The Coastal States Organization represents the nation’s Coastal States, Territories, and Commonwealths on ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resource issues.

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“This investment, part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, will strengthen partnerships between neighborhoods, community organizations, social services, public health agencies and regional planning authorities to build flood resilience and generate climate-smart economic growth in coastal communities nationwide,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo.

The NOAA CAP program is an applied research and engagement program that expands society’s regional capacity to adapt to climate impacts in the U.S. CAP supports sustained, collaborative relationships that help communities build lasting and equitable climate resilience. Funded by five-year cooperative agreements with NOAA, the work is accomplished by teams of research institutions, nonprofit organizations and state, local and tribal governments in multi-state regions.

Read more here.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Caribbean District is preparing to award $1 billion in contracts in 2025, as announced by its commander, Col. Charles Decker, during Industry Day held earlier in December at the Entrepreneurship Center of the Puerto Rico Department of Economic Development and Commerce in San Juan. The effort includes three major contracts related to flood control projects in Río de La Plata and Río Puerto Nuevo (Río Piedras) as well as one contract for the Ecosystem Restoration Project in Caño Martín Peña. “Success depends on collaboration— We can’t do this alone—it’s crucial that we join forces to ensure success”, said Decker during his opening remarks. Read more here.

Maine: Working Waterfront Gets $25 Million to Help Become More Resilient to Storms

Last January, record back-to-back storms and tides battered working waterfronts from Kittery to Calais. Portland Pier applied for and received a $553,000 state grant to make its pier more resistant to storms. Maine Wharf, Custom House Wharf and Widgery Wharf were each awarded $2 million. “All the piers and wharves in Portland Harbor are vulnerable,” Portland Waterfront Coordinator Bill Needleman said. “None of it is built to last forever, and all of it requires continual investment.” Read more here.

New federal legislation recognizes Pensacola and Perdido Bays as “Estuaries of National Significance.” The measure, passed on December 9 by the U.S. House of Representatives, will prioritize government funding for projects aimed at keeping the bays healthy. “It’s certainly an exciting time here at the Estuary Program,” said Matt Posner, Executive Director of the Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estuary Program. “When the estuary program was first established back in 2018, it has long been the goal to receive Congressional authorization to enroll in EPA’s National Estuary Program and recognize Pensacola and Perdido Bays — as estuaries of national significance.” The Pensacola and Perdido Bay Estuary Program will be the first to be added to the National Estuary Program in over 30 years. Read more here.

Texas: Parks and Wildlife Department awarded more than $8 million for oyster restoration project

Texas oysters will soon receive a significant boost, thanks to a recently awarded $8.2 million large-scale oyster restoration project. The project is funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s Office of Habitat Conservation as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act. “Healthy oyster reefs are the unsung heroes of our coastal ecosystems,” said Jennifer Pollack, Larry D. McKinney Endowed Chair for Coastal Conservation and Restoration at Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, and founder of the ‘Sink Your Shucks’ program. “This project represents a groundbreaking step in preserving their role as nature’s water filters and shoreline defenders.” This newly awarded restoration project will be one of the largest oyster restoration initiatives to date in Texas to support oyster systems before restoration becomes significantly more challenging and costly. Read more here.

Wisconsin: $13.4 Million in Federal Funds Sent to Wisconsin’s Gener8tor for Water Technologies

Wisconsin’s gener8tor will be receiving $13.4 million in federal funding for its gener8tor Great Lakes Innovation Accelerator to fund new technologies from small businesses in the Great Lakes coastal area. The group will work with companies involved in innovative water technologies in an effort to create lasting companies that positively impact the Great Lakes region’s economic and environmental resilience, gener8tor said. “With this funding, gener8tor will help these small businesses and entrepreneurs scale their operations, develop cutting-edge technologies, and ensure our Great Lakes are resilient and the economy that relies on them is strong for years to come,” said Sen. Tammy Baldwin. Read more here.

Due to COVID Disruption, Invasive Sea Lampreys Rebound in Great Lakes

Fisheries officials in the Great Lakes have found a new and unusual aftereffect of the COVID-19 pandemic: a resurgence in the population of sea lampreys, a pernicious threat to commercial fisheries in the region. “After more than six decades of successful sea lamprey control, the reduced effort during the COVID-19 pandemic shows that if controls are ceased or relaxed for even a short period of time, sea lamprey populations will rebound, and the fishery will suffer,” said Jim McKane, the Great Lakes Fishery Commission’s vice-chair. Over the course of six decades, targeted applications of this compound brought lamprey populations down by more than 90 percent – a rare, resounding success in the realm of invasives control. However, the pandemic disrupted the joint U.S.-Canadian lamprey program for two years. Read more here.

