Wednesday August 16, 2023
NOAA —
Today, NOAA Fisheries is announcing the availability of up to $240 million in funding for transformational habitat restoration and coastal resilience projects as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act. Through this funding opportunity, NOAA will support habitat restoration approaches that enhance the resilience of coastal and Great Lakes communities — including tribes and underserved communities — against climate hazards. This announcement comes one day ahead of the one-year anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act, the largest climate investment in U.S. history.
“The projects selected by NOAA for this exciting funding opportunity will have a transformative impact in coastal and tribal communities nationwide,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “In turn, they will help sustain our nation’s fisheries, make significant strides in the recovery of threatened and endangered species, improve water quality and protect communities and ecosystems from the impacts of harmful climate change.”
NOAA will seek proposals for projects to restore marine, estuarine, coastal or Great Lakes ecosystems. Degraded habitat is one of the largest obstacles to rebuilding sustainable fisheries and recovering threatened and endangered species. Restoring coastal wetlands and removing outdated dams can improve coastal resilience — helping communities recover from and adapt to the impacts of extreme weather and climate change. This funding opportunity is aligned with actions outlined in the Biden-Harris Administration’s Ocean Climate Action Plan and principles of the America the Beautiful initiative.