July 17, 2017 — The following was released by NOAA:

NOAA announces approximately $13.8 million in recommended funding for 19 projects under our Coastal Resilience Grants Program. Competition was fierce – we received 167 proposals requesting more than $135 million in funding and committing $91 million of matching and in-kind support. We had 116 proposals under the Strengthening Coastal Communities category, of which we are recommending 8 for funding, and 51 under the Habitat Restoration category, of which we are recommending 11 for funding. 

These 19 projects will affect more than 500 coastal communities, bringing the total to well over 700 communities for the first three years of funding (2015-17).

Habitat Restoration projects will remove dams, enhance levees, restore channels, and promote natural barriers. They will also provide vital habitat for fish and protect communities from floods, both of which are essential to the nation’s economy.

Strengthening Coastal Communities projects will give decision-makers information to craft practical solutions to protect coastal infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and ports. 

Both categories of projects are expected to reduce the loss of lives and the costs of damages from weather, water, and climate events, which cause an average of approximately 650 deaths and $15 billion in damage per year in the United States.

See the full list of the 2017 projects.