Virginia chesapeake BAY national estuarine research reserve infrastructure capacity-building project description the national oceanic and atmospheric administration (NOAA) is providing $600,000 in…

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is providing a $600,000 Cooperative Agreement award through the Office for Coastal Management (CFDA 11.473) to the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) to build the capacity of the Virginia Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve program. This funding will support enhanced coordination with regional stakeholders, pre- and post-monitoring of coastal restoration projects, and the development of resource management plans to protect critical habitats and species. The award period is from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2027, with $400,000 in funding obligated to date. This project aims to support coastal habitat restoration and conservation initiatives under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Virginia chesapeake BAY national estuarine research reserve infrastructure capacity-building project description the national oceanic and atmospheric administration (NOAA) is providing $600,000 in federal funding to the state of virginia through the bipartisan infrastructure law. This funding will build the capacity of the virginia chesapeake BAY federally approved national estuarine research reserve (NERR) program within the virginia institute of marine science (VIMS) to plan for and implement habitat restoration and conservation projects proposed through funding opportunities connected to the bipartisan infrastructure law. Specifically, the virginia chesapeake BAY NERR will accomplish this through enhanced coordination with regional stakeholders, including coordination of the coastal habitats restoration monitoring workgroup and tracking of restoration projects; provision of pre- and post-monitoring of coastal restoration projects to ensure performance success; and development of resource management plans for 2 reserve components to support protection and conservation of critical habitats and species.