The national oceanic and atmospheric administration is providing $305,998 in federal funding to the south carolina department of natural resources through the FY2024 and FY2025 national estuarine…

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office for Coastal Management (CFDA 11.473) awarded $305,998 to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources through the FY2024 and FY2025 National Estuarine Research Reserve Habitat Protection and Restoration Grant Competition. The award, effective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2028, funds habitat restoration planning, engineering, design, and implementation projects on South Fenwick Island within the ACE Basin National Estuarine Research Reserve. The primary deliverable is the restoration of 10 acres of native wildflower habitat and 2.5 acres of sweetgrass habitat that were lost to human activity, with the completed project serving as a replicable model for subsequent maritime grassland restoration initiatives throughout the reserve.

The project directly supports NOAA's coastal resilience and ecosystem protection objectives by increasing biodiversity and enhancing the safety and productivity of coastal communities within South Carolina coastal counties. Upon completion, the restored habitat will demonstrate restoration techniques and protocols applicable to future maritime grassland conservation efforts throughout the ACE Basin, thereby extending the reach and impact of this federal investment beyond the immediate project area.

The national oceanic and atmospheric administration is providing $305,998 in federal funding to the south carolina department of natural resources through the FY2024 and FY2025 national estuarine research reserve habitat protection and restoration grant competition. This funding will increase the safety and productivity of coastal communities within coastal counties through habitat restoration planning, engineering and design projects, habitat restoration implementation projects, and land conservation projects. Specifically, the south carolina department of natural resources will use these funds to increase biodiversity on south fenwick island by restoring native grassland and sweetgrass habitat lost due to human activity. In total, this project will restore 10 acres of native wildflower and 2.5 acres of sweetgrass habitat on south fenwick island. Once completed, this project will serve as a blueprint for subsequent maritime grassland restoration projects within the ACE basin national estuarine research reserve.