SARP: Programs
With declines in the Southeast’s spectacular aquatic resources has come an increase in the rate of extinctions. Sprawling development, alteration of river and stream flows, overharvesting and introduction of non-native species are all taking a toll on natural systems. To reverse these, SARP utilizes science-based programs to coordinate conservation and restoration activities. Although all of these programs provide guidelines and resources, they differ at the core.
Funding comes from many sources. Besides funds from state wildlife and natural resource agencies, grants from federal agencies and private groups support SARP’s restoration, conservation and habitat improvement projects. Indirectly, individual citizens contribute to these efforts through sport fishing purchases, license fees, tax dollars and donations to wildlife conservation organizations.
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NOAA Community-based Restoration Program (NOAA CRP)
The NOAA Community-based Restoration Program (NOAA CRP) began in 1996 to inspire and sustain local efforts to conduct meaningful, on-the-ground restoration of marine, estuarine and riparian habitat. While the NOAA Fisheries Southeast Habitat Conservation Division has been an integral part of SARP since its inception, the long-term partnership based upon the NOAA CRP was initiated in 2007. read more >
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Southeast Aquatic Habitat Plan (SAHP)
The Southeast Aquatic Habitat Plan (SAHP) guides the partners’ projects to conserve southeastern aquatic habitats. Partners use SAHP objectives to improve, establish, or maintain riparian zones, water quality, watershed connectivity, sediment flow, bottoms and shorelines, coastal, estuarine and marine zones as well as to control hydrologic conditions and invasive or problem species. On a larger scale, this plan helps SARP identify regional priorities and facilitate action for aquatic conservation and restoration. Read the plan. read more >
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Southeastern Instream Flow Network (SIFN)
Rivers and streams of the Southeastern US are home to a globally significant array of fish, mussels, crayfish, and other life. The natural seasonal and inter-annual variations of water levels in rivers and streams are critical to maintenance of these rich aquatic ecosystems. As a consequence of the widespread impacts of increased water withdrawals and usage in the region, the Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership (SARP), a recognized partner of the National Fish Habitat Action Plan, identified implementation of protective instream flow policies as a priority strategy in the Southeast Aquatic Habitat Plan. The Southern Instream Flow Network (SIFN) was developed to address impacts to natural flow regimes in the region’s aquatic ecosystems. Because instream flow policies are administered at the state level and lack national standards to protect national systems, SARP envisioned SIFN to leverage policy and technical experience with science-based resources among state-based partnerships in the 15 Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (SEAFWA) states – AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MO, MS, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV. The SIFN goal is to develop and improve protective instream flow policies by providing science-based resources and opening lines of communication. With funding from the Multi-State Conservation Grant Program of the US Fish and Wildlife Service, work follows these objectives: read more >