Polluters, donors fill refuge's coffers
Friday, March 25, 2005
By DEAN BAKER, Columbian staff writerRIDGEFIELD - The Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge got a $91,000 boost this week, sharing in a $1.2 million fine levied on shipping companies found guilty of dumping waste oil in the Columbia River.
The money, bolstered by another $36,000 in matching funds from local donors, will be used to restore wildlife habitat on the 5,050-acre refuge, said Jennifer Brown, refuge manager.
The $127,000 will help restore natural vegetation, Brown said. The refuge will recruit an AmeriCorps worker as well as volunteers and high school students to help, she said.
The work will begin as soon as the refuge finishes its work in the next two weeks opening to the public the new $500,000 replica Cathlapotle Plankhouse, she said.
"The main objective will be to remove invasive plant species thistle, hemlock, reed canary grass and ricefield bulrush and increase our native riparian planting," Brown said. "We'll put in some ash and willows and restore grass pastures taken over by invasive species like thistle, so we can help the Canada geese come and feed for the winter."
The $1.2 million comes from a court-ordered settlement last year that created the Columbia River Estuarine Coastal Fund, one of the largest community service payments made for conservation and environmental restoration in the Northwest.
Federal prosecutors and the National Wildlife Foundation have just announced the first round of grants, with awards ranging from $5,000 to $160,000. Matching funds from recipients bring the total spending to $4.5 million.
The Columbia Land Trust in Vancouver received two grants totaling $240,000 to help buy 155 acres of riparian habitat along Germany Creek near Cathlamet, and 105 acres of former flood-plain habitat along the Wallooskee River south of Astoria, Ore.
The trust is providing about $900,000 more to cover the costs of the land purchase. The property will be permanently protected as habitat for salmon, cutthroat trout, migratory birds, elk and eagles.
Also, with a $5,000 grant, the Lower Columbia River Watershed Council will create an educational program so 200 students can learn about the science of rivers and water-quality monitoring.
The first round of money comes from three polluters: MMS Co. Ltd., a Japanese corporation and owner of the Spring Drake; Hoegh Fleet Services of Norway, owner of the Hoegh Minerva; and Marmaras Navigation Ltd., the Greek operator of the Agia Eirini.
In addition to fines, and in some cases prison sentences for crew members, the legal settlements included payments to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for conservation and restoration projects in the damaged areas.
Since then, two more shipping companies caught polluting have added $745,000 to the Columbia River Estuarine Coastal Fund. The foundation will solicit proposals for conservation projects this summer and is developing a similar fund for Puget Sound. Nearly 100 proposals vied for grants.
"I think it indicates that there is a huge need out there for this work to get done," said Krystyna Wolniakowski, director of the fish and wildlife foundation's Northwest division in Portland.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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