More than $1 million in recent NOAA funding is contributing to the research and development, site preparation, and capacity-building needed to support the long-term work of Mission: Iconic Reefs. The funding will also support in-water restoration at multiple sites. Contact: Tom Moore.

Washington’s Pilchuck River is close to once again flowing freely after more than 100 years, thanks to a NOAA-supported effort to remove an obsolete dam. The project will reopen 37 miles of habitat for fish and help protect downstream communities from flooding. Contact: Laurel Jennings.

In the St. Louis River Habitat Focus Area, NOAA and partners recently restored nearly 155 acres of habitat, stabilized the shoreline, and improved the accessibility of the Wisconsin Point peninsula along Lake Superior. This effort addresses shoreline erosion and dune wear-and-tear at lake access points resulting from increased human use of the peninsula. Contact: Michele Miller.

30 years after the Oil Pollution Act was signed into law, we’re still responding to spills and helping resources recover after them. In fact, the largest offshore spill ever in the United States—the Deepwater Horizon in the Gulf of Mexico—happened just 10 years ago.  Learn about what historical events led to passage of the act in 1990. Contact: Alejandra Mickle-Arce.

To learn about the results of our work restoring wetland habitat damaged from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, we have to understand how populations of fish and animals are faring there. But what are the best ways to take samples of these swimming creatures? A newly released report helps us answer that question. Contact: Courtney Schupp.

The tribal, federal and state agencies helping restore resources in the polluted Portland Harbor Superfund site are proposing an innovative approach to recovery: leveraging private sector-built restoration projects that are larger than what otherwise might be feasible in the area, resulting in more integrated and self-sustaining habitats. The proposals, in a draft restoration plan, are open for public comment until September 14. Contact: Lauren Senkyr.

Explore profiles of 19 of our community to learn more about their current projects and what they find meaningful about their role in conserving habitat. We will be adding more all month, be sure to check them out. Contact: Alison Hammer.

Removing dams opens new habitat and could result in minimal changes to the river channel. Dams not only impede water flow—a key function—but they also can trap sediments like gravel, sand, silt, and clay that are naturally transported by the river. In a recently published paper, the researchers compare measurements of channel dimensions taken at the same locations before and after the two dam removals. Investing in pre-project investigations can allow communities and resource managers to prioritize available funds for additional projects to restore habitat and improve public safety.

Atlantic salmon researchers at NOAA Fisheries  have found that Atlantic salmon abundance can increase as more young fish and returning adults survive their encounters with dams. Also, progress in rebuilding the population will depend heavily on continuing stocking of hatchery fish raised especially for this purpose. Learn more about how new modelling helps scientists explore what happens when endangered Atlantic salmon have access to more of their habitat.

Learn how NOAA divers turn the data they collect from underwater missions into usable summaries that help scientists study and protect U.S. coral reef ecosystems through a NOAA Podcast. NOAA’s National Coral Reef Monitoring Program is a massive, collaborative effort that was developed to collect scientifically sound, geographically comprehensive biological, climate, and socioeconomic data in U.S. coral reef areas.

Do you know someone who has demonstrated exceptional achievement and dedication to coastal and marine habitat conservation? The NOAA Office of Habitat Conservation and the American Fisheries Society are seeking nominations for the 2020 Dr. Nancy Foster Habitat Conservation Award by September 15 . Learn more about award eligibility and the nomination process.