The national oceanic and atmospheric administration (NOAA) is providing $6,000,000 in federal funding to the california state coastal conservancy through the FY2023 bipartisan infrastructure law…

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is providing a $6,000,000 Cooperative Agreement award through the FY2023 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Coastal Zone Management Habitat Restoration and Conservation Competition (CFDA 11.473 - Office for Coastal Management) to the California State Coastal Conservancy. This funding will support habitat restoration planning, engineering and design, habitat restoration implementation, and land conservation projects to increase climate resilience of coastal communities within California's coastal counties.

Specifically, the Conservancy will use these funds to restore a one-mile section of the Carmel River in Monterey County. The project aims to reconnect the river with its historic floodplain, create a mosaic of self-sustaining riparian habitat, and enhance instream complexity to benefit federally threatened South-Central California Coast steelhead and other species. The project will also restore and expand habitat for other diverse species, enhance wildlife corridors, and create new opportunities for nature-based environmental education and recreation. A $5,887,000 sub-award will be provided to the Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District to implement the river restoration work.

The national oceanic and atmospheric administration (NOAA) is providing $6,000,000 in federal funding to the california state coastal conservancy 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, the california state coastal conservancy will use these funds to restore a one-mile section of the carmel river so that natural processes will reconnect the river with historic floodplain habitat and create a mosaic of self-sustaining riparian habitat types and instream complexity to benefit federally threatened south-central california coast steelhead and other species. The project will also restore and expand habitat for other diverse species; enhance multiple wildlife corridors; and create new opportunities for nature-based environmental education and recreation. The reconnected, lowered floodplains will create a self-sustaining, climate-resilient river system that can manage a changing climate.