The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration on Monday is giving the city two grants to design and reconstruct natural habitat, including new planting along the stream bank and fish “shelves” made of piled rocks to support plants and fish.“The Black River is an important natural resource in Lorain, and serves as home to many species of fish, birds, and many other types of wildlife,” said U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, who announced the grants. “These funds will help ensure that the River is clean, healthy, and safe for our children and grandchildren to enjoy both now and in the future.”See the dozens of unique artificial fish habitat models, fish attractors and fish cover used at fishiding.com, the industry leader and only science based, man made and artificial fish habitat, proven to provide all fish with cover they prefer to prosper.

Lorain’s Utilities Department already has scored millions of dollars to remove buried metal and slag buried in the land between the steel mills and the Black River. This summer, Lorain hosted the first Black River Kayak-a-Thon to showcase the creation of fish habitat and a natural flood plain behind the mills.

The latest grants will include $1.08 million used for shoreline restoration along Monkey Island, which is designated Phase II of the cleanup efforts. Another grant of $350,000 will pay for planning of Phase III, which will be future habitat creation in a 7-acre area behind the mills and about 4.7 to five miles from the mouth of the river.By RICHARD PAYERCHIN