How to Partner with ACF to Make a Difference
How to Partner with ACF to Make a Difference
The Aquatic Connectivity Framework (ACF) aims to transform our nation’s rivers, streams, and wetlands. By reconnecting fragmented aquatic ecosystems and revitalizing habitats for fish and wildlife, ACF creates healthier watersheds and more resilient communities. But this is not a task we can accomplish alone. Whether you’re part of an organization, a private landowner, or a planner, your involvement is the key to unlocking the full potential of this transformative effort. This guide offers a roadmap to joining forces with ACF and making a lasting impact for future generations.
Why Partner with the ACF?
Aquatic connectivity is more than a technical term – it’s a lifeline for our rivers and all who depend on them. Healthy waterways support clean drinking water, abundant wildlife, and thriving fisheries. Yet, all too often, barriers like aging dams, inadequate culverts, and habitat degradation sever these lifelines, leaving ecosystems and communities vulnerable.
Partnering with ACF means becoming part of a nationwide effort to restore these critical connections. As a partner, you gain access to:
- Technical Expertise: Collaborate with skilled NRCS conservationists and biologists who bring innovative solutions to complex challenges.
- Funding Opportunities: Tap into federal programs and grants that help turn your conservation ideas into reality.
- A Supportive Network: Join a growing community of landowners, organizations, and planners united by a shared vision for healthier watersheds.
From restoring fish passages to reforesting riparian buffers, ACF provides the tools, resources, and expertise to achieve impactful and lasting results.
How Organizations Can Get Involved
Organizations are vital allies in amplifying the reach and success of ACF initiatives. Whether you represent a nonprofit, a community group, or a private company, your resources and expertise can drive meaningful change. Here’s how your organization can contribute:
- Collaborate on Projects: Partner with ACF to address pressing local challenges, such as replacing undersized culverts, restoring riparian buffers, or removing obsolete dams. Each project offers an opportunity to contribute your unique knowledge and strengths.
- Example: A local nonprofit teamed up with ACF to replace outdated culverts, enabling natural water flow and reopening critical fish habitats.
- Educate and Advocate: Building momentum requires public awareness. Host events, launch social media campaigns, or create educational materials highlighting the importance of aquatic connectivity and conservation.
- Example: A community organization held a “Stream Clean-Up Day” that included educational talks on the benefits of reconnecting aquatic ecosystems.
- Leverage Funding Opportunities: Apply for grants like the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) to fund large-scale efforts that benefit your community and the environment.
Organizations partnering with ACF expand their conservation efforts and inspire a broader culture of environmental stewardship. To discuss collaborative opportunities, contact josselyn.lucas@landscapepartnership.org.
How Landowners Can Get Involved
Private landowners hold the power to make a profound difference in aquatic conservation. Whether your land includes a stream, a wetland, or a riverbank, your actions can help reconnect vital ecosystems. Here’s how you can partner with ACF:
- Implement Conservation Practices: Work with NRCS to customize practices that meet your property’s unique needs. Popular options include:
- Restoring riparian buffers to filter runoff and enhance water quality.
- Stabilizing streambanks to prevent erosion and protect habitats.
- Installing fish-friendly structures to reconnect aquatic corridors.
- Utilize Cost-Share Programs: Programs like the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) offer financial assistance and expert guidance, making restoration projects more feasible for landowners.
- Be a Steward of Your Land: Adopt sustainable management practices that support long-term ecosystem health. For instance, rotational grazing can protect streambanks while maintaining livestock productivity.
- Example: A Southeastern farmer partnered with NRCS to restore a wetland, reducing flooding risks and providing a haven for migratory birds.
Landowners can enhance their property’s ecological and economic value by working with ACF while contributing to regional conservation goals.
How Planners Can Get Involved
Planners play a critical role in turning conservation goals into actionable strategies. Integrating aquatic connectivity into regional plans allows you to create lasting solutions that benefit people and the environment. Here’s how planners can engage with ACF:
- Incorporate Connectivity Goals: Advocate for aquatic connectivity in comprehensive plans, zoning policies, and infrastructure designs. By prioritizing ecosystem health, planners help communities adapt to environmental challenges.
- Use the Aquatic Resource Compass: This powerful tool equips planners with data, guidance, and funding opportunities to identify and execute connectivity projects that align with community needs.
- Foster Collaborative Solutions: Bring together diverse stakeholders – municipalities, landowners, conservation groups – to craft cohesive strategies that address watershed-level challenges.
- Example: A county planner used the Aquatic Resource Compass to coordinate a multi-community effort to replace aging culverts, restoring connectivity across dozens of miles of streams.
Planners help shape resilient, sustainable futures for their communities by incorporating aquatic connectivity into their work.
Success Stories: Inspiration from the Field
Real-world successes illustrate the power of partnerships to achieve remarkable outcomes. Here are just a few examples:
- Landowner-Led Change: A farmer in the Southeast restored a degraded wetland on their property with help from NRCS, enhancing flood resilience and creating a sanctuary for migratory birds.
- Collaborative Action: An environmental NGO worked with ACF to remove a low-head dam, reopening 20 miles of habitat for migratory fish.
- Planner’s Vision: A county planner leveraged ACF tools and funding to replace failing infrastructure, restoring connectivity across multiple watersheds and benefiting local communities.
These stories demonstrate how ACF partnerships deliver tangible benefits for ecosystems, economies, and quality of life.
Next Steps: Become a Partner Today
Your partnership with ACF can drive meaningful change. Here’s how to get started:
- Reach Out to NRCS: Contact your local NRCS office to explore programs and resources tailored to your needs.
- Explore the Aquatic Resource Compass: Visit [insert website link] for guidance on identifying opportunities and securing funding.
- Join the Movement: Partner with ACF to contribute your expertise, resources, or land to a nationwide effort to restore aquatic connectivity.
