Mequon Eagle Nesting Site Could Get Valuable Federal Grant

But the sponsoring southeastern Wisconsin conservation organization - - and the eagles - - need your help, as the Ozaukee Washington Land Trust explains in this email alert:

"We just received word that our grant for the acquisition of the Donges Bay Gorge is being recommended for funding by the Federal Coastal Management staff.

"However, it’s not a done deal. This grant is part of the federal appropriations process. We will need Senator Herb Kohl's (and Reps. James Sensenbrenner and David Obey’s) help in getting this funded.

"Without the federal share we can not make this happen.

"The Donges Bay Gorge is the site in Mequon where a pair of bald eagles have successfully produced an offspring. This is the first hatching of an eagle chick in Southeastern Wisconsin in over 100 years.

"The Donges Bay Gorge is listed as one of the projects eligible for funding in FY 2008 under the Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program.

"We need Senator Kohl to make sure the Donges Bay Gorge project gets moved up toward the top of the project list, and that there is an appropriate amount of money available to fund the project. In the past, some projects get moved up in the processes and it makes their approval more likely."

"Please call Senator Kohl’s office (talk to Rebecca Young or his Chief of Staff Joanne Anton). We need to do this ASAP! The Appropriation Committees are meeting.

"Also, it would help to call Rep. Sensenbrenner (the local Congressman) and Rep. Obey (the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee).

"Any help here would be greatly appreciated. Here are phone numbers:

Sen. Kohl: Milwaukee Office: (414) 297-4451

Rep. Sensenbrenner: District office: (262) 784-1111

Rep. Obey: District Office: (715) 842-5606

Thanks,

Shawn Graff
Executive Director
Ozaukee Washington Land Trust, Inc.
PO Box 917
West Bend, WI 53095