Bill DuncanAbout
Community Conservation Grants are open to government entities or non-profit organizations to develop conservation strategies for their communities.
Community Conservation grants promote urban wildlife habitat improvement, organizational partnerships for land stewardship, and natural landscape management training.
Eligible counties include those in the Lower Meramec Watershed (Jefferson, Franklin and St. Louis). Towns in those counties are also eligible if they have a population greater than 1,000 and are approved by the MDC Community Conservation Team.
The goals of the CCG program are:
- To provide support for terrestrial and aquatic habitat improvement in urban areas
- To coordinate efforts among similar organizations which share the common goal of improving urban habitats and supporting community conservation efforts
- To train partner organization staff in native habitat restoration and long-term management practices of sustaining natural landscapes
- To engage the public through conservation education and volunteer opportunities.
All projects must have a 15-year management plan.
Project Examples
Habitat restoration along Sunset Street. Other projects in this area include: riparian corridor re-establishment, native grass plantings, invasive species removal, glade/savannah restoration, rain garden establishment and maintenance of a naturalized streambank.
This grant funded the Open Space Council of St. Louis with their Operation Wild Lands volunteers working throughout the region on habitat improvement projects. Project locations include: West Tyson County Park, Castlewood State Park, Museum of Transportation (St. Louis County), The College School at LaBarque Creek, Laumeier Sculpture Park, Parkway Southwest Middle School, Kennerly Elementary School, Ozark Regional Land Trust Schultz Nature Preserve, and World Bird Sanctuary.