SARP: Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership

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.

NOAA CRP catalyzes partnerships at the national and local levels to maximize resources such as funds, technical expertise, land and volunteers to undertake sound restoration projects that promote stewardship and a conservation ethic. In cooperation with the NOAA Restoration Center, SARP identifies potential projects and facilitates the formation of local partnerships to conduct on-the-ground restoration.

In 2007, NOAA CRP and SARP formed a long term partnership to fund, implement and monitor restoration projects benefitting marine and anadromous fish habitat in the nine southeastern states that border the Gulf of Mexico and the south Atlantic. This partnership supports the goals of the National Fish Habitat Action Plan as well as the Southeast Aquatic Habitat Plan.

The first projects implemented by this partnership were located in the Altamaha River (Georgia) and Roanoke River (North Carolina and Virginia) watersheds. Previously, SARP had assessed these two watersheds to identify habitat needs and threats. More information about these watersheds:

• SARP Priority Waters 2008-2009
• The Pilot Study
• The Altamaha Watershed Report
• The Roanoke River Watershed Report
• National Fish Habitat Action Plan

In spring 2009, a request seeking new project proposals resulted in funding of 11 projects in the SARP coastal states of Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas.  Proposals undergo a competitive review and projects are selected on basis of their technical merit.