JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Groundwork Jacksonville, a non-profit organization dedicated to environmental restoration and community revitalization, has been awarded two grants totaling more than $5.7 Million from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The funds will be used for the restoration of Hogans and McCoys Creeks, two of the most important waterways in Jacksonville, Florida.
The grants are part of a larger initiative by NOAA to provide $265 million in funding for 38 transformational habitat restoration and coastal resilience projects this year.
The goal of these projects is to help protect coastal communities and ecosystems from the impacts of climate change and make significant strides in the recovery of threatened and endangered species.
Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry praised the work of Groundwork Jacksonville, saying, “It is crucial that we protect and enhance our natural resources when building up and connecting our neighborhoods. I applaud the work Groundwork Jacksonville is doing to help restore our city’s creeks and ensure a safe, resilient, and more connected Jacksonville.”
The Hogans Creek restoration project was awarded $2.95 Million from NOAA and will include the completion of the creek design, a Project Development, and Environment (PD&E) study to design a bridge to allow for the daylighting of a portion of the creek, a fish study with the Marine Science Research Institute at Jacksonville University, and the expansion of Groundwork’s Community Restoration Environmental Stewardship Training (CREST) program into Hogans Creek neighborhoods.
The McCoys Creek Branches project was awarded $2.8 Million from NOAA and will restore the natural function of 4,752 linear feet of stream within the creek’s headwaters. The project will create a natural meander within a more deeply excavated and fully vegetated wetland floodplain to improve water quality and reduce downstream flooding.
These grants will have a transformative impact across the country, according to NOAA. They include capstone projects that build on decades of work in priority watersheds, innovative projects that implement cutting-edge restoration techniques, and groundbreaking efforts that restore habitat in urban ecosystems to benefit underserved communities.
Trish Kapustka, APR, CPRC of TLK Communications, which represents Groundwork Jacksonville, said, “These grants from NOAA are a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone at Groundwork Jacksonville. We are thrilled to be able to continue our mission of environmental restoration and community revitalization in Jacksonville, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact these projects will have on our city and our state.”
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