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Contact: Tony Iallonardo Audubon 202/861-2242 Ext. 3042 tiallonardo@audubon.org

VITAL ECOSYSYSTEM RESTORATION PROJECTS TO GET VETO

Audubon Urges Congressional Override

Washington, DC, September 25, 2007 – More than five years in the making, the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) passed Congress Tuesday night by a staggering margin, well over the 2/3rd needed to override the President’s expected veto. The bill would provide unprecedented ecosystem restoration funding in areas like the Everglades, the Great Lakes, coastal Louisiana, and the Mississippi River. In total, the $21 billion piece of legislation authorizes navigation, flood protection, and more than $5.5 billion in ecosystem restoration funding. “This historic legislation is crucial to assuring the nation continues to make progress in some of America's most sensitive and valuable ecosystems," said April Gromnicki, Audubon’s Director of Ecosystem Restoration. “The Everglades, Coastal Louisiana, the Mississippi River, and the Great Lakes have continued to degrade for the last five years waiting for Congressional action. The President’s veto plans are no surprise, but Congress may well surprise him by standing up for vital ecosystem restoration action." EVERGLADES RESTORATION: $1.8 Billion Three crucial Everglades restoration projects are authorized in WRDA. The projects mitigate harmful federal drainage projects, help the Everglades by restoring more than 150,000 acres of wetlands and significant estuarine habitat, and help secure Florida’s tourism and outdoor recreation economy. The projects will also improve water quality for the Everglades, Florida Bay, 10,000 Islands, St. Lucie Estuary, and Lake Okeechobee. To advance Everglades restoration, Congress authorized the Indian River Lagoon, Picayune Strand, and Site 1 Impoundment, all components of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan. Congress also instructed the Army Corps of Engineers to expedite completion of Modified Water Deliveries to Everglades National Park Project, including modifications to Tamiami Trail, which has been identified as critical as Florida Bay faces impending estuarine collapse as a result of this project’s delay. “This long overdue reauthorization of key Everglades projects will result in the restoration of more than 150,000 acres of wetlands habitat. Florida’s birds and people could not be more pleased,” said Eric Draper, deputy director of Audubon of Florida. MISSISSIPPI RIVER RESTORATION: $1.7 Billion The Mississippi River flows through the heartland of America and is arguably the nation’s most important – and neglected – ecological resource. The river faces enormous environmental challenges throughout the entire waterway that endanger both critical habitat and human livelihoods. The Upper Mississippi River Restoration Program WRDA authorizes, in its first 15-year increment, will restore 105,000 acres of habitat, protect 35,000 acres of floodplain habitat in five states along the river, and will include a significant monitoring program. By restoring islands, backwaters, side channels, and using the existing dams to manage water levels, this program will benefit more than 300 bird species, 100 fish species, and improve habitat along more than 800 miles of river, including a complex of federal refuges receiving more than 3 million visitors annually. "This bill will enable us to continue to significantly ramp and build upon 20 years of habitat restoration along 866 miles of the Upper Mississippi River in five states. It is the tipping point that will change the focus from river degradation to river restoration," said Dan McGuiness, Audubon’s Director for the Upper Mississippi River Campaign. COASTAL LOUISIANA RESTORATION: $1.9 Billion The Louisiana coastline is disappearing as coastal wetlands erode at an alarming rate (more than 1.2 million acres since 1930), with devastating effects to the region’s quality of life. The Coastal Louisiana Restoration program will begin to reverse this devastating pattern of land loss, protecting important habitat for birds, fish, and other wildlife, as well as the region’s economy and quality of life. To begin this crucial restoration, Congress has authorized the Coastal Louisiana Ecosystem Program and its individual projects. “This compromise is a real step forward for the Louisiana Coastal ecosystem restoration and hurricane protection – and not a moment too soon,” said Dr. Paul Kemp, Vice President for Audubon’s Gulf Coast Initiative. GREAT LAKES RESTORATION: $25 million More than 35 million Americans depend on the Great Lakes for their quality of life. As the largest source of fresh surface water in the hemisphere, the region’s thriving fisheries, important bird life, working farms, and vibrant tourism depend on the health of the Great Lakes. The Great Lakes face imminent threat from sewage contaminating drinking water and fish and closing beaches, invasive exotic species destroying native wildlife populations and habitat (e.g., zebra mussel), and disappearing wetlands that buffer and clean the lakes. To begin the important work of restoration, as we await the comprehensive Great Lakes Restoration Plan legislation, Congress has, directed the Army Corps to upgrade and make permanent the barriers to invasive exotic species. “From the Great Lakes to Long Island Sound, this legislation is extremely important for the restoration and future protection of important coastal ecosystems in New York and the entire Great Lakes region.” Albert E. Caccese, Executive Director, Audubon New York. RIO SALADO OESTE: $166 Million

The Salt River originates in the Apache Highlands of Arizona, coursing past the cliff aeries of desert nesting bald eagles. Over the century, as upstream reservoir projects were implemented, the portion of the Salt River running through greater Phoenix area disappeared under the hot desert sands as the floodway became constricted by urban development. Once considered useful only as a dumping ground for human refuse and a source of sand and gravel, the Salt River, like the Phoenix bird of myth, is flowing with new life. The City of Phoenix has already reclaimed nearly six hundred acres of the river bed, restoring it as a natural riparian habitat where Audubon will soon open its Río Salado Audubon Center. Río Oeste is the next phase of this habitat restoration / flood control project, which will eventually connect with Tres Ríos Wetlands, a multi-governmental project. By restoring native riparian habitats to its urban core, Phoenix is becoming an attractive destination for neotropical migrants, waterbirds and native Sonoran wildlife, and the humans who enjoy them. “Oeste is the next phase in achieving the decades-old dream of ringing the Valley of the Sun with a green necklace of riparian habitat. In our increasingly urbanized environment, Río Salado Oeste will help to ensure that citizens of West Phoenix will have opportunities to connect with nature in meaningful ways.” Sam Campana, Executive Director, Audubon Arizona. “These incredible restoration opportunities should withstand the assault of expedient politics,” added Gromnicki. “It’s time for every member of Congress to stand up for the health of the environment we’ll leave our children.” Now in its second century, Audubon is dedicated to protecting birds and other wildlife and the habitat that supports them. Our national network of community-based nature centers and chapters, scientific and educational programs, and advocacy on behalf of areas sustaining important bird populations, engage millions of people of all ages and backgrounds in conservation.

Now in its second century, Audubon is dedicated to protecting birds and other wildlife and the habitat that supports them. Our national network of community-based nature centers and chapters, scientific and educational programs, and advocacy on behalf of areas sustaining important bird populations, engage millions of people of all ages and backgrounds in conservation.

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