The national oceanic and atmospheric administration (NOAA) is providing $600,000 in federal funding to the state of hawaii through the bipartisan infrastructure law

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is providing $600,000 in federal funding through a Cooperative Agreement under the Office for Coastal Management (CFDA 11.473) program to the University of Hawaii at Manoa. This 3-year award, effective January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2027, will build the capacity of the Heeia National Estuarine Research Reserve to plan for and implement habitat restoration and conservation projects proposed under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Specifically, the funds will be used to manage NERR infrastructure projects through program management and accounting, including hiring or increasing staff time dedicated to contract and grants administration. Additionally, the award will support the development of a Biocultural Resources Management Plan to identify priority habitat and conservation projects for the island of Moku o Loe, including recommendations for climate change adaptation strategies.

This funding will build the capacity of the heeia national estuarine research reserve within the university of hawaii at mnoa to plan for and implement habitat restoration and conservation projects proposed through funding opportunities connected to the bipartisan infrastructure law. Specifically, heeia nerr will use these funds to effectively manage nerrs infrastructure projects through program management and accounting, including hiring or increasing FTE percentages of existing nerr administrative (contract and grants specialist) staffing. The project will clearly track the percentage of staff time spent on BIL-supported projects. Additionally, funds will be used to identify priority and feasible habitat and conservation projects proposed for the island of moku O LOE through a biocultural resources management plan (mlama INA plan). The plan will include preliminary recommendations for climate change adaptation strategies and stewardship practices, and aspires to serve as a model for climate adaptation strategies on oahu and elsewhere. This project will solicit bids from contractors who will be hired to assist the hawaii institute of marine biology with any planning, permitting and environmental assessment processes that are required before habitat restoration and conservation projects relating to the mlama INA plan are implemented on the island.