LA Faculty Secure Federal Grant From The National Fish And Wildlife Foundation
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EmailDr. Wonmin Sohn and Dr. Jun-Hyun Kim secure over $800K in Federal Funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, as well as matching funds totaling roughly $1.14M
Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture, Dr. Wonmin Sohn (PI), and Professor of Landscape Architecture, Dr. Jun-Hyun Kim (co-PI), have secured a federal grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) to support their project, “Restoring Wetland and Terrestrial Habitat to Improve Green Spaces and Water Quality in Pierce Park (MI).” The project’s funding includes the NFWF grant totaling $815,736 as well as matching funds from the non-profit organization, the Pierce Park Nature Preserve (PPNP). The PPNP funds of $324,000 bring the total supporting funds to nearly $1.14M for the project, that will run from September 1, 2023, to December 31, 2026.
Photo Courtesy of Master of Environmental Design Student, Rachael Rye
Pierce Park, located in Flint, MI, features several streams, historic channels, ditches, drain tiles, and depressions. A former golf course, now grown wild, lies in a 100-year floodplain with expansive hydric and partially hydric soils and an undulating terrain, making it ideal for restoration. The project involves the development of 12 acres of wet meadow and oxbow wetlands, 7 culvert improvements, 6 acres of reforestation buffer, and 9 acres of spoil and prairie restoration, along a mile of Gilkey Creek. By conducting thorough water and soil monitoring during the establishment of wetlands, the study will reveal crucial insights into nutrient dynamics within wetland ecosystems, as well as how these ecosystems vary in their capacity to regulate water quantity and quality across different seasons and in response to extreme storm events. This data is essential for understanding and optimizing the wetlands' role in ecological balance and sustainability.
“I am deeply honored to receive this award, which will strengthen our efforts to enhance Flint communities' resilience to escalating fluvial flooding risks. This initiative becomes increasingly vital with the anticipated reduction in federally protected wetlands following the Supreme Court's recent decision to limit the definition of "Waters of the United States," said Dr. Sohn.
Photo Courtesy of Master of Environmental Design Student, Rachael Rye
The project will enrich the biodiversity of the area, offer new prospects for cultural preservation and education, increase accessibility to open green space, and provide enhanced health benefits for underserved communities living in Flint including improved downstream water quality. It will also help to reduce flooding in the area, which will be of particular benefit to residents living within the 100-year floodplain along Gilkey Creek, reducing their risk of property damage.
The project team will collaborate with diverse local government agencies, non-profits, and community stakeholder groups. Leaders from Natural Community Services (NCS) and Landscape Architects and Planners Inc. (LAP) will be responsible for conducting site surveys, managing engineering processes, and overseeing construction activities. Together with PPNP, the team will also prioritize organizing community workshops that solicit community feedback on wetland design and operation while promoting environmental stewardship.
“This project will not only offer substantial health benefits to the underserved communities near the park but also actively engage them in environmental stewardship, embodying the essence of true environmental justice,” said Dr. Kim.
