Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program

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Press Release on 2000 Wetland Grants

For immediate release
March 16, 2000
Contact: Dr. Joe Costa

Buzzards Bay NEP awards $21,000 for wetlands protection

The Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program announced that it awarded $2,300 grants to nine area municipalities to help protect wetlands. The grants may specifically be used for appraisals, professional land surveys, conservation restrictions, or outright purchase of undeveloped parcels, where wetlands, wetland buffer zones, or endangered species habitats are a major feature.

According to Buzzards Bay NEP Director Dr. Joe Costa, "we recognize that this level of funding represents a modest contribution to local needs, however, the intent of this grant program is to enable towns to quickly proceed with either appraisals, professional surveys or conservation restriction purchase on a specific parcel when it is not feasible to wait for Town Meeting funding."

Although 16 watershed municipalities were eligible, only 9 communities requested the funding. Municipalities receiving funds are the Towns of Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Falmouth, Marion, Rochester, Wareham, Westport, and the City of Fall River. In most instances, the town's Conservation Commission will utilize the awarded funds.

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