Restoring and Protecting Piping Plover Nesting Habitat in the St. Louis River Estuary - Phase III

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Green Bay Ecological Services Field Office has received funding through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to support habitat management, protection, monitoring and outreach and education for Great Lakes piping plover (Charadrius melodus) in the St. Louis River Estuary. The goal of the proposed project is to support piping plover recovery efforts per the Draft Wisconsin-Minnesota Piping Plover Management Plan and restore beneficial use impairments in the St. Louis River Estuary Area of Concern. Work, including habitat maintenance and restoration, site protection and monitoring, and outreach and education will be focused on Minnesota and Wisconsin Point where plovers have been recently observed. Additionally, an investigation into the potential for plover management possibilities will be initiated at the end of Minnesota Point. This is a notice of intent to award a single source grant agreement to St. Louis River Alliance (SLRA) without competition under justification 505DM 2.14B. 2 and 4. The funds are available for activities related to piping plover recovery through this grant agreement. Competition is not practical as the proposed project is a continuation of the efforts that SLRA began in 2011. The SLRA has worked with local communities to build enthusiasm and support for piping plover recovery and has been monitoring a number of sites in the area, laying the foundation for the return of breeding plovers in western Lake Superior.