Texas coastal management program FY25 infrastructure capacity-building project description the national oceanic and atmospheric administration (NOAA) is providing $900,000 in federal funding to the…

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 Texas General Land Office (GLO) to build the capacity of the state's federally-approved Coastal Management Program. This funding will be used by the GLO to enhance modeling that feeds into the Texas Coastal Resilience Master Plan, a comprehensive statewide planning effort focused on prioritizing natural infrastructure restoration projects to improve the resilience of coastal communities. Specifically, the GLO will use this $600,000 award to conduct additional modeling that will assess the impacts of projected urban growth and sprawl on water quality and the environment within the coastal zone. The modeling results will guide proactive local planning and project development to maintain and improve the effectiveness of ecosystem services provided by watershed and riparian areas.

Texas coastal management program FY25 infrastructure capacity-building project description the national oceanic and atmospheric administration (NOAA) is providing $900,000 in federal funding to the state of texas through the bipartisan infrastructure law. This funding will build the capacity of the states federally-approved coastal management program within the texas general land office to plan for and implement habitat restoration and conservation projects proposed through funding opportunities connected to the bipartisan infrastructure law. Specifically, the texas general land office will use these funds to enhance the modeling that feeds into the texas coastal resilience master plan, a comprehensive statewide planning effort that prioritizes natural infrastructure restoration projects intended to improve the resilience of coastal communities in the state. This funding will be used to conduct additional modeling that will assess the impacts of projected urban growth and sprawl on water quality and the environment within the coastal zone. The model will look at the influence of unmitigated population growth on urban floodplains, water quality structures/facilities, and sensitive landscapes most likely to experience land conversion due to urban expansion. Modeling results will help guide proactive local planning and project development focused on maintaining and improving the effectiveness of ecosystem services provided by watershed and riparian areas including recreational and aesthetic values, critical wildlife habitat, flood water storage and conveyance, and improvements to estuarine water quality and quantity.