The Coastal States Organization represents the nation’s Coastal States, Territories, and Commonwealths on ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resource issues.

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Olowalu Reef in West Maui and support resilient coral reefs that can better survive future climate conditions. (Image credit: Adobe)

NOAA is recommending nearly $220 million in funding for 32 transformational habitat restoration and coastal resilience projects this year, as well as an additional $66 million in funding in future years. The projects are funded under the Biden-Harris Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act. This is a historic investment in strengthening the climate resilience of our nation’s coastal ecosystems and communities.

Many projects are advancing efforts that have decades of financial and technical support from NOAA and partners. Some projects will use innovative methods to restore habitat and will promote the sharing of best practices and new approaches to build capacity for restoration work. Other projects will restore habitats in urban areas and provide benefits to tribes and historically underserved communities that live close by. Projects will help protect coastal ecosystems and communities from the effects of climate change, such as increased flooding, rising sea levels, and larger, less predictable storms. Degraded habitat is one of the largest obstacles to recovering threatened and endangered species. Efforts will make significant progress to recover these species by restoring the habitats they depend on for food, protection, spawning, and rearing.

Read more about specific projects here.

New Hazard Mitigation Plan Approved to Bolster USVI’s Resilience Against Natural Disasters

Governor Albert Bryan Jr. has approved the 2024 USVI Territorial Hazard Mitigation and Resilience Plan, which aims to mitigate the impacts of natural disasters on residents, property owners, government agencies, and commercial enterprises. In compliance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s mandate, which requires states and territories to update their Hazard Mitigation Plan every five years, the 2024 USVI plan presents a series of strategies for the territory to reduce and recover from natural hazards. The plan, developed by a team from the University of the Virgin Islands, also outlines ways to adapt to and recover from new types of hazards linked to climate change. The devastating impact of Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017, underscored the need for a robust mitigation and resilience strategy, said Government House. “With this Hazard Mitigation and Resilience plan in place, the territory is able to build a resilient infrastructure that can withstand the impacts of whatever may come our way,” Governor Bryan said. Read more here.

Historic Vessels Join Delaware’s Artificial Reef System

Delaware has added two historic vessels to its renowned artificial reef system, enhancing marine habitat for angling and diving enthusiasts. On Monday, the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) sank a World War II-era tugboat and a retired Baltimore fireboat onto Reef Site 11, also known as the Redbird Reef. The two vessels [...] were submerged to create new marine habitats at depths of 75 and 80 feet respectively. DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin emphasized the dual benefits of the project. “Our giving these boats a continued existence as reef deployments cultivating marine life while providing recreational fishing and diving opportunities also pays tribute to what they once were, when they served our country’s maritime and public safety needs,” he said Delaware’s artificial reef program boasts an impressive array of sunken ships, including the destroyer ex-USS Arthur W. Radford, the longest ship reefed on the Atlantic Coast. Read more here.

Baby Bull Sharks are Thriving in Warming Waters off the Coast of Texas and Alabama

As the planet warms, coastal ocean temperatures are rising. In the Gulf of Mexico, water temperatures have risen more than 3 degrees Fahrenheit (more than 1.5 degrees Celsius) due to climate change. Higher temperatures increase food requirements and stress levels, while making fish more susceptible to disease and reducing the survival of their young. A variety of fish populations in the Gulf of Mexico, including mullet and flounder, have declined as warmer conditions affected their spawning. At the same time, the waters used by baby bull sharks have expanded in part due to this warming, creating a dynamic habitat. In coastal Alabama, [...] the relative abundance of baby bull sharks has increased fivefold over the past 20 years. Slight increases in temperature over that time provided the best explanation for this population increase. A similar trend was observed in coastal Texas from Sabine Lake to Matagorda Bay, where warming estuaries supported increased abundances of baby bull sharks up to eightfold over the past 40 years. Warmer waters allowed baby bull sharks to remain in their natal estuaries longer during their first year before overwintering in the Gulf of Mexico, increasing their survival to the next life stage. Read more here.

Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana Introduces New Coastal Leadership Program

The Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana (CRCL) has introduced a coastal leadership and education program intended to empower residents to become more effective advocates for coastal restoration. The Coastal Leadership Institute was developed in response to demand from CRCL supporters who wanted to get more involved after taking part in volunteer events and other activities. “Addressing Louisiana’s coastal crisis will take efforts from industry, communities, government and concerned residents from across the state,” said Ethan Melancon, advocacy director at the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana. “That is why CRCL is excited to announce the launch of the Coastal Leadership Institute, a professional development program to equip Louisiana residents with the expertise and skills to advocate for and understand the coast’s ecological relationship with culture, the economy and our politics. Read more here.

