(PORTSMOUTH, VA) -- Kinder Morgan Elizabeth River Terminals LLC and the Virginia Zoo have received the Elizabeth River Project’s 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 1940’s. 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 world’s 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 Zoo’s 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.