NOAA Fisheries is pleased to announce $8 million in recommended funding for 11 shovel-ready coastal resiliency projects in various sites across the country. These awards are part of NOAA's continued commitment to build resilient coastal ecosystems, communities, and economies.
"Americans who live on the coast face enormous risks when Mother Nature strikes; however, it is natural infrastructure--wetlands, marshes, floodplains, and coral reefs--that often serve as our best defense. The selected projects will restore our natural barriers and help keep people, communities, and businesses safe," said Eileen Sobeck, assistant NOAA administrator for Fisheries.
Six projects aim to restore critical wetlands, marshes, and floodplains in Massachusetts, California, Washington, and Hawaii, which increase resiliency and offer flood protection for homes and businesses:
Two projects focus on coral reef restoration efforts in Florida and in Hawaii to help sustain many economically-important fisheries and natural barriers to storm surge:
Three projects focus on dam removals in Massachusetts and Maryland to remove unnecessary or unsafe structures and restore critical fish passage:
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These projects will be funded through Coastal Ecosystem Resiliency Grants, administered by NOAA Fisheries, which is dedicated to the development of healthy and sustainable coastal ecosystems through habitat restoration actions. To learn more about the projects, visit: http://www.habitat.noaa.gov/funding/coastalresiliency.html .
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