Wisconsin Invests $1.3 Million in Coastal Grants to Enhance Great Lakes Communities

The Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) Wisconsin Coastal Management Program (WCMP) is donating nearly $1.3 million in grants to 31 communities to support quality of life, foster economic development and protect and improve Great Lakes resources. “There’s no overstating the importance of our Great Lakes and how these vital natural resources have shaped the culture and economy of our coastal communities and our state’s history,” said Gov. Evers. “Wisconsin’s roughly 800 miles of Great Lakes shoreline across Lake Michigan and Lake Superior provide folks with drinking water, commerce, and recreational opportunities that bring millions of visitors and future residents from far and wide. These investments will go a long way toward helping ensure we protect our shoreline communities, address the unique challenges we face, and promote long-term growth and success.” The next Request for Proposals will be available in August 2024, with an application deadline of early November 2024. Read more here.

Governor Hochul Announces Opening of Great Lakes 360, a New Living Museum on the Aquarium of Niagara's Expanding Campus

New York governor Kathy Hochul today announced the opening of the Great Lakes 360 living museum on the newly expanded campus of the Aquarium of Niagara in Niagara Falls State Park. The project [...] features notable wildlife of the Niagara River and larger Great Lakes ecosystem. The 16 new interactive exhibits feature turtles, amphibians, insects, and many species of fish, representing the diverse ecosystems of the Great Lakes. The completed project has increased the number of living exhibits at the aquarium by 40 percent. There are 9 new full-time equivalent positions added to the aquarium staff for Great Lakes 360. It is designed to attract new visitors and development to the city’s downtown, create more year-round attractions, and help reconnect the people of Niagara Falls to the waterfront that defines the city’s identity. This announcement further supports the Governor's “Get Offline, Get Outside" initiative, which was launched earlier this month to promote physical and mental health by helping New York’s kids and families to put down their phones and computers, take a break from social media, and enjoy recreation and outdoor social gatherings. Read more here.

Oregon Coast Visitors Association Funds Sustainable Story-Telling

The Oregon Coast Visitors Association (OCVA)’s annual Strategic Investment Fund (SIF) supports coastal tourism partners by responding to destination development or management projects in critical moments of need to help the long-term resiliency of tourism on the coast. 2023 funds were focused on Sustainable Storytelling on the Oregon Coast. According to a 2022 report by Expedia Travel Group, 90 percent of consumers look for sustainable options when traveling. OCVA wanted to help those consumers find coastal businesses prioritizing sustainability [...] by developing marketing content. Organizations all along the coast (businesses and Tribes) were invited to apply, and a total of six recipients took on projects with the funding. Funding was used to create promotional videos, develop photo and social media content, and support for blogs that tell the story of sustainable options along the coast. The organizations included: the Overleaf Lodge and Spa and Fireside Motel in Yachats, OR, South Coast Tours, Shifting Tides, WildSpring Guest Habitat, The Itty Bitty Inn, and Local Ocean. Read more here.

$10 Million NOAA Grant for Summit-to-Sea Project to Protect Maui Reef

 A nearly $10 million-dollar grant has been recommended for funding by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of Habitat Conservation, through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act. Mauka to makai, ridge to reef, summit to the sea, [...] are holistic approaches to addressing ecological issues from mountain forests down to coastal coral reef ecosystems. The Transformational Habitat Restoration and Coastal Resilience Grant will be used to support a comprehensive approach to restoring and protecting West Maui reefs, particularly the 1,000-acre leeward Pāpalaua Beach Park to Olowalu reef. It is considered globally significant and plays a vital role in coastal resilience, in reducing shoreline wave energy, and moderating coastal flooding. The DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) will lead the three-year grant, working in collaboration with the Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) and a half dozen conservation organizations to carry out an entire suite of actions. Read more here. 

[NEW] FEMA Announces FY23 BRIC Awardees

FEMA announced nearly $1 billion in awards for 656 projects for the FY23 Building Resilience Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant cycle. $587 million is going towards Justice40 Initiative communities, where 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments go to disadvantaged communities. $127 million is going towards Community Disaster Resilience Zones. Read more here.  

[NEW] Center for Behavior and Climate Change Hosts Coastal Adaptation Webinar

The Center for Behavior and Climate Change (CBC) is hosting a webinar titled “Be a Better Coastal Adaptation Practitioner with Behavior Change” on September 19, 2024 at 1pm ET. The webinar will cover motivating people to respond to adaptation messages and reduce their risk by incorporating behavioral tools into your coastal adaptation efforts. Five evidence-based techniques (social norms, efficacy, legacy motivation, nudge, and framing to reach different audiences) drawn from the latest behavioral science will be shared. The webinar is hosted by Open Communications for the Ocean (OCTO). Register here. 

[NEW] NOAA Announces the NOAA Regional and State Report on the U.S. Marine Economy

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced the release of the “NOAA Regional and State Report on the U.S. Marine Economy” annual report. This report examines the critically important economic contributions of the oceans and Great Lakes to the marine economy of the United States at the state, territory, and regional levels. This report includes territories data for the first time, since these data were newly added earlier this year. The economic data in this report are derived from the Economics: National Ocean Watch (ENOW) data set found on NOAA’s Digital Coast. Learn more about the U.S. marine economy and the ENOW data set, and browse available applications, here.

