Credit: Matt Chasse

President Donald Trump’s administration is seeking to end nearly all of the climate research conducted by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA), one of the country’s premier climate science agencies, according to an internal budget document seen by Science. The document indicates the White House is ready to ask Congress to eliminate NOAA’s climate research centers and cut hundreds of federal and academic climate scientists who track and study human-driven global warming.

The proposed NOAA cuts—which could be altered before the administration sends its 2026 budget request to Congress in the coming weeks—would cut funding for the agency’s research arm, the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), to just over $171 million, a drop of $485 million. Any remaining research funding from previously authorized budgets would be moved to other programs. “At this funding level, OAR is eliminated as a line office,” the document states.

NOAA officials still have time to persuade OMB to alter the request, but NOAA sources said it is unlikely to substantially change. But this proposal is only the first stage of the budget process; Congress will have the final word in setting NOAA’s spending. While it’s appropriate to be alarmed at the scale of cuts proposed, there is a need for continued focus on building support in Congress for CZM programs and the broad need for coastal management.

At NOAA, the agency’s budget would be cut by $1.7 billion, the OMB memo said. The proposal also seeks to cut the National Ocean Service in half, with “no funding for Integrated Ocean Observing System Regional Observations, Competitive Research, Coastal Zone Management Grants, National Coastal Resilience Fund, or the National Estuarine Research Reserve System.” The requests would also close the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science.

Read more here.

The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) Coastal Program is excited to announce that four new grant projects have kicked off, mobilizing $85,886 in federal grant funding and $38,136 in non-federal match from grantees to enhance resilience of New Hampshire communities and natural resources in the face of increasing coastal flood risks. Selected for funding as part of the 2024 NHDES Coastal Resilience Grant funding opportunity, the projects reach several coastal communities to build local capacity and increase resilience of site-specific assets and coastal ecosystems. The 2024 CRG funding opportunity was available for projects that build capacity, advance planning, and develop designs to increase coastal resilience, with specific focus on community and/or habitat resilience in New Hampshire’s Coastal Zone communities which include Dover, Durham, Exeter, Greenland, Hampton, Hampton Falls, Madbury, New Castle, Newfields, Newington, Newmarket, North Hampton, Portsmouth, Rollinsford, Rye, Seabrook, and Stratham. The 2024 CRG funding opportunity marked the eighth time that the NHDES Coastal Program has offered competitive grant funds for coastal resilience projects. Since 2014, 29 projects have been funded throughout NH coastal communities totaling $1,155,643 in federal grant funds and $536,866 in match commitment from grantees. Read more here.

Massachusetts – Cape Cod Cranberry Bog Project Restoring Wetlands and Fish Passage for River Herring

Today, thousands of cranberry bogs lay abandoned in Southeastern Massachusetts. Ditches and dams built to control stream flows and other habitat alterations prevent the land from returning to healthy wetland and stream habitat. For nearly 20 years, NOAA and its partners have worked to restore former cranberry bogs to create biodiverse wetlands. These restored habitats allow migratory fish like river herring to reach their spawning grounds. This January, construction crews broke ground on a new project on Falmouth’s Upper Coonamessett River to restore a former commercial cranberry bog. NOAA’s Office of Habitat Conservation is funding this work with $1.7 million through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The project will remove seven barriers to fish passage and restore 4,000 linear feet of stream channel. Read more here.

The Foley City Council approved the first phase of the project to enhance the constructed stormwater wetlands in the Bon Secour River headwaters as a publicly accessible passive recreation area. Leslie Gahagan, Foley sustainability and natural resources director, said the first phase will include signage and work to protect the site and enhance the environment. “We’ll be looking at some fencing for security, as well as some wetland mats to do some water quality treatment on the pond that receives water from the agricultural areas from the west,” she said. The second phase, planned next year, will include roads and parking for the site before the reserve officially opens. Read more here.

First Kemp’s Ridley Nest Spotted on the Texas Coast

Kemp’s ridley sea turtles, the rarest and smallest sea turtles on the planet, have officially kicked off the nesting season in Texas with the first nests of the year spotted this week along the Gulf Coast. On Sunday, the first nest of the 2025 season was confirmed on Padre Island National Seashore. The female sea turtle was spotted near the 31-mile marker of the national seashore. She was already tagged, indicating she’s a returning nester. A second nesting event was documented the next day, at the southern end of the national seashore. These early nests mark the start of a critical season for the endangered species. More Kemp’s ridleys nest at Padre Island National Seashore than any other place in the U.S, according to the National Park Service. Per NPS staff, there were 340 turtle nests in the entire state of Texas in 2024. In 2023, only 174 nested within the boundaries of the national seashore. Read more here.