Citing the need for urgent action to address rising sea levels that threaten the Bay Area’s shoreline communities and natural habitats, BCDC Commissioners voted to adopt the RSAP, paving the way for local jurisdictions to take climate actions that protect their communities and the entire Bay shoreline. The RSAP is a regionwide plan for the San Francisco Bay shoreline that guides how local governments will create coordinated, locally planned sea level rise adaptation actions that work together to achieve regional resilience and a shared One Bay Vision. This pivotal milestone is the result of two years of public workshops and engagement with local communities and input from other key interested parties, including a series of pop-up community visits, local place-based workshops, and at-large public events. Learn more here.

Oregon: Siletz Tribe Reclaims Ancestral Homelands

In a historic land transaction, the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians regained ownership of 27 acres of their ancestral homelands at Cape Foulweather north of Newport. Funded by a $2.01 million grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the tribe completed the purchase from McKenzie River Trust in October 2024. “Before settlement, this land was home to our families, who fished from the rocks and canoed in the ocean, and gathered mussels from the rocky shore,” Robert Kentta, member of the Siletz Tribal Council, said. “Now, we will have the opportunity to reinvigorate our connections to traditional lifeways.” Read more here.

The final version of the National Ordinary High Water Mark (OHWM) Field Delineation Manual for Rivers and Streams is now available! The manual is a culmination of over 10 years of work by the National Technical Committee on OHWM. The Final National OHWM Manual serves as a non-mandatory technical resource which can be used in appropriate situations to assist with identifying and delineating the OHWM of rivers and streams located throughout the Nation. The Final National OHWM Manual provides a standardized process, a uniform datasheet, and unified field procedures. Learn more here.

[NEW] FEMA Seeks Leaders for National Youth Preparedness Council

FEMA is accepting applications for the National Youth Preparedness Council. The YPC program brings teens interested and engaged in community preparedness together from across the nation. Council members are selected based on their dedication to public service, their efforts in making a difference in their communities and their potential to expand their impact as national leaders for emergency preparedness. Students in grades eight through eleven are eligible to apply. Applications are due March 3. Read more here.

[NEW] Report: Nature-Based Solutions: Evidence for Hazard Risk Reduction and Ecosystem Services

The Institute for Defense Analyses released a report in December 2024 studying the performance of nature-based solutions; actions that protect, sustainably manage, or restore natural or modified ecosystems. This report integrates academic and practitioner perspectives to evaluate the effectiveness of 23 nature-based solutions to address hazards and to provide ecosystem services. It also provides recommendations, both to systematically consider nature-based solutions and to accelerate research, innovation and adaptative learning. Read more here.

[NEW] Funding Opportunity: ACFHP Announces FY26 Funding Available for Habitat Conservation Projects

The Atlantic Coastal Fish Habitat Partnership is requesting project applications for funding to restore and conserve habitat necessary to support coastal, estuarine dependent, and diadromous fish species. Federal funding available through the National Fish Habitat Partnership program will be used to support the top ranked proposals. A total of approximately $200,000 in funding is available to support 2-4 projects each year; however, exceptional projects may be funded for the full amount. As mentioned, successful proposals are expected to demonstrate at least a 1:1 non-federal match. The deadline to apply is February 14, 2025. Learn more here.

[NEW] Funding Opportunity: WaterSMART Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Projects for FY 2025 and 2026

The Department of the Interior invites all Tribal and State governments in the Western United States, as well as Nonprofits in partnerships with governments in this region, to apply for grants through the Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Project Funding, totaling $95 million in awards. AERP provides a framework for Federal leadership and assistance to restore and protect aquatic ecosystems in support of the Department’s priorities to study, design and construct aquatic ecosystem restoration projects that are collaboratively developed, have widespread regional benefits, and result in an improvement to the health of fisheries, wildlife, and aquatic habitat through restoration or improved fish passage. Applications are due April 15, 2025. Learn more here.

