Appl_ID: 11291659 grant number: NA25NOSX999G0004-T1-01 title: downtown benicia abandoned vessel and marine debris removal project: restoring the shoreline in the historic carquinez strait the award of…

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) awarded the City of Benicia $963,000 on June 1, 2025, under the Congressionally Identified Awards and Projects program (CFDA 11.469) to support marine debris removal and habitat restoration in the Carquinez Strait. The project will deliver federal and state permitting completion, engineering and design planning, and partial funding for removal and restoration activities targeting eight large abandoned and derelict vessels and associated marine debris. The initiative addresses ecological and navigational concerns in this critical waterway, which serves as a migration corridor for federally listed species including Chinook salmon, steelhead, and green sturgeon while supporting vital mudflats, tidal marshes, and eelgrass beds essential to aquatic ecosystems.

The project is scheduled for completion by December 31, 2028, and will enhance navigational safety while preventing further degradation of aquatic habitats in the historic Carquinez Strait gateway. By removing hazardous marine debris and restoring nearshore environments, the project supports regional environmental conservation objectives and improves the local waterfront for community benefit. The products delivered include completed permitting documentation, technical engineering and design plans, and implementation of debris removal and restoration activities that will restore ecological function to this economically and environmentally significant San Francisco Bay Area waterway.

Appl_ID: 11291659 grant number: NA25NOSX999G0004-T1-01 title: downtown benicia abandoned vessel and marine debris removal project: restoring the shoreline in the historic carquinez strait the award of $963,000 will support the removal of hazardous marine debris - specifically eight large abandoned and derelict vessels (ADVS) and other associated debris - in the carquinez strait, an ecologically and economically significant waterway in the SAN francisco BAY and delta. The carquinez strait is known as the gateway to the inland coast, and serves as a critical link between the pacific ocean and the interior delta, providing essential habitat for anadromous fish and other species. The nearshore waters, mudflats, and tidal marshes support a variety of species, including federally listed fish such as chinook salmon, steelhead, and green sturgeon, which use the carquinez strait as a migration corridor. The mudflats are vital feeding grounds for invertebrates, which in turn support larger fish and migratory waterbirds along the pacific flyway. Additionally, the adjacent tidal marshes provide habitat for endangered species, and the areas eelgrass beds play a crucial role in stabilizing sediments and providing nursery habitat for many aquatic species. The award will support the completion of federal and state permitting for marine debris removal, the development of an engineering and design plan, along with partial support for removal and restoration activities. This removal effort will improve navigational safety, prevent further degradation of vital aquatic habitats, and enhance the local waterfront for the community.