Usvi CZM project description FY24 the national oceanic and atmospheric administration (NOAA) is providing ongoing funding through the national coastal zone management program to the territory of the…

Usvi CZM project description FY24 the national oceanic and atmospheric administration (NOAA) is providing ongoing funding through the national coastal zone management program to the territory of the US virgin islands to help administer the territorys federally approved coastal management program. The national coastal zone management program, under the coastal zone management act, is an important voluntary federal-state partnership that protects, restores, and responsibly develops our nations coastal communities and resources by balancing economic development, coastal uses, and natural resource protection. NOAA?S investment totals $1,171,000 for this fiscal year. These funds will support jobs and provide continued assistance to the US virgin islands coastal management program to address many important coastal issues in the state including habitat protection, coastal resilience, water quality, coastal community development, and public access. For example, one project will provide geospatial capacity for multiple territorial needs and initiatives. The funding also supports ongoing coastal permitting, planning, public outreach, marine debris management and continued upgrades to spatial databases and online presence for the program. The award also is supporting new initiatives such as designs for green infrastructure drainage improvements of a key watershed in ST. Croix, directly adjacent to a degraded salt pond that is planned for restoration. The award is also funding a number of local projects or initiatives including: coastal zone permitting team to ensure development in coastal areas is done responsibly and sustainably coastal zone legal team to handle the many legal challenges that the coastal program faces in performing their duties watershed and water quality initiatives that support watershed planning and coordination coastal zone outreach programs that continue to engage the local community in natural resource management and conservation coastal resilience initiatives for strategic and resilient recovery to impacts from climate change marine debris initiative for community engagement and marine debris prevention