California Seabird Restoration Project Receives National Military Fish & Wildlife Association Award in Atlanta, Georgia

Receiving the 2012 Conservation Partnerships Award from the National Military Fish and Wildlife Association in Atlanta, Georgia, on March 14 are (left to right): Melanie Ravan, U.S. Navy; Jennifer Boyce, Montrose Settlements Restoration Program Trustee Council; Grace Smith, U.S. Navy; David Garcelon, Institute for Wildlife Studies; Annie Little, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Amy Carter, Island Conservation; Jessica DuBois, The Humane Society of the United States; and, Martin Ruane, U.S. Navy. Photo credit: FWS.

On March 14, 2012 the National Military Fish and Wildlife Association presented its 2012 Conservation Partnerships Award to the natural resource trustees and partners for a successful, collaborative seabird restoration project on San Nicolas Island, California. San Nicolas Island, wholly owned by the U.S. Navy, is one of eight islands making up the 160-mile long Channel Islands archipelago off the southern California coast. The Award was presented during the 77th North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference in Atlanta, Georgia.

The NMFWA Conservation Partnerships Award recognizes “those who develop fruitful partnerships benefiting natural resource conservation on military installations in support of the military mission.” Awardees can include both Department of Defense personnel and outside organization representatives -- including volunteers, educators, negotiators, public affairs personnel, journalists, non-profit staff and non-DOD government staff -- “who promote and foster partnerships with the DOD.”

The San Nicolas Island seabird restoration project was undertaken pursuant to the Montrose Settlements Restoration Program Final Restoration Plan which was developed by the natural resource trustees with public review and input. The Restoration Plan proposes multiple projects designed to restore natural resources and natural resource services injured by DDTs and PCBs released into the Southern California Bight from the Montrose/Palos Verdes Shelf NPL site. The projects are funded by a monetary settlement for natural resource damages with Montrose Chemical Corp. of California and other parties responsible for the releases.

The natural resource trustees for the Montrose/Palos Verdes Shelf NPL site include the State of California, Department of Commerce, acting through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Department of the Interior, acting through National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Cooperating partners on the San Nicolas Island seabird restoration project include Institute for Wildlife Studies, Island Conservation, The Humane Society of the United States and the U.S. Navy.

Further reading:

• National Military Fish and Wildlife Association website
• 77th North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference website
• Montrose Settlements Restoration Program website
• Montrose Settlements Restoration Program Final Restoration Plan (dated October 2005)