Project name: Grasses in Classes Program (#5001)
Project status: Complete
Grant Administrator: Gulf of Mexico Foundation (for NOAA)
Grantee: Weeks Bay NERR /
Baldwin County Board of Education
Project location: Baldwin County, Alabama
Grant period: Jan 1-Dec 31, 2006
Grant amount: $25,895
Land Ownership:
Bon Secour Wildlife Refuge site – Federal, public
Weeks Bay site – State, public
Barner Branch on Fish River site - State, public
Lat/Long:
Bon Secour Wildlife Refuge site: 30.22781/-87.83147
Weeks Bay site: 30.41800/-87.83112
Barner Branch on Fish River site: 30.45606/-87.80254
Types of Habitat:
Bon Secour Wildlife Refuge - beach dune
Weeks Bay - salt marsh
Barner Branch on Fish River – freshwater SAV and emergent plants
Project leader: Margaret H. Sedlecky
Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
US Hwy 98
Fairhope AL 36532
phone: (251) 928-9792
fax: (251) 928-1792
Species Benefiting From Restoration:
- tape grass (Vallisneria americana)
- salt marsh cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora)
- black needle rush (Juncus romerianus)
- sea oats (Uniola paniculata)
- saltmeadow cordgrass (Spartina patens)
- coastal panicgrass (Panicum amarum)
Acres of Habitat To be Restored:
Bon Secour Wildlife Refuge – approximately .5 acres
Weeks Bay - approximately .25 acres
Barner Branch on Fish River- approximately .5 acres
Project Summary:
The Baldwin County Grasses in Classes (BCGIC) program
was started in January 2005 to facilitate the
establishment and maintenance of nurseries by Baldwin
County school students to grow native plants for
submerged, wetland and dune restoration projects.
Funding from the Gulf of Mexico Community-based
Restoration Partnership will allow us to expand the
program by providing training for interested teachers
and by establishing nurseries at their high schools.
The BCGIC program provides a volunteer base for
implementation of restoration projects and promotes
student involvement in community-based restoration
activities. With guidance from teachers and experts,
the students will maintain and monitor the nursery at
their school. Students will also assist local
scientists with monitoring the restoration sites
during the school year whenever possible.
With funding, the BCGIC program will assist with the
following three proposed restoration projects in 2006
by providing plants and student volunteers:
- Bon Secour Wildlife Refuge has requested the
assistance of the BCGIC program to assist in the
restoration of dune habitats. Panicum amarum, Spartina
patens and Uniola paniculata will be planted by
student volunteers on Refuge property.
- Weeks Bay Reserve staff have requested the
assistance of the BCGIC program to remove invasive
Phragmites spp. and replant Spartina alterniflora and
Juncus romerianus grasses along Weeks Bay.
- Weeks Bay Reserve Watershed Project has requested
the assistance of the BCGIC program to replant
Vallisneria americana and other emergent wetland
plants in Barner Branch.
Project Objectives:
- promote individual stewardship and understanding of coastal ecosystems through community-based restoration activities
- facilitate the establishment and maintenance of native plant nurseries by Baldwin County school students
- provide students with meaningful hands-on activities which will provide investigative and problem solving experience
- provide federal, state, and local agencies with plants and a volunteer base for implementation of restoration projects
Community Involvement:
Working with teachers and students the BCGIC program
will provide plants as well as a volunteer base for
implementation of restoration projects and will promote
student involvement in community-based restoration
activities. With guidance from teachers and other
experts, the students will maintain and monitor the
plant nursery at their school. Students will also
assist local scientists with monitoring the restoration
sites during the school year whenever possible.