Columbia Ohio Expansion Migratory Bird Account

* Note: The application deadline was in June 2009. For general information about the application process and an example of the application, see below.

Background

The Conservation Fund established the Columbia Ohio Expansion Migratory Bird Account (COE Account) as part of a Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) to receive monies to conserve and restore migratory bird habitat in Ohio. Money deposited in the Columbia Ohio Expansion is a result of an agreement entitled "Guidelines for Achieving Compliance with the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and Executive Order No. 13186 Through the Voluntary Compensation Measures" developed by Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC (Columbia) and the Service associated with the construction, maintenance and operation of the Ohio Storage Expansion Project in Fairfield, Hocking, Ashland and Holmes Counties, Ohio. These funds are non-Federal funds and can be used as matching funds for Federal funds.

Riparian corridors are considered important habitat for many migrating land birds. Given the current pressures of climate change, the management of north/south riparian corridors are likely to provide transitional habitat as species ranges are shifting northward. Therefore, the priority for the COE Account will be the conservation of forest habitat that benefits migratory birds and for restoration of gaps in forest habitat blocks and riparian corridors. The conservation and restoration projects should target forest dwelling avian species impacted by the project including the Cerulean Warbler, Worm-eating Warbler, Kentucky Warbler, Blue-winged Warbler, Wood Thrush, Black-billed Cuckoo, Whip-poor-will and Red-headed Woodpecker when these species are found in the vicinity. The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Regional Office has developed guidelines on the use of the COE Account Funds in collaboration with a State Technical Team and with input from the Columbia Ohio Storage representative.

The State Technical Team in Ohio was established to determine proposal criteria, review proposals and determine which proposals will be funded with approximately $800,000. The state technical team consists of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the Ohio Field Office of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Division of Migratory Bird Management and The Conservation Fund. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Region III's Regional Team will serve as project oversight. The first call for proposals will be to these agencies, conservation nonprofit organizations and land trusts. The State Technical Team reserves the right to ask for additional proposals if there are not sufficient high quality proposals in this request for proposals.

Projects Eligible for Funding

The Columbia Ohio Expansion Migratory Bird Account will be used for land acquisition and/or restoration projects in Ohio using the following criteria:

• Document how the land acquisition or restoration proposal would specifically enhance, improve or recover riparian or forest dwelling avian species impacted by the pipeline focusing on Cerulean Warbler, Worm-eating Warbler, Kentucky Warbler, Blue-winged Warbler, Wood Thrush, Black-billed Cuckoo, Whip-poor-will and Red-headed Woodpecker when these species are found in the vicinity.

• Project is targeted for completion on August 1, 2010 for land acquisition and for restoration by August 1, 2011.

• Projects may involve land acquisition in fee with environmental covenants or the acquisition of a perpetual conservation easement as well as restoration of forest in suitable un-forested areas along riparian or forest corridors.

• Fee title to land or a conservation easement may be acquired by a governmental agency, nonprofit or land trust. If a conservation easement is proposed, there must be no timber management proposed that negatively impacts the target forest dwelling species.

• The Service's goal for the funds is to maximize the use of these non-Federal funds. Therefore a proposed project should have greater than one to one matching funds. In-kind match can be considered but in kind match must be necessary for the project.

Project Costs Eligible for Funding

The Columbia Ohio Expansion Account may only be used to cover the direct cost of land and/or forest habitat restoration. The Service wants to obtain the most habitat protection or restoration possible and as a result there is a preference that acquisition costs (such as closing costs, title search fees, survey costs, etc.) are paid by another agency or partner. No Service staff time or organizational overhead costs may be paid for by the COE Account.

For more information contact:

Peg Kohring at 616-510-1221 or pkohring@conservationfund.org