The national oceanic and atmospheric administration (NOAA) is providing ongoing funding through the national coastal zone management program to the state of minnesota to help administer the states…

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration awarded a cooperative agreement to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for $4.632 million on October 1, 2025, under the Coastal Zone Management Administration Awards program (CFDA 11.419) to administer Minnesota's federally approved coastal management program through September 30, 2027.

The award funds habitat and water resources protection, invasive species management, public access initiatives, coastal hazard assessment, coastal planning, technical assistance to local governments, and public education and outreach across Minnesota's coastal areas. Work is performed at multiple locations statewide with administrative oversight in St. Paul, Minnesota. The funding implements priorities outlined in the St. Louis River One Watershed One Plan, a basin-wide restoration and conservation effort across sub-watersheds with resource concerns including impairments, habitat loss, and development pressures. Implementation encompasses forestry practices, conservation protections, and targeted pollutant treatment practices. Specific local projects include bluff restoration along the Lake Superior shoreline at Agate Bay, construction of a 0.3-mile section of the Gitchi-Gami State Trail at Tofte, engineering and design work for the Silver Bay Perimeter Ditch System to address erosion and water quality, and a coastal study of East Bay's Grand Marais shoreline to address wave-driven flooding.

NOAA's $1.158 million federal investment is leveraging an additional $1.158 million in state, local, and private funds. Sub-recipients include Carlton Soil and Water Conservation District, Cook County Soil and Water Conservation District, Lake County Soil and Water Conservation District, Minnesota Point Preservation Society, and Hamline University's Center for Global Environmental Education. These organizations deliver watershed management planning, forest health technical assistance and community education, stormwater infrastructure design, coastal resilience action planning and public outreach, and cultural heritage video documentation supporting the Fond du Lac Band's management of historically significant sites in the St. Louis River Estuary.

The national oceanic and atmospheric administration (NOAA) is providing ongoing funding through the national coastal zone management program to the state of minnesota to help administer the states federally approved coastal management program. The national coastal zone management program 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. Noaas investment of $1,158,000 is leveraging an additional $1,158,000 in state, local, and private funds. These funds will support jobs and provide continued assistance to the minnesota coastal management program to address many important coastal issues in the state including habitat and water resources protection, invasive species management, public access, and coastal hazards. In addition, the funding supports ongoing coastal planning, technical assistance to local governments, and public education and outreach. The award also continues to implement priorities outlined in the ST. Louis river one watershed one plan (1W1P) that coordinates many local and state partners around restoration and conservation activities at a basin-wide scale. Priority areas have been identified as sub-watersheds with resource concerns such as impairments, habitat loss or development pressures. Implementation goals range from forestry practices and conservation protections to targeted pollutant treatment practices. The award is also funding a number of local projects and initiatives, including: bluff restoration along the lake superior shoreline at agate BAY. Construct a 0.3 mile section of the gitchi-gami state trail at tofte, minnesota develop engineering and design information of the silver BAY perimeter ditch system to address erosion and water quality. Conduct a coastal study of the shoreline of east BAY of grand marais to address flooding caused by large waves.