Washington, D.C. (November 8, 2007) - Restore America's Estuaries president, Jeff Benoit, praised Congress today for passing the reauthorization of the Estuary Restoration Act within the Water Resources Development Act.

"We thank Congress for reauthorizing this critical program. Federal leadership is essential if we are going to succeed in restoring the health of America's estuaries and coastal habitats and protecting these critical areas from the impacts of climate change, such as increased sea-level rise and ocean acidification.

The Estuary Restoration Act will extend a program that pulls five federal agencies together into an Estuary Restoration interagency council to set habitat restoration protocol and partner with states, municipalities and non-profits to develop and support successful estuarine habitat restoration projects on all our coasts. The five federal agencies are the Army Corps of Engineers, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Natural Resource Conservation Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

General Talking Points on Reauthorized Estuary Restoration Act, 2007

• The Estuary Restoration Act (ERA), originally passed into law in 2000, has been reauthorized in the Water Resources Development Act, which Congress passed over the President's veto on November 7, 2007. The ERA authorizes $35 million annually for coastal and estuarine habitat restoration projects.
• ERA reauthorization extends the federal Estuary Restoration Interagency Council, thereby continuing their mission to review and approve restoration project proposals, develop monitoring protocols, seek advice and input from non-federal partners, and track progress on restoring estuarine habitat.
• The Interagency Councils consists of the Army Corps of Engineers, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
• The reauthorized ERA enables the Interagency council, with the Corps' approval, to delegate smaller habitat restoration projects to the Federal agency on the Council that is best suited to complete the project.
• Restoring coastal and estuary habitats will make them more resilient to the impacts of sea level rise associated with climate change; will protect coastal communities from flooding by creating and enhancing natural barriers to storm-fed tidal surges; and can increased carbon sequestered in salt marsh vegetation.
• Estuaries provide multiple benefits for the environment, coastal communities, and our economy. At least 75% of commercially and recreationally valuable fish species live a portion of their lives in estuaries and coastal wetlands. Numerous waterfowl – several of which are federally-listed as threatened or endangered – rely on our coastal habitats and river wetlands corridors.
• Estuary habitat restoration also benefits those who enjoy wildlife-focused recreation and provides enormous economic benefits to local communities through activities such as fishing, bird-watching and hunting.

For more information, contact Ann McElhatton, Communication Specialist with Restore America's Estuaries at (703) 524-0248.

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