The sun shone overhead and a cool lake breeze drifted over the coastline in Michigan City, Indiana. Here, personnel from Indiana University’s Center for Underwater Science were preparing to celebrate the dedication of the Muskegon (Peerless) 1911, Indiana’s second official shipwreck nature preserve. Dr. Charles Beeker and Indiana Department of Natural Resources director Dan Bortner hosted a dedication ceremony for the submerged Indiana watercraft on the upper deck of the ship, telling the story of the Muskegon and honoring it as an underwater nature preserve. The Muskegon caught fire in October 1910 while docked at the Michigan City Harbor and was abandoned in 1911, according to IU’s Center for Underwater Science. “[T]he Muskegon is Indiana’s first shipwreck listed on the National Register of Historic Places,” Beeker said in a National Park Service press release. “This Dedication as an Indiana Shipwreck Nature Preserve will facilitate site enhancements and increased public access to one of our most significant shipwrecks.” Read more here.

Minnesota DNR Discovers Rare Spawning Brook Trout in Lake Superior

Acting on a tip, Duluth fisheries biologists launched their boat into Lake Superior last fall and motored to a hidden corner of the Minnesota shoreline. There, they dipped the boat’s electrofishing gear into the water, sending out a pulse just strong enough to stun a fish to the surface but not to kill or harm it. Then they saw it, floating in the water: spawning brook trout. “It’s incredible,” said Cory Goldsworthy, the Lake Superior fisheries supervisor for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. “It has never been documented outside of Isle Royale to have shore-spawning brook trout in Lake Superior.” Biologists and fishery managers have been trying to restore the lake’s brook trout — also called coaster trout — for decades. There had only been two known small populations of brook trout that lived all their days and spawned in the lake itself. Now that they’re here, it may be a sign that the once bountiful species is finally coming back. Read more here.

Hurricanes bring powerful waves and storm surges that can erode shorelines and threaten coastal communities. But a new study by USGS and partners details how Hawaii’s coral reefs acted as natural barriers during two successive tropical cyclones that impacted Hawai’i in 2018, reducing wave energy and protecting coastlines. To better understand how waves interact with coral reef structures, USGS and University of Western Australia scientists conducted the second largest hydrodynamic field experiment ever on a coral reef in 2018 along a 1,200-meter-wide reef transect off the south coast of Moloka‘i. By analyzing wave patterns created during Hurricane Hector (Category 3, August 7-11, 2018) and Hurricane Lane (Category 5, August 20-27, 2018) along the coral reef-lined south coast of Moloka’i, researchers found that while strong waves did create strong currents across the reefs, their impact was largely confined to the outer reef crest, with minimal wave energy reaching the shore. These findings underscore the importance of coral reefs in coastal resilience, particularly as climate change drives rising sea levels and more intense storms. Read more here.

Puffins are Returning to the Oregon Coast. Here’s How to Welcome Them Back

Tufted puffins are expected back at Haystack Rock in Cannon Beach, where a Welcome the Puffins celebration was held Sunday, April 13, drawing serious and casual birders alike. Tufted Puffins, one of several species of puffins, are known for the distinctive yellow tufts that grow from their heads. The species lives along the north Pacific coast, with breeding grounds primarily found off the coast of Alaska and British Columbia, according to the National Audubon Society. The birds are found less commonly on the Washington, Oregon and northern California coastlines. Haystack Rock is one of the tufted puffins’ regular roosts and has become the best place to see the birds, with easy access to the sea stack, especially at low tide. Tufted puffins have been disappearing from Oregon’s shores at an alarming rate, according to the Bird Alliance of Oregon, dropping from nearly 5,000 in 1998 to only 553 in 2021. Read more here.

The Great Lakes Watershed Field Course, hosted by Inland Seas Education Association, is a 4-day professional development experience for teachers from the Great Lakes region. It takes place August 5-8, 2025 in Suttons Bay, MI on the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan. Training includes watershed and environmental concepts, place-based education and environmental education pedagogy, and time for curriculum development. Educators will learn how to engage students in local environmental issues, investigate solutions, devise a plan, and take action during this course. Teachers are supported throughout the school year as they implement their watershed-based stewardship action projects. There is no cost for this experience, but space is limited to 30 participants. Application Deadline: Sunday, April 20, 2025. Learn more here.

FINAL REMINDER: Help Us Strengthen No Adverse Impact Resources

The Association of State Floodplain Managers and the Coastal States Organization want to hear from coastal and floodplain management practitioners about how we can better provide technical assistance to communities looking to implement higher standards for stewardship of floodplains. Please share this request out through your networks to local practitioners. If you would like to contribute, please complete the 5-minute questionnaire at this link – the deadline has been extended to the day April 18, 2025: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/J69LYR7. If you would like additional information or to be involved, please reach out to the project team at allie@floods.org.

