The national oceanic and atmospheric administration (NOAA) is providing $400,000 in federal funding to the state of maine through the inflation reduction act

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is providing $400,000 through a Cooperative Agreement to the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve (Wells NERR) under the Office for Coastal Management (CFDA 11.473) federal grant program. This 5-year, $800,000 award will build the climate resilience of coastal communities in southern Maine by supporting the Wells NERR's initiatives and programs. Key activities include establishing connections between Maine's climate action plans and municipal-level resilience strategies, engaging stakeholders, facilitating collaboration, and implementing monitoring and evaluation. The award will fund a new Coastal Resilience Coordinator position to address gaps in existing networks and support effective communication, conflict management, and program implementation. This project aligns with NOAA's focus on science-based coastal resilience through the National Estuarine Research Reserve System.

This funding will build the ability of the wells national estuarine research reserve (NERR) within the wells reserve management authority to implement projects, initiatives, and programs that increase the climate resilience of coastal communities within coastal counties. Specifically, they will establish a 5-year program to increase the climate resilience of southern maine coastal communities and the ecosystems supporting them. The reserve plans to establish connections between the ocean climate action plan and maine's climate action plan, linking them with initiatives at the municipal level and wider regional climate action strategies, such as climate ready coast southern maine. Wells NERR will continue to engage with NOAA staff and local federal partners from agencies associated with the ocean action plan to leverage interdisciplinary science, professional training, and knowledge CO-creation for effective program implementation. The proposed program will address critical unmet needs for the functions of network facilitation, stakeholder engagement, communication, conflict management and program evaluation. The coastal resilience coordinator, a new role within the coastal training program, which will be supported by this funding, will address engagement and communication gaps in existing networks, focusing on facilitation, stakeholder engagement, communication, conflict management, and program evaluation.