On the 18th July, the Biden-Harris Administration announced nearly $220 million for transformational habitat restoration and coastal resilience projects.
Investing in America
The Department of Commerce’s NOAA is recommending nearly $220 million, plus an additional $66 million in future funding, for 32 habitat restoration and coastal resilience projects under President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. These funds, from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act, will enhance habitat work in priority watersheds and support innovative urban ecosystem restoration benefiting underserved communities.
NOAA prioritised projects with broad partner and community support, inclusive practices, and strategies to engage Tribal Nations and underserved communities. Funding will go to partners in multiple US states and territories – see the full list here.
Construction to restore tidal marsh habitat in American Canyon, California, on September 29, 2009. (Image credit: NOAA)
Janet Coit, assistant administrator for NOAA Fisheries said “These transformational projects will restore healthy coastal ecosystems across the country. We’re proud to support projects that span a broad range of habitats and restoration techniques, from reconnecting rivers to their historic floodplains, to out planting corals to rebuild reefs to restoring salt marshes that will protect coasts from erosion and sea level rise.”
This initiative is part of the Transformational Habitat Restoration and Coastal Resilience funding opportunity and builds on $285 million awarded in 2023 for 38 projects. It supports President Biden’s ‘America the Beautiful Initiative’, aiming to conserve, connect, and restore 30 percent of lands, waters, and wildlife by 2030. The program further aligns with the Justice40 Initiative, which ensures 40 percent of benefits from federal investments reach disadvantaged communities.