NOAA Photo Contest: Coastal Management in Action

From balancing development with natural areas to protecting economic powerhouses, coastal management keeps our coasts thriving. For the ninth annual coastal management photo contest, we want to see your photos of coastal management in action. Show us your natural infrastructure projects, beautiful beaches you work to protect, working waterfronts, and more! Find inspiration from the list of nine categories. Submit photos to the ninth Coastal Management photo contest. Winners will be chosen by a panel of judges and will be featured on our social media during the month of May. Submit your photos by May 2, 2025. Learn more here.

2025 National Coastal Resilience Fund RFP Now Open

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), Occidental, and Shell is now soliciting Pre-Proposals for the 2025 National Coastal Resilience Fund. NFWF will award grants to create and/or restore natural systems in order to increase protection for communities from coastal hazards, such as storms, sea- and lake-level changes, inundation, and coastal erosion, while improving habitats for fish and wildlife species. NCRF program priorities include: nature-based solutions, community risk reduction benefits, fish and wildlife benefits, community impact and engagement, and transferability and sustainability. Pre-proposals are due May 6th. The Request for Proposals is available here.

Applications Now Being Accepted from Future Leaders for Empire State Fellows Program

Applications are now being accepted for the Empire State Fellows Program, a full-time, two-year leadership training program that prepares the next generation of talented professionals for careers as New York State policymakers. New Yorkers interested in the 2026-2028 class of this prestigious program should apply by the deadline of June 1, 2025. The incoming class of Empire State Fellows will serve from January 15, 2026, and receive an annual salary of $90,000, plus a generous benefits package. Apply here.

Manoomin Stewardship Guide- We All Live Together Now Available for 2025

The Michigan Wild Rice Initiative is a collaboration between the twelve federally recognized Anishinaabe nations that share geography with the state of Michigan and several Michigan state agencies. Since 2017 this group of managers and specialists has worked together to protect, preserve and restore Manoomin and its culture for the benefit of current and future generations. As part of this work, they released We all live together in a good way with Manoomin: Stewardship Guide in 2025. This document is different from similar documents because it includes ways of conveying important information through traditional stories and Anishinaabe-centered language. It prioritizes an Anishinaabe perspective because they are the original people to enjoy relationship with Manoomin. Learn more here.

Aquaculture Regulation in the Great Lakes

As one of the Great Lakes Aquaculture Collaborative (GLAC) 2.0 partners, the National Sea Grant Law Center completed a report on aquaculture laws, regulations, and policies for each of the Great Lakes states. The summary report of research findings will help enhance understanding of the legal framework governing aquaculture in the Great Lakes. Read the report here.

Student Writing Competition: Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal Law and Policy

The Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia Law School, together with New York Sea Grant, is pleased to announce a writing competition for law students interested in writing on legal and policy issues associated with marine carbon dioxide removal. The competition is being held in connection with a one-day symposium on the topic “Navigating Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal: From Science to Regulation” which will be co-hosted by the Sabin Center and New York Sea Grant in September 2025. The winning article will be published in a special issue of the Sea Grant Law & Policy Journal, an online, scholarly publication of the National Sea Grant Law Center that will accompany the symposium. The winning author will also be invited to attend the symposium in New York to present their work. The top two pieces will each receive a cash prize of $500. The dealine is June 15, 2025. Learn more here.

Funding Opportunities

Nearly all federal grant opportunities are being re-evaluated and updated – awards using IRA and BIL funds are getting extra scrutiny. NOFOs are being removed, replaced, and updated. Be aware the opportunities posted below may be de-listed when you read this.

Funding Opportunity: FY2025 Young Fishermen’s Career Development Projects

National Sea Grant Office (NSGO) anticipates approximately $1,000,000 in FY2025 federal funds will be available to eligible applicants to support 2-3 projects that will develop and execute local, regional and national programs, workshops and services to enable fishermen to enter career paths and make a living supplying seafood from our oceans, coasts and Great Lakes. Applications are due April 23, 2025. Learn more here.

Funding Opportunity: Environmental Literacy for Community Resilience in the Gulf

NOAA’s Environmental Literacy Program is partnering with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Gulf Research Program (GRP) to enhance community resilience and increase the environmental literacy of community members across the U.S. Gulf States (Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida) through place-based education. With NOAA’s support, GRP is offering a funding opportunity titled Environmental Literacy for Community Resilience for projects that educate community members on local environmental challenges, engage learners in solutions-oriented activities, and empower participants to engage in them. A total of $4M is available for this funding opportunity. Applicants must request between $100,000 and $750,000 for projects, commensurate with the scope of work, that are between 12 and 36 months in duration. Applications are due May 21, 2025. Learn more here.

Funding Opportunity: $20 Million Available for the Final Opportunity under BIL NMFS Funding

NOAA will support capacity building and restoration activities that benefit tribes and underserved communities and enhance their resilience to climate change. NOAA will accept proposals with a federal funding request of between $75,000 and $2 million for the entire award. We anticipate typical funding to range from $250,000 to $1 million. Applications are due by May 12, 2025. Learn more here.