Chesapeake Bay Trust’s Post

The Maryland Whole Watershed Act RFP was released this week, and it's exciting to think about all of the communities hard at work crafting restoration proposals for their local watersheds to be included in this transformational program. SB 969/HB 1165 establishes the Whole Watershed Restoration Partnership and Fund to accelerate restoration of the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays and their watersheds, and creates a State management team to administer the program. As explained in the introduction: "Proposals that are outcome-driven to protect and restore shallow water habitats, while addressing the needs of historically underserved, overburdened, and BIPOC communities are highly desired." Here's a link to the RFP: https://lnkd.in/e3hr3AF4 Posted below is the timeline for submission and project selection. #wholewatershedact #watershedrestoration #restoremaryland #ecologicalrestoration #restorationfunding

The Great Lakes St. Lawrence Cities Initiative and its members have been awarded $2.98 million from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s National Coastal Resilience Fund (NCRF). These funds will support the development of preliminary designs for eight transformative projects across the Great Lakes region. As a regional leader in coastal resilience, the Cities Initiative is proud to collaborate with partners to address critical challenges facing our communities (City of Grand Marais, City of Euclid, City of Waukegan, City of Sheboygan, City of Toledo and City of Romulus). These projects will leverage nature-based solutions, including restoring natural floodplains, coastal wetlands, and in-water habitats, to combat erosion and flooding. By reducing future risks and costs, enhancing public safety, and driving local economic growth, these initiatives will strengthen the resilience of Great Lakes communities for generations to come. #ResilientCoastalProjectsInitiative #GreatLakes https://lnkd.in/erVgmRuj Full Release: https://lnkd.in/eiWWQ-A3

🌟 Advancing Colorado's Climate and Water Goals: $700,000 in Federal Grants for Fountain Creek Watershed Restoration 🌟 Today, Governor Jared Polis, the City of Colorado Springs, and Fountain Creek Watershed, Inc. celebrated an exciting milestone: securing $700,000 in federal grant funding from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to restore and conserve the Fountain Creek Watershed. This funding supports critical projects that will: ✅ Improve water quality ✅ Reduce erosion and flooding ✅ Protect vital infrastructure ✅ Enhance wildlife habitats These efforts in one of Colorado’s most populated watersheds exemplify the Polis Administration's vision for achieving our statewide climate action goals. By providing technical assistance to local governments—including grant writing and navigation—we are empowering communities to unlock federal investments that benefit our environment, economy, and future. 💧 Spotlight on Collaboration: - The $300,000 grant for the Monument Creek Water Strategy, secured with assistance from the Governor’s Office, will address erosion, sediment buildup, and wildfire impacts, while supporting wildlife and community resilience. - The $400,000 grant to the City of Colorado Springs will restore and protect a 1.5-mile stretch of Fountain Creek, creating healthier ecosystems and enhancing recreational access. These successes highlight how partnerships between state and local governments can deliver tangible results for Colorado communities. As Mayor Yemi Mobolade aptly put it, these projects "further our efforts to maintain and improve our infrastructure and enhance the vibrancy of our city." 🌱 Together, we are making significant strides in protecting our natural resources and preparing Colorado for a sustainable, climate-resilient future. #ClimateAction #Sustainability #ColoradoLeadership #FountainCreekWatershed #Collaboration #GrantSuccess #IRA #IIJA

Inspiring to see legislators securing funds to help move forward large projects for salmon recovery and infrastructure protection. Truly astounding to track how local collaboratives are managing to advance the necessary conversations, planning and implementation to seize this moment and make these critical projects happen

Are you leveraging federal funding opportunities available? Need help, let me know. #stantecproud #stantecwater The article states: The funding is part of the federal government’s plan to address the impacts of drought in the overstretched Colorado River Basin. The influx of money is headed for Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming and Utah, the four states in the Colorado River’s upper basin. With applications due in mid-October, many organizations are in the early stages of deciding which projects to prioritize. Funding announcements are expected in spring 2025. 

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The Waverly Avenue Bridge in the Village of Mamaroneck is now open to traffic, marking a significant milestone in local flood mitigation and infrastructure improvements. The $5.0 million project, led by the Town of Mamaroneck with funding from Westchester County and New York State, replaces an outdated structure with a modern design that enhances community safety and mobility. County Executive George Latimer said: “The new Waverly Avenue Bridge is an investment in the future of Mamaroneck. This project represents how we can work together to address longstanding infrastructure challenges and prepare for the environmental realities of tomorrow.” Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins said: “Flooding has long been a challenge in this area, and Westchester County’s over $2 million investment in this project is part of a comprehensive effort to build safer, stronger neighborhoods. The Waverly Avenue Bridge is an example of the impact we can make together.” Read more here: https://ow.ly/CM8E50UvbKc

Here’s the key aspect of this coastal development: “Governments are typically on the hook for maintaining roads, re-nourishing beaches and keeping utilities up and running. “That comes from the coffers of taxpayers,” he said. “That’s other people’s money.” That means taxpayers in states like Vermont, Arkansas, West Virginia. Nebraska, Colorado, and all the other states with no coastlines are paying not only for capital costs on these beach projects, but long-term operation and maintenance costs as well, for 50 years or more. This, even as they are facing their own rising adaptation costs incurred as climate is changing, causing new and different damages not associated with new development in known risk areas.

The City’s FY25 budget goes above and beyond with key enhancements, including facility and technology upgrades, public safety improvements, homeless diversion, litter abatement, economic development, infrastructure upgrades, and new operations for Mustang, Senter & Lee Park Aquatic Centers. Cityofirving.org/Budget. #IrvingTxBudget

This really is an embarrassment for all of us involved in coastal science and management. Nine houses this year have now collapsed in Rodanthe, NC, spreading debris for miles into Cape Hatteras National Seashore and endangering public health with rupturing septic systems. It is an embarrassment for the good people of Dare County, NC and also for the NC Resilience Office and the Division of Coastal Management. I'll add the NC legislature as well. We have become the poster child for unmanaged retreat. We need a legal framework to get these houses off the public beach. We need a pot of money to compensate property owners (you may not like this, but we have to live in the real world). Many say that these "wealthy" property owners do not deserve to be bought out. We can work on that. Right now, we have to stop this slow moving environmental disaster. Sadly, I see no urgency among state officials to fix this problem. Dare County actually applied for NFWF funding to do beach nourishment (ridiculous). It didn't fly. Now what?? Moving or removing the remaining homes is the only option. Who will step up? #PSDS #maladaptation #buyouts #coastalretreat #rodanthe #capehatteras https://lnkd.in/exft2Z4n