The diversion dam on the Lower Yellowstone River impeded upstream migration of many native fish species, including the endangered pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus). This project built a headworks, weir, and fish bypass channel to open access to 266 additional kilometers of the river for fish migration, spawning, and larval development.  

The West Lake estuary and watershed is an urban/suburban estuary ecosystem with one of the largest ports in the USA (Port Everglades). Dredging and filling in support of this port have modified both the shallow edge and bottom of the estuary. This project successful establishment of 500 hectares of mangroves at West Lake in Broward County, Florida.

The Maumee River Riparian Zone Restoration is a reforestation effort on 75 acres of farm land with a goal of restoring riparian bottomland habitat from being contaminated by hazardous substance releases from the Fort Wayne Reduction Site. The project reforested bottomland/riparian habitat with native and naturally-occurring tree and shrub species that are tolerant of wet conditions.

The over 3-meter-high unstable banks of Meadowview stream were a serious public safety concern to the nearby community. To create a safer environment, the community installed a 3:1 slope planted with Californian native plants along the stream bank that was stabilized with compost rolls seeded with native grasses.

The St. Johns River is Florida’s most important commercial and recreational river. Mile Point, along the river in Jacksonville, has experienced severe shoreline erosion and has created dangerous navigation conditions. This project improved navigation conditions, reduced erosion, restored salt marsh habitat, and created new oyster habitat. 

This project removed three aging dams and replaced a fourth on the Mill River in Taunton, Massachusetts to increase the area’s ecological and community resilience and reduce flooding. These efforts reconnected more than 48 kilometers of rivers and streams linked to Narragansett Bay. 

Dangerous and costly flash floods in Tulsa, Oklahoma resulted in deaths, injuries, and hundreds of millions of dollars in damage. Mingo Creek was a flood control priority waterway for the city to reduce damage and flood risk. The Tulsa Department of Stormwater Management implemented a voluntary acquisition program by purchasing flooded properties and began floodplain restoration. 

The San Antonio River was historically modified to reduce flooding, leaving it devoid of its ecological function. The Mission Reach Ecosystem Restoration and Recreation Project aimed to reduce flooding, restore the riverine ecosystem, and provide recreational opportunities to a 13-kilometer stretch of the river.  

The Mount Rose Preserve Forest Restoration Project aimed to (1) re-establish the forest, shrubland, and meadow habitats, (2) innovate and communicate locally appropriate forest restoration practices, and (3) restore existing plant species through the exclusion of white-tailed deer and invasive plant species.

The confluence of Mud Creek and the French Broad River in Henderson County, North Carolina was degraded by agricultural development and urban runoff.  The Mud Creek confluence project addressed these issues by restoring a montane alluvial floodplain forest, a rare natural community in North Carolina made up of specific vegetation communities and habitats. 

Marsh along the Narrow River had been suffering from extended periods of water inundation from sea level rise, as well as erosion from boat wakes, resulting in the die-off of lower marsh species and the shrinking of high marsh habitat.

To reduce the damage of future wildfires, the Paradise Recreation and Park District (PRPD) established multi-benefit greenspaces, or natural areas for recreational and aesthetic purposes (e.g. parks), within Paradise’s eastern and southern borders. These greenspaces will help increase community wellbeing and prevent trauma associated with wildfire by providing a multitude of recreational activities, conservation benefits, and local economic opportunity.

This project improved public access to the beaches and water of the Santa Rosa Sound in Florida. This included the addition of two new boardwalks and a kayak/boat launch to improve recreational opportunities and connect the community and visitors with the sound. This project also restored degraded dunes at the park. 

The New England Cottontail Project is a restoration effort with the objective to restore the New England Cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis) to their native habitats through the creation of young forest and captive breeding programs. Led by USFWS, young forests were created through tree/ shrub cutting, heavy-duty mowing/mulching, field mowing, forest harvesting, controlling invasive plants, and prescribed burning.

Following a fire that reduced non-native Brook Trout and Rainbow Trout populations, the Department of Game & Fish (NMDGF), USFWS, and the Gila National Forest initiated a project to restore the native, previously extirpated Gila Trout populations in Whitewater Creek. The team used electrofishing surveys to document non-native fish presence and perform reconnaissance for rotenone treatments.

This particular case study focuses on the bird restoration project to restore loons, sea ducks, and piping plover populations after the 1996 North Cape oil spill, under the provision of the Oil Pollution Act. This was attempted by replacing the quantity of bird-years lost (estimated 2,000 birds) due to the spill.

The northern barrier bar in North Sandy Pond was experiencing flooding and erosion, and was at risk of a full breach. This project placed local sand in strategic locations to utilize Lake Ontario’s longshore currents to replenish eroded sections of the beach. Volunteers also planted native beach grasses to further stabilize the shoreline. 

Northerly Island on Lake Michigan was used as a private airport until 2003, and sat unused and contributing no ecological or public benefits until 2012, when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers proposed a restoration project. This project would restore 16 hectares into 6 habitats native to the Chicago area. 

This project explored the potential of using Wildfire Risk Reduction Buffers (WRRBs) between the urban area and the wildlands for fire risk reduction. The team selected Paradise, CA as its prioritization site due to its fire risk, opportunity, and recreation value. They created five buffers totaling 34,553 acres and conduct habitat-sensitive fuel reduction and open space management.

The state of Wisconsin, with funding from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, used dredged material to create endangered Piping Plover habitat in the St. Louis River Estuary.  This project successfully established breeding habitat, removed dangerous shoaling sites near the Duluth-Superior Harbor, and increased bird-watching opportunities.