So, the village decided to use the tools and expertise already at their disposal to perform (at their own expense) a task they wanted to see completed in their community.

What's the problem with that? Why did these people prefer to wait and have The Government to solve the problem for them by having other people work and pay for it?

There are times when one requires federal assistance, and I don't think this (freeing dolphins whose disposition to hang about and get trapped in ice will now be passed to another generation) was one of them.