(PORTSMOUTH, VA) -- Kinder Morgan Elizabeth
River Terminals LLC and the Virginia Zoo have
received the Elizabeth River Projects
River Stars Model Level designation
for large wetland restorations among other environmental
achievements. The Model Level is the highest
level that can be achieved in this program.
The company or organization that has earned
this designation has demonstrated exceptional
accomplishments in pollution prevention and
wildlife habitat and is recognized as a community
leader in environmental stewardship.
Kinder Morgan Elizabeth River Terminals recently
hosted the largest voluntary wetland on the
Elizabeth River, at nearly 7 acres. The Virginia
Zoo has also completed a model wetland restoration,
while both have achieved strong pollution prevention
and community outreach results.
The Elizabeth River Terminal (ERT) is a dry
bulk terminal with 12 warehouses on 110 acres
(40 of which is undeveloped) of the southern
branch of the Elizabeth River at Money Point.
At this location a variety of materials, including
fertilizer, ores, minerals, feeds, and grains,
are transported by ship, rail and trucks.
Most notably, ERT partnered with the Elizabeth
River Project for wetland and forested shoreline
restoration completed in October 2009, totaling
6.8 acres (total project cost $1.3 million).
The project consists of restoring approximately
3.4 acres of tidal wetlands and 3.4 acres of
forested shoreline (buffer). Already, fiddler
crabs can be seen visiting the new wetland by
the thousands, along with a variety of fish
and wading birds. Wetlands are one of the most
productive ecosystems in the world, comparable
to rain forests, but the Elizabeth River has
lost 50 percent of its tidal wetlands since
the 1940s. Projects like these are used
to restore critical wildlife habitat, filter
pollution and control erosion.
We are very proud of our community involvement
and with the results of the project, says
Phil Stedfast, operations manager at the Kinder
Morgan Elizabeth River Terminals. We look
forward to more improvements to the wildlife
area and future projects to benefit our environment
and the river.
We were asked why we wanted to participate
in this endeavor in an earlier interview and
our response was not only do we work here, but
we live here. Why would we not want to participate?
The Virginia Zoo is located on a 55-acre site
on the Lafayette River. Its mission is to increase
understanding of the worlds flora and
fauna and to add to the growing body of knowledge
about it, to display animals respectfully in
a way that encourages their natural behavior,
to conserve animals and their habitats, and
to offer opportunities for learning and enjoyment
to the public. The Zoo strives to achieve this
mission through education, conservation, research
and recreation.
As part of its education, outreach and mentoring
program, the Zoo has completed a voluntary wetland
restoration in October 2008 as well as green
roof, rain barrel and rain garden educational
exhibits that both filter polluted runoff and
promote environmental education. The Zoo restored
a 0.57 acre tidal wetland on the Elizabeth River
by removing rubble, regrading and then planting
9,000 native wetland grasses, trees and shrubs.
The wetland restoration also features an oyster
reef - an osprey platform, education signage,
as well as an overlook with special environmental
paving to allow rain to filter through.
As a River Star and educational facility,
we are in the unique position of being a resource
to the community, says Zoo Horticulturist
Mark Schneider. Restoring a wetland, providing
educational programs and installing eco friendly
gardens are a few of the ways we have reached
over 400,000 visitors with a positive environmental
message. It is important to the Zoo that we
are a leader in conservation. Becoming a Model
Level River Star demonstrates to the community
our continuing commitment to the environment.
It has given the Zoo the opportunity to partner
with many outstanding conservation organizations.
As a River Star we have had a positive
impact on our local environment, an important
component of the Virginia Zoos mission
in the region. The River Stars program was initiated
in 1997 and motivates industry, government and
other facilities in the Elizabeth River watershed
to pursue voluntary pollution prevention and
wildlife habitat goals.
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