[NEW] Fiscal Year 2024 BRIC Notice of Funding Opportunity

On January 6, 2025, FEMA published the Fiscal Year 2024 BRIC Notice of Funding Opportunity, totaling $750 million in available funding. There is a $150 million funding cap for each applicant. These funds will help state, local, Tribal and territorial governments address high-level future risks to natural disasters, foster greater community resilience and reduce disaster suffering. Applications will be accepted from January 6 – April 18, 2025 at 3pm ET on grants.gov. Subapplicants must contact their state, territory, or Tribal application agency to determine internal deadlines. View the fact sheet for this grant here.

[NEW] Fiscal Year 2024 FMA Notice of Funding Opportunity

On January 6, 2025, FEMA published the Fiscal Year 2024 FMA Notice of Funding Opportunity, totaling $600 million. These funds will help to reduce the risk of repetitive flood damage to buildings insured by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Applications are due April 18, 2025 at 3pm ET on grants.gov. Subapplicants must contact their state, territory, or Tribal application agency to determine internal deadlines. View the fact sheet for this grant here.

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 8 minute questionnaire at this link – the deadline has been extended to the day January 17, 2025: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/T7MJ67Q. If you would like additional information or to be involved, please reach out to the project team at allie@floods.org.

Request for Proposals: Multi-media Outreach Project

The BIA Branch of Tribal Community Resilience and the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals are seeking videographer(s), animator(s), and/or graphic designer(s) to produce a series of 3-5 minute videos, infographics, and 2-3 minute animations to accompany a report, The Estimated Unmet Need of Coastal Tribes in the Lower 48 States Facing Relocation Due to Climate Impacts. The purpose of these outreach materials is to enhance the awareness and understanding by Congress and broader audiences about the challenges faced by coastal Tribes in the lower 48 states as they address climate-related relocation and protection-in-place issues. Deliverables are due by March 14, 2025. Learn more here.

Request for Proposals: Coastal Tribal Climatic Impacts Analyses

The BIA Branch of Tribal Community Resilience and the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals are seeking a contractor to develop regional summaries of climate change projections for approximately 30 federally recognized Tribes currently located along the shores of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, Puget Sound, Gulf of Mexico, and the shores of the Great Lakes. These regional summaries would accompany a report, The Estimated Unmet Need of Coastal Tribes in the Lower 48 States Facing Relocation Due to Climate Impacts. The purpose of the projections would be to support Tribal climate change adaptation planning efforts and provide supplemental information for the report describing anticipated climate change impacts for coastal Tribes and associated timeframes that the impacts might take place. Deliverables are due by March 20, 2025. Learn more here.

Funding Opportunity: $100 Million Available from NOAA-NMFS

NOAA is seeking proposals for transformational projects that will restore coastal habitat and strengthen community resilience under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. NOAA will accept proposals with a federal funding request of between $750,000 and $10 million for the entire award. Typical funding is anticipated to range from $4 million to $6 million. Applications are due by April 16, 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.

Funding Opportunity: $75 Million Available for Fish Passage from NOAA NMFS

NOAA is looking to provide funding for projects that reopen migratory pathways and restore access to healthy habitat for fish around the country. NOAA will accept proposals between $750,000 and $8 million for the entire award, with typical funding anticipated to range from $3 million to $5 million. Applications are due by February 10, 2025. Learn more here.

The University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability is Now Accepting Grant Applications

The University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant is inviting researchers across Micronesia to apply for competitive grants aimed at addressing critical challenges in coastal ecosystems, communities and economies. This opportunity aims to support research projects that address critical challenges facing Micronesia’s coastal ecosystems, communities, and economies. Researchers from Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Freely Associated States are encouraged to submit proposals for two-year projects. The program is looking to fund 6-7 research projects for up to $120,000. The deadline for full proposal submissions is February 28, 2025. Learn more here.

The Climate Smart Communities Initiative (CSCI) is Now Accepting Grant Applications

The grants offer funding (up to $100,000 per award) along with training and technical support. These funds can be used over 12 months for activities such as risk assessments, community engagement, project prioritization, and initial implementation. Eligible communities must be in the U.S. and face significant climate-related challenges, considering environmental and socioeconomic factors. The application requires collaboration with a community-based organization, a government partner (local, regional, or Tribal), and a climate adaptation professional. A key feature of CSCI is the Registry of Climate Adaptation and Resilience Professionals, which connects communities with expert practitioners. The initiative will accept grant applications into March of 2025 and expects to announce multiple awards in the summer of 2025. For more details on the grant program, including the benefits, the requirements, the application, and the Registry, please visit their website.

