHY ECOSYSTEMS AND SUPPORTING LOCAL ECONOMIES.

CONNECTING NEIGHBORHOODS IN CLEVELAND & NORTHEAST OHIO

BURTON SWAMP PROJECT, OH

WRLC EMR COOP (FY2019 GLRI/ES)

OHPLO-20-25 WRLC GLRI FY20 UPLAND COOP

OHPLO-20-24 2020 GLRI WRLC WETLAND COOP

GLRI PARTNERS

ASHTABULA AND TRUMBULL COUNTY OHIO HABITAT RESTORATION COOPERATIVE

2016 WESTERN RESERVE LAND CONSERVANCY WETLAND RESTORATION COOPERATIVE