December 6, 2024 — Today, NOAA Fisheries is announcing the availability of up to $100 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. Through this funding opportunity, NOAA will continue supporting habitat restoration approaches that enhance the resilience of coastal and Great Lakes communities — including tribes — against climate hazards.

Dedicated funding is available for U.S. tribes, Alaska Native corporations and tribal-affiliated organizations. This funding — up to 15% of the $100 million available — is the result of direct feedback from tribes, and demonstrates NOAA’s commitment to ensuring communities and tribes are integral to decision-making that affects their environment and wellbeing.

“Under the Biden-Harris Administration, the Department of Commerce has delivered historic amounts of funding for habitat restoration and coastal resilience that will help strengthen the economies of coastal communities across America,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “These investments have been transformative and will continue to support Tribes and communities on the front lines of the climate crisis, sustain our nation’s fisheries and protect ecosystems from the impacts of climate change for years to come.”

Applications are due by April 16, 2025. For more information, visit the Transformational Habitat Restoration and Coastal Resilience Grants website.

NOAA Fisheries 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. Restoration activities such as enhancing coastal wetlands and rebuilding coral reefs can strengthen both ecosystem and community resilience.

NOAA Fisheries will also prioritize projects — ranging from planning and assessments, engineering design project monitoring and capacity building — that demonstrate a broad base of stakeholder and community support. NOAA encourages projects developed with inclusive practices that incorporate meaningful strategies to engage a diverse range of community groups, including tribes and underserved communities.

“Investments in healthy coastal and Great Lakes habitats benefit fish and communities,” said Janet Coit, assistant administrator for NOAA Fisheries. “Through funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, NOAA is committed to working with partners, including tribes and underserved communities, to realize the environmental, cultural and economic benefits of habitat restoration.”

NOAA’s habitat restoration work

NOAA’s Community-based Habitat Restoration Program provides technical and financial assistance to partners across the country to develop high-quality habitat restoration projects that support our nation’s fisheries. Since its start in 1996, the Program has helped implement more than 2,200 coastal habitat restoration projects — restoring more than 94,000 acres of habitat for fish and opening more than 4,400 stream miles for fish passage.

NOAA’s habitat restoration experts also provide technical assistance and oversight to design and implement high-impact projects, and work closely in the field with our tribal, state, local and non-profit partners.

Read the full story at NOAA Fisheries