The Minerals Management Service (MMS) has awarded four grants totaling $110,716 to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Government in Alaska through the Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP) for a project that will restore the riverbank and provide habitat protection within the Crooked Creek State Recreation area.
Along with a small grant of $6,642 for planning and administrative costs, the borough also received $83,000 to restore portions of the riverbank where the Crooked Creek and the Kasilof River meet. A popular area for fishing, the banks are eroding at an accelerated rate due to high traffic from anglers. The grant will also provide funding to install lighted walkways to enable access to the river.
A $15,000 grant was also awarded to restore portions of the Crooked Creek bank by planting vegetation, including spruce trees and brush. An additional $6,074 will provide lavatory and garbage facilities during the peak fishing season in the spring and summer months.
'MMS is proud to partner with the Kenai Peninsula Borough in its restoration efforts,' said MMS Alaska Regional Director John Goll. 'We are committed through the Coastal Impact Assistance Program to support our partners with important projects that will not only promote conservation and restoration, but allow others to continue enjoying our public recreation areas.'
The project will begin this summer; the Alaska Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation will assist in its implementation.
Alaska’s CIAP plan was approved by the Minerals Management Service on September 30, 2008. The CIAP was created by the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Through the program, MMS will provide $250 million in grants annually, from 2007-2010, to six eligible Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas producing states – Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Alaska, California, and Mississippi. The funding to Alaska included $37.5 million for each of the fiscal years 2009 and 2010.
Contact:
Nicholas Pardi (202) 208-7746