Coastal Resilience Projects Receive Federal Grant Support

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), joined by partners Shell and TransRe, announced $30 million in new grants to support coastal resilience projects in 23 states and U.S. territories.

The grants will restore or expand natural features, such as coastal marshes and wetlands, dune and beach systems, oyster and coral reefs, mangroves, forests, coastal rivers, and barrier islands that help minimize the impacts of storms, rising sea levels and other extreme events on nearby communities and habitats. The 44 grants will generate $60 million in matching contributions for a total conservation impact of $90 million.

Congress provided funding for Title IX of the National Oceans and Coastal Security Act, allowing grants to be awarded through a partnership between NFWF, NOAA, Shell and TransRe. These grants were then awarded through the National Coastal Resilience Fund (NCRF).

NFWF, in partnership with NOAA, launched the NCRF in 2018 to support on-the-ground projects that engage communities and reduce their vulnerability to growing risks from coastal storms, sea-level rise, flooding, erosion, and extreme weather through strengthening natural ecosystems that also benefit fish and wildlife.

A complete list of the 2019 grants made through the National Coastal Resilience Fund is available here. A short video about the National Coastal Resilience Fund can be viewed here.