[NEW] GLOS: Input Requested on Data Gaps in the Great Lakes

The Great Lakes Observing System (GLOS) is seeking ideas to help shape and prioritize Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) programming. They are asking for help identifying the major data gaps, data access and sharing challenges, and continuous or emerging needs for improved information that can help in managing major Great Lakes issues. The FY2024 BIL proposal is specifically calling for 1) improvements and enhancements to the observing system and 2) expanded sharing and integration of Federal and non-Federal data to inform pressing regional coastal management challenges. They are requesting help identifying infrastructure upgrades to existing systems, and/or new-to-GLOS products and partners to help address pressing Great Lakes management needs. Please reply no later than Monday, August 5, 2024. Access the request here.

[NEW] Upcoming Deadline to Request Community Change Grants Program (CCGP) Technical Assistance

To provide eligible applicants with the most effective technical assistance (TA) possible, and in light of the of the fast-approaching November 21, 2024 Community Change Grants Program (CCGP) application deadline, EnDyna, EPA’s TA contractor, will stop accepting new requests for TA after Friday, August 16, 2024. Eligible entities that are interested in receiving TA for CCGP application preparation must submit a complete TA intake form here.

[NEW] U.S. Committee on the Marine Transportation System is Seeking Input on Resilience Challenges for Ports

The U.S. Committee on the Marine Transportation System CMTS) seeks information to identify what types of planning guidance, documents, datasets, and Federal funding opportunities are currently being utilized in planning for long-term environmental change in U.S. Ports; and to identify barriers to action. The information received from this RFI will be analyzed to assess whether the needs for this type of planning are being met and identify where improvements could be made. Information is requested from anyone who works in or adjacent to climate resilience planning and execution in ports (public and private). Interested persons and organizations are invited to submit comments on or before Thursday, August 29, 2024. Find the RFI here.

[NEW] FEMA Solicits Feedback on Updating the National Flood Insurance Program’s Community Rating System Mitigation Incentive Program

FEMA solicited feedback on updating the National Flood Insurance Program’s Community Rating System mitigation incentive program. The CRS offers premium discounts for NFIP policyholders in communities that implement eligible flood hazard mitigation practices. Public meetings will be held in late August. Comments may be submitted via Regulations.gov until Monday, September 9, 2024. 

Biden-Harris Administration Invests $120 Million to Help Tribes Build Climate Resilience

The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Branch of Tribal Climate Resilience (TCR) announced the 2024 Annual Awards Program request for proposals (RFP), which is open starting on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, to Federally-recognized Tribes and Tribal organizations as defined in 25 U.S.C. § 5304(l) (other entities may participate as sub-grantees). This program will provide approximately $120 million (M) in funding in FY24 support for Tribal climate resiliency. Tribes and Tribal organizations will be able to apply for grants in the planning and implementation categories, which encompasses a range of activities affecting every Tribe, such as climate adaptation planning, drought measures, wildland fire mitigation, community-driven relocation, managed retreat, protect-in-place efforts, and ocean and coastal management. The BIA will provide technical assistance to support Tribes and Tribal organizations in applying for these funds, including an informational webinar, a grant writing webinar and virtual office hours to help answer questions.  Proposals should be submitted via the website linked on the Annual Awards Program Solicitation page. All 2024 award applications must be submitted online by Friday, October 18, 2024. Read more here.

EPA Launches EJSCREEN 2.3, The Community Environmental Justice Mapping Tool & Trainings

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has completed its annual update to EJScreen, the Agency's publicly available environmental justice (EJ) screening and mapping tool. EJScreen 2.3 makes important improvements to better meet the needs of users, including a redesigned and enhanced report, a new environmental indicator with corresponding indexes, and refreshed demographic and environmental data. The main purpose of these annual EJScreen updates is to incorporate the newest available demographic and environmental datasets. It will also features new map layers on extreme heat, modeled drinking water service areas, private drinking water wells, and EPA environmental justice grants. EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights will hold multiple trainings and office hours to help users with the update.

The Chisholm Legacy Project Launches its Black Liberation and Just Transition Certification Program

The Chisolm Legacy Project is excited to announce the launch of its Black Liberation and Just Transition Certification Program. This transformative initiative prepares participants to lead climate justice efforts using the Just Transition framework, which guides us in moving from an extractive economy based on greed to a regenerative economy based on deep democracy, sustainability, and solidarity. The certificate program ensures that Black communities have access to resources, information, and organizations that support self-determination and Black Liberation. This program offers a justice-based foundation in community-based participatory research, governance, policy, practice, strategic communications, and advocacy strategy. Upon completion, participants will be equipped with the knowledge, skills, and tools to serve as agents of change and stewards of justice across various levels. Apply here.