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

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) awarded a Cooperative Agreement totaling $4.569 million to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) under the Coastal Zone Management Administration Awards program (CFDA 11.419). The award, effective October 1, 2025, through March 31, 2027, provides $2.351 million in federal funding leveraged with $2.218 million in state matching funds to support Connecticut's federally approved Coastal Zone Management Program. NOAA's investment supports ongoing administration of the state's coastal management initiatives through DEEP's Land and Water Resources Division, addressing critical coastal challenges including coastal hazards mitigation, habitat restoration, ocean planning, and dredge material management.

The funding enables DEEP to deliver comprehensive coastal management services and products, including development of the first update to the Long Island Sound Blue Plan—a spatial planning document that inventories natural resources and establishes guidance for future use of Long Island Sound's waters and submerged lands. Additional deliverables include regulatory guidance on dredged sediment management with emphasis on beneficial reuse approaches such as marsh restoration and island creation, as well as ongoing coastal permitting, planning, public outreach, and technical assistance to Connecticut coastal municipalities and state agencies. These activities support job creation while advancing the Coastal Zone Management Act's objective of balancing economic development with coastal resource protection and restoration.

The national oceanic and atmospheric administration (NOAA) is providing ongoing funding through the national coastal zone management program to the state of connecticut to help administer the states 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. Noaas investment of $2,351,000 is leveraging $2,218,000 in state funds. These funds will support jobs and provide continued assistance to the connecticut department of energy and environmental protections land and water resources division (lwrd) to address many important coastal management issues in the state including coastal hazards, habitat restoration, ocean planning, and dredge material management. For example, these funds will support the development of the first update to the long island sound blue plan. The blue plan provides an inventory of the natural resources and uses of connecticut's long island sound and establishes a spatial plan to guide future use of the sound's waters and submerged lands. In addition, lwrd will continue work to provide clearer and more helpful guidance on the regulatory framework governing the management of dredged sediment, specifically the use of alternative approaches to open water disposal, including beneficial uses such as marsh restoration, island creation/enhancement, or nearshore placement. The funding will also support ongoing efforts, including coastal permitting, planning, public outreach, and technical assistance to coastal municipalities and other state agencies.