Great River Greening is pleased to announce it was recently awarded a $2,500 national grant from the Banrock Station Wetlands Conservation Program.  The program is a new initiative by Banrock Station Wines and the Conservation Fund to protect and restore sensitive wetlands across the nation. 

The grant will be used to further restoration efforts in the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) Louisville Swamp property located in Shakopee. The Refuge is a large corridor of land and water spread out along 34 miles of the Minnesota River containing 14,000 authorized acres. It is one of only four urban wildlife refuges in the nation. Great River Greening has been working within the 2,600 acre Louisville Swamp Unit of the Refuge on land adjacent to the wetland area, which is being restored to its original oak savanna landscape. Greening is helping remove exotic species to open the area up for reintroduction of native species.

Greening held one other volunteer restoration event in 2002 involving 213 volunteers and Greening’s staff has collectively spent over 750 hours on restoration in the Louisville Swamp Unit.  In partnership with the Refuge another volunteer restoration event is scheduled this fall on October 9^th for 200 volunteers.  Register now on the Greening website at www.greatrivergreening.org.

“A major part of Banrock Station’s success is built upon the relationship between good earth and fine wine, and we are pleased to award grants to support the passionate conservation groups that are working to protect wetlands in their own communities,” said Tony Sharlet, environmental scientist and wetlands manager for Banrock Station.

Banrock Station Wine and Wetland Centre, owned and operated by BRL Hardy Wine Company, is located on 4,200 acres in South Australia of which 3,600 acres are restored wetlands.  Building on success in Australia, Banrock Station joined forces with The Conservation Fund to design and implement a wetlands conservation program in the United States. 

The Conservation Fund, a national nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., acts to protect the nation’s legacy of land and water resources in partnership with other organizations, public agencies, foundations, corporations and individuals.  Since 1985, the Fund and its partners have protected more than 3.9 million acres of wildlife habitat, working landscapes, community “greenspace” and historic sites throughout the nation.   

For more information about Greening’s projects or for our fall volunteer event schedule, please visit our website. We would love to see you this fall!

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