Are You and Your Students Ready for the Stream Restoration Challenge?

The Stream Restoration Challenge is once again accepting applications for projects that enhance or establish forested stream buffers while creating service learning and environmental literacy activities for students.

With $4 million dollars available, the State of Maryland will add to the 364 acres of buffer funded from the first solicitation and the 13,300 Maryland students that will already be actively engaged.

Projects funded through this program will not only enhance water quality in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, but will also educate and prepare the environmental stewards of tomorrow. To date, the most successful projects have demonstrated strong collaboration between local governments, school systems, and watershed organizations to bring together technical skill, capacity, and academic rigor.

This funding is a wonderful opportunity for your school to actively involve students in all phases of a restoration project; from planning and site prep to monitoring and evaluation. The projects will meet a number of Environmental Literacy Standards, namely Standard 1 which involves investigation and action (and is traditionally difficult to address). Here are some great ideas for stream restoration and forest buffer lesson plans to help you start thinking about education connections.

To accept the challenge, visit the Challenge website, review the RFP, and begin to explore your project idea using the StreamHealth and Trust Fund Priority maps. Regional Foresters are available to visit your potential sites and discuss planting plans and species selection. All proposals are due by Thursday May 30, 2013 at 5pm.

For further information, to discuss your idea, or to connect to potential partners, please contact Gabe Cohee (gcohee@dnr.state.md.us; 410.260.8753) at the Department of Natural Resources.

Also, make sure to join the conversation on Facebook! You can access additional resources, ask questions, and collaborate with other applicants.