Calling All Wetland Specialists - Seeking Information on Growing Season - Wetland ecologist Ralph Tiner of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is compiling observations on the start and finish of the growing season across the country. To participate, send observations to Ralph_Tiner@fws.gov. Put "Growing Season Observations for _______ (specify area)" in the email subject line. For each observation, list species, observed feature, observation date, general habitat (wetland or upland type), and site location (town, county, state).

The River Alliance of Wisconsin is partnering with the Valley Stewardship Network, the Sheboygan Master Gardeners, and the Friends of the Badfish Creek to launch a pilot project to monitor for Japanese knotweed and other invasive species that threaten the beauty of our rivers. We have two upcoming paddles and one workshop to train paddlers to detect invasives while on the water and to report their presence to the DNR.

Please call Laura MacFarland at the River Alliance of Wisconsin at 608-257-2424 x110 or mailto:llueders@wisconsinrivers.org if you are interested in attending.

Wisconsin Coastal Management Grant Program

Approximately $1,500,000 is available through the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program (WCMP) to enhance and restore coastal resources within the state's coastal zone - all counties adjacent to Lakes Superior and Michigan, with their 820 miles of shoreline.

2009-2010 WCMP Grants are available for coastal land acquisition, coastal wetland protection and habitat restoration, nonpoint source pollution control, coastal resource and community planning, Great Lakes education, public access and historic preservation. Applications are due November 3, 2008.

See the WCMP grant website for more information and to see the schedule of informational workshops relating to the grant application process.

Freshwater Future

Freshwater Future builds effective community-based citizen action to protect and restore the water quality of the Great Lakes basin. They work toward this goal by providing financial assistance, communications and networking assistance and technical assistance to citizens and grassroots watershed groups throughout the Great Lakes basin. Through these efforts they work with over 1,800 grassroots watershed groups and citizens to protect and restore the rivers, lakes and wetlands in their communities.

Freshwater Future has Requests for Proposals for the Spring and Fall 2008 funding cycles now available on their website. To view them and receive more information, see http://www.freshwaterfuture.org/requestforproposals.html.

Funding Opportunities for Local Monitoring Groups

A page of grant opportunities maintained by Wisconsin's Citizen-Based Water Monitoring Network: http://watermonitoring.uwex.edu/level2/funding.html

Philanthropy News Digest RFP Bulletin

A link to additional RFP's in the environmental field: http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/rfp/cat_environment.jhtml

Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin Besadny Grants

The C.D. Besadny Conservation Grant Program promotes the responsible stewardship of Wisconsin's natural resources at the local level by providing matching grants for small-scale, natural resource projects and programs. Grants awarded through this program range from $100 to $1,500. Grants must be matched 100% by recipient organizations either through cash or in-kind donations. Application deadline is January 15 of the year in which the grants are awarded.

See the grant website for more information