NFHAP is:

The National Fish Habitat Action Plan is a national investment strategy to make conservation dollars go farther.  The Action Plan will leverage federal, state, and privately raised funds to build regional partnerships aimed at fixing the nation’s biggest fisheries problems.  This is the most comprehensive effort ever attempted to treat the causes of fish habitat decline, not just the symptoms.

Putting Dollars Where They Matter Most
The National Fish Habitat Action Plan maximizes the return-on-investment by targeting much needed dollars to priority on-the-ground projects.  Federal funds for projects are available through the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation is taking the lead in raising philanthropic funds to support the Action Plan through their “More Fish” campaign.  NOAA and other partners are also supporting NFHAP projects through existing programs like the Community-based Restoration Program Partnership grants. Funding is awarded based on habitat need, strength of local and regional partnerships, and the likelihood of success.

Delivering Results
The goals of the National Fish Habitat Action Plan are:
By 2010

• Audit the condition of all fish habitats in the U.S.
• Prepare a comprehensive Status of Fish Habitats in the United States report.
• Identify 12 priority habitat areas and establish Fish Habitat Partnerships to target them.

By 2015

• Protect all intact and pristine habitat

By 2020

• Improve the condition of 90% of all priority habitats identified by the Fish Habitat Partnerships.

“LSMS” The Little Susitna River watershed produces the State’s second-largest freshwater harvest of coho salmon and the sixth-largest number of harvested Chinook salmon in Northern Cook Inlet. It also supports populations of chum, pink and sockeye salmon, as well as many resident fish such as Dolly Varden and rainbow trout. But one of the big problems for fish in the Little Su’ is that an estimated 95% of the 35 culverts in the watershed are at least partially blocked to fish migrations.  This project replaced the culverts with a bridge that allows natural migration of fish.

“Tampa” The historical loss of mangroves along the eastern coastline of MacDill Air Force Base near Tampa, Florida, has left the shoreline exposed and subject to severe erosion. Construction of near-shore oyster reefs along the coastline reduces wave energy, encourages sediment build-up, and restores native vegetation, such as marsh grasses and, eventually, mangroves. The inter-tidal oyster reefs, created with concrete “reef balls”, improve marine habitat diversity and help restore natural vegetative barriers to stabilize coastal sediments.

for more information go to www.fishhabitat.org