EPA Publishes the National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution

EPA has announced the publication of the National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution: Part Three in a Series on Building a Circular Economy for All. In the strategy, EPA identifies actions that businesses; academia; industry; nongovernmental organizations; federal, Tribal, state, local and territorial governments; and consumers can take in the United States to eliminate the release of plastic waste into the environment, including our waterways and the ocean. EPA also outlines interventions across the entire plastic life cycle to reduce the U.S. contribution to plastic pollution, including actions that stakeholders safeguarding water resources can help implement.

FEMA’s Stories of Resilience: Voices That Inspire

Stories of Resilience connects communities across the country through personal narratives with one goal: building a more resilient nation. FEMA wants to learn more about your journey towards climate and natural hazard resilience. Sharing your wins and challenges can help others learn from your experience. To learn more about this opportunity and how to get involved, visit the following website: Stories of Resilience: Voices That Inspire | FEMA.gov

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) Announce Grant Recipients for the 2024 National Coastal Resilience Fund

On November 25th, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and NOAA announced $139 million in new grants to support nature-based solutions for 94 coastal resilience projects across 31 US states and territories. Projects are funded, in part, with $92.5 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and, with matching contributions, will have a conservation impact of $280 million. Nearly 80% of these grants will directly engage underserved communities. Grants will support floodplain, coral reef, living shoreline, and dune habitat restoration, which will increase climate resilience in vulnerable areas, like the Gulf of Mexico, where every $1 invested in wetland and reef restoration avoids $7 in losses. Read more here.

Urban Waters Federal Partnership: Partnership Approaches in Equitable Climate Resilience Planning

Urban Waters Federal Partnership releases recent product of the Urban Waters Federal Partnership, Urban Waters Federal Partnership: Partnership Approaches in Equitable Climate Resilience Planning, showcasing these successes in four locations bolstered by the unique features of the Urban Waters Federal partnership. Through the power of partnership, the members of the 21 Urban Waters locations work together to identify opportunities and resources that blend with local strengths to make equitable resilience possible in their respective watersheds. Read more here.

NOAA Opens Applications for Community-Led Heat-Monitoring Campaigns

The Center for Collaborative Heat Monitoring opened applications for communities across the U.S. to monitor and evaluate factors influencing local heat risk, as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. Funded through the Inflation Reduction Act, selected communities will receive $10,000 and technical support to collect heat distribution data through community-led campaigns. The application window for this opportunity is open now and closes on January 17, 2025 at 11:59 PM ET. In support of President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, the center will prioritize applications from communities that have experienced historical patterns of discrimination, underinvestment and disenfranchisement and have limited resources to conduct heat monitoring on their own. Rural communities, tribal nations, U.S. territories and communities that have not previously undergone heat mapping are especially encouraged to apply.

Grant Opportunity: Regional Resiliency & Vulnerability Assessments for Ocean and Coastal Acidification

The NOAA Ocean Acidification Program is requesting proposals for collaborative projects that synthesize ocean and coastal acidification information at a regional scale. This announcement specifically addresses priorities for how ocean and coastal acidification – in the context of changing ocean conditions – affects dependent human communities (the human dimensions of ocean and coastal acidification). Funding is contingent upon the availability of Fiscal Year 2025 Federal appropriations. Projects funded under this announcement will have a September 1, 2025 start date. Approximately 1–6 projects for up to 3 years in duration are expected to be funded at the level of approximately $100,000 – $400,000 per year per proposal. It is anticipated that a total of up to $3 million may be available in FY25 to support the first year of these projects. The deadline is March 5, 2024. Read more here.

Flourishing in Community Application

The Flourishing in Community Grantmaker is offering noncompetitive awards to support capacity-constrained communities and community-based organizations (CBOs) within Region 2. These $75,000 subawards are designed for ease of access, with a streamlined process that does not require participation in the competitive review process. Any person or organization in Region 2: New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and eight federally recognized Indian Nations may submit a nomination, including self-nominations. The application deadline is March 31, 2025. Apply here.