Microsoft word - exelon-cwf biodiversity project 2009_mo'g

EXELON – OYSTER CREEK GENERATING STATION
WILDLIFE DIVERSITY PROJECT

Prepared by: Ben Wurst, Habitat Program Manager
Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ
February 25nd, 2009
Project Description:

In 2005, New Jersey was required to develop a Wildlife Action Plan (WAP) in order to qualify for federal funding. The purpose of the plan was to help conserve and protect future populations of our state's rare species of wildlife. The plan also provides better coordination between state and federal government agencies, its partners, and other groups, businesses, organizations that support wildlife conservation. The WAP contains information about New Jersey’s rare wildlife and their habitat, including distribution and abundance of species, locations of habitat types, research and survey efforts, conservation actions, and implementation of the plan. We believe Exelon – Oyster Creek Generating Station can follow the recommendations of the WAP by completing and following a wildlife management plan for its property that identifies where wildlife habitat can be created, restored, enhanced or protected. Since Exelon has recently received the Wildlife Habitat Council’s Wildlife at Work certification, the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ (CWF) seeks to assist Exelon to maintain this certification and implement the WAP. The Wildlife at Work program provides credibility and public recognition to programs that “actively manage wildlife habitat” on private property. Its purpose is to benefit both wildlife and people, including employees and the general public. CWF will provide Exelon with guidance to create opportunities for the creation, restoration, and enhancement of habitat for rare wildlife on the Oyster Creek property in Forked River, NJ. As Habitat Program Manager with CWF I work with the Endangered and Nongame Species Program, the Land Use Regulatory Program, the Division of Fish and Wildlife; and the Division of Parks and Forestry to identify suitable restoration projects, develop proposals, and oversee the implementation and monitoring of these projects. Rare wildlife can be defined as species of greatest conservation concern. Species of greatest conservation concern include endangered, threatened, and special concern species that are listed by the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife, Endangered and Nongame Species Program. We will concentrate on benefiting these rare species of wildlife by Keeping New Jersey’s Wildlife In Our Future P.O. Box 400 Trenton, NJ 08625-0400 609.292.1276 specifically targeting and enhancing their habitat requirements. For example, to benefit migratory songbirds, we may plant native fruit bearing shrubs, such as viburnum or bayberry that will provide food and cover to them. Project Objectives:
• Assist Exelon with the maintenance and implementation of a wildlife management plan for the Wildlife at Work certification • Determine suitable habitat restoration projects to help conserve and protect rare • Assist with the development of surveys and monitoring plans to determine Salary, benefits, and administrative costs
General and Administration (15% of total budget) TOTAL PROJECT BUDGET:
$4,111.25
Keeping New Jersey’s Wildlife In Our Future P.O. Box 400 Trenton, NJ 08625-0400 609.292.1276

Source: http://www.conservationregistry.org/assets/0000/1387/Exelon-CWF_Biodiversity_project_2009rev2.pdf