The national oceanic and atmospheric administration (NOAA) is providing $5,000,000 in federal funding to manatee county government, environmental lands division through the FY2023 bipartisan…

The national oceanic and atmospheric administration (NOAA) is providing $5,000,000 in federal funding to manatee county government, environmental lands division through the FY2023 bipartisan infrastructure law coastal zone management habitat restoration and conservation competition. This funding will increase climate resilience of coastal communities within coastal counties through habitat restoration planning, engineering and design projects, habitat restoration implementation projects, and land conservation projects. Specifically, manatee county government, environmental lands division will use these funds to protect and conserve the 68 acres of native coastal habitat in perpetuity. The crooked river ranch property is one of the few large undeveloped parcels along the manatee river, and will contribute significantly to creating a connected wildlife corridor and enhancing climate resilience and water quality in an area under intense pressure for development.