Two new wetland conservation grants, totaling more than $50,000, through the Five Star Restoration program were announced today by Mississippi Power and its environmental stewardship partners.

Mississippi Power participates in the program as part of Southern Company’s partnership with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the National Association of Counties and the Wildlife Habitat Council. 

The partnership, since 2006, will help restore 33.54 wetland acres and 6,050 feet of riparian buffer across the four states in which the company’s retail business operates.

“Five Star Restoration is an essential part of Mississippi Power’s commitment to work with diverse partners to conserve our region’s natural resources,” said Cindy Duvall, company spokesperson. “The unique skills and dedication that our new grantees bring to Five Star Restoration will only serve to broaden the scope and effectiveness of the program.” 

“The Five Star Restoration program in the Southeast is an excellent example of building partnerships, empowering communities and restoring our natural resources,” said EPA Regional Administrator Gwen Keyes Fleming. “This program brings together students, conservation corps, other youth groups, citizen groups, corporations, landowners and government agencies to provide environmental education and training through projects that restore wetlands and streams.”

The following projects in Mississippi have been awarded Five Star Restoration grants for 2011:

Crosby Arboretum Swamp Forest Educational Exhibit
Recipient: The Crosby Arboretum Foundation
To restore 4.1 acres of a Small Stream Swamp Forest wetland in Picayune, Miss., for use as an exhibit and outdoor classroom to educate students and the public on the conservation needs and ecological values of this regional habitat type. Activities for this two-year project include providing public access to the exhibit and compatible recreational activities; conducting research and monitoring; propagating and planting species of concern; improving wildlife habitat; providing a primary filter to improve water quality and storage of off-site storm water; and supplying public education through interpretive trails, signage and guided tours. Partners include The Crosby Arboretum Foundation, Mississippi State University Extension Service, Crosby Arboretum, Mississippi State University Department of Landscape Architecture, Mississippi State University Department of Geosciences, Louisiana State University Department of Landscape Architecture, Mississippi Native Plant Society, Jones and Jones Landscape Architects of Seattle, Mississippi Master Gardeners, Mississippi 4-H Club and the Natural Resource Conservation Service. Grant amount: $38,870.

Old Fort Bayou Connection
Recipient: Land Trust for the Coastal Mississippi Plain
To restore 11.17 acres of coastal wetland and upland forest identified as the Hussey property on Old Fort Bayou in Ocean Springs, Miss. Project activities include cleaning the property of trash and debris; removing invasive species; replanting native species and building a half-mile foot path along an existing road bed. Partners include Land Trust for the Coastal Mississippi Plain, Boy Scout Troop 211, Hands On Mississippi, Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, Gulf Coast Heritage Trails Partnership and Coastal Preserves/Mississippi Department of Marine Resources. Grant amount: $11,750.

Five Star Restoration is one of three major environmental stewardship programs sponsored by Southern Company in partnership with NFWF. In addition, the partnership supports projects to conserve birds characteristic of the southern United States through Power of Flight and to restore the South’s longleaf pine ecosystem through Longleaf Legacy.

Mississippi Power, a Southern Company subsidiary, serves 188,000 customers in 23 Southeast Mississippi counties.

Media Contact: Cindy Duvall, 228.865.5543 or 1.800.821.6383
cwduvall@southernco.com