The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) awarded a $900,000 Cooperative Agreement under the Office for Coastal Management (CFDA 11.473) program to the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC). This funding will build the capacity of Rhode Island's federally-approved coastal management program to plan for and implement habitat restoration and conservation projects connected to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Specifically, the award will provide $600,000 to extend a 3-year project specialist position at the Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve for an additional two years. It will also fully support a new Coastal Regional Resilience Coordinator and partially support two additional Regional Resilience Coordinator positions focused on riverine and urban areas. These coordinators will work with municipalities, non-profits, and the state's Chief Resilience Officer to identify, prioritize, and develop infrastructure and coastal resilience project proposals for Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding. Additionally, the award will update Rhode Island's Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Plan to incorporate new data, including sea level rise information, to guide future land protection and habitat restoration efforts.
Generated 3/25/25, 5:40 AM