Minnesota's Lake Superior Coastal Program awards grants for 2004
Minnesota's Lake Superior Coastal Program has awarded grants to 20 different government and non-profit organizations for a variety of coastal projects. The Governor's Council on Minnesota's Coastal Program, which selects the projects, will fund 32 projects totaling $762,551. The organizations, which include eight local units of government, seven non-profit organizations and five state agencies, will begin receiving funding in August.
Projects funded by the Lake Superior Coastal Program include a variety of educational, planning and construction projects such as regional storm and surface water educational programs, an interactive marine traffic tracking system, an additional year of the popular
"A View from the Lake" guided tours, GIS parcel mapping for several communities, a sediment quality database, waterfront planning a cooperative wastewater management study, and interpretive displays for Tofte Lakewalk, Silver Bay Marina and Taconite Safe Harbor. The projects also range geographically from a trail connection study in Cloquet to lake and river monitoring in Cook County.
An additional $40,000 in Short Term Action Request (STAR) funds will be awarded throughout the year for education and outreach initiatives, and coastal resource management projects.
Projects are selected on an annual basis with funds received from the Coastal Zone Management Act and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management.
The Minnesota Lake Superior Coastal Program provides funding and technical resources to coastal communities. These funds help balance land use, public access and recreation pressures on our coastal resources with the need for conservation and preservation efforts along the North Shore. The coastal community consists of portions of thirty-one local units of government within the coastal boundary. This boundary includes the lower St. Louis River, its estuary and the Lake Superior shoreline to the Canadian border.
The next funding cycle for Minnesota's Coastal Program will begin in late August. For information, contact Tricia Ryan, Coastal Program manager, by mail at 1568 Hwy. 2, Two Harbors, MN 55616; phone (218) 834-6625; fax (218) 834-6639; e-mail tricia.ryan@dnr.state.mn.us or log on to the DNR's Web site at www.dnr.state.mn.us/waters/lakesuperior/.

Boat U.S. Foundation Awards Cash Grants For Clean Water Education Clean Fueling a Hot Topic This Year
The BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety & Clean Water doubled its funding this year, awarding nearly $40,000 in Clean Water Grants to 19 local nonprofit organizations around the country. The grants support grassroots efforts to educate boaters on reducing their environmental impact on the water, and a special emphasis was made this year to support projects designed to educate boaters on cleaner fueling practices - nine of the 19 groups incorporated this topic in their projects.
Margaret Podlich, environmental director for the BoatU.S. Foundation, said, "We believe that those groups closest to our waterways - yacht clubs, local conservation groups, and volunteer waterway safety organizations - often offer the most innovative ideas to protect our waterways. We rely on these boaters to help us spread credible, locally-relevant environmental messages."
Some of the projects include handing out fuel spill prevention kits that contain oil absorbent pads, creating booklets to educate boaters about clean fueling practices and laws, and erecting a kiosk and recycling center that will educate boaters about environmental issues. "We're especially happy to see so many projects that stress better habits at the fuel dock," says Podlich.
BoatU.S. Foundation Clean Water Grant projects will take place in 15 states; a list of all projects is listed below. Established in 1999, the BoatU.S. Foundation Clean Water Grant Program and other BoatU.S. Foundation projects are funded primarily by donations from members of Boat Owners Association of The United States. For more information on how to make a tax-deductible donation, or to find out how to apply for 2005 Clean Water Grants, visit http://www.BoatUS.com/foundation

BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water 2004 Clean Water Grant Recipients:
(From Midwest area)
Higgins Lake Advisory Committee of Roscommon, MI, to target 1,500 area boaters with clean boating packets that include educational materials and tools. Four area marinas will receive clean fueling supplies to use at their fuel docks.
Les Cheneaux Watershed Project of Cedarville, MI, to design and print about 3,000 color maps of the area that promote positive habits boaters can adopt to protect the environment.
US Coast Guard Auxiliary District 8WB-Division 16-Flotilla 03 of Grove, OK, to post 18 signs on Grand Lake to help boaters learn how to prevent the Westward spread of zebra mussels.


Disney Magic Crew Adopts Reef Relief
Captain Thord Haugen and the crew of the Disney cruiseship Magic have a program onboard called Adopt-An-Agency to which they can make donations. Every year or so they choose an organization to donate money to by dropping extra coins into a jar, having environmental auctions, and other events. This year, they chose Reef Relief, the Key West-based non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to protecting coral reefs.
“Our crew members have enjoyed your hospitality in Key West and would like to make a difference in your community by supporting your organization. Several of them have visited Reef Relief and participated in learning opportunities,” noted Captain Haugen during a luncheon aboard the Magic. He presented Reef Relief board members with a check for five thousand dollars.
“We are pleased to collaborate with the Disney Magic crew on educational programs for themselves and their guests and this generous contribution will help support Reef Relief environmental education programs,” noted Executive Director DeeVon Quirolo. “Disney has demonstrated a commitment to environmental protection which we appreciate. In addition, David Bethell of Green Turtle Cay was selected to be a Disney Conservation Hero in the marine category for his outstanding support of Reef Relief's Bahamas programs.”
DeeVon Quirolo, Executive Director, Reef Relief, a non-profit membership organization dedicated to Preserve and Protect Living Coral Reef Ecosystems through local, regional and international efforts.
Do you want to make a difference for our coral reefs? With the stroke of a keyboard, you can. Join the Reef Relief mailing list and receive regular updates on coral reef issues, invitations to special events, and action alerts on issues of importance. Go to www.reefrelief.org and look for "Join our mailing list."

Reef Relief P.O. Box 430, Key West, Fl. 33041. (305) 294-3100, www.reefrelief.org.
Reef Relief Environmental Center Gift Store, 201 William Street, Key West, Fl.
Captain Roland Roberts House Environmental Center, New Plymouth, Green Turtle Cay, Abaco, Bahamas. (242) 365-4014.