Today, Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced that the Department of Commerce and NOAA have recommended $75.6 million for projects in Washington state to make the state’s coast more resilient to climate change and other coastal hazards. The awards are being made under the Biden Administration’s Climate Resilience Regional Challenge, a competitive, $575 million program funded through the nearly $6 billion total investment under the Biden-Harris Administration’s Inflation Reduction Act.
“As part of President Biden’s commitment to combating the climate crisis, we are investing $575 million to help make sure America’s coastal communities are more resilient to the effects of climate change,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “As part of this historic investment in our nation’s climate resilience the Biden-Harris Administration is investing $75.6 million to help underserved communities in Washington develop and implement new strategies to protect themselves from the impacts of climate change.”
Administered by the Department of Commerce and NOAA, the Climate-Ready Coasts initiative is focused on investing in high-impact projects that create climate solutions by storing carbon; building resilience to coastal hazards such as extreme weather events, pollution and marine debris; restoring coastal habitats that help wildlife and humans thrive; building the capacity of underserved communities and support community-driven restoration; and providing employment opportunities.
“This project represents an incredible statewide effort to coordinate resilience across Washington’s coastal communities,” said NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad, Ph.D. “NOAA is proud to award this funding to further Washington’s goals of restored coastal landscapes, reliable infrastructure, and climate-ready communities.”
Recommended projects and funding amounts in Washington include:
- The Washington State Coastal Climate Resilience Initiative: Accelerating Implementation of 20 Years of Partnership Efforts. Washington Coastal Zone Management Program: $73,587,134.
With this funding, Washington State moves a shared vision for climate change resiliency from planning to implementation, making a profound difference for the health and resilience of its coast and coastal communities. This is the state’s first effort to implement coordinated, coast-wide climate response projects. Projects include three habitat restoration projects; nature-based shoreline improvements for several coastal highways including State Route 112 and 105; shoreline restoration; and stormwater drainage improvements. Funds will also be used to grow a climate-informed workforce, strengthen regional coalitions and build tribal capacity to help Washington advance integrated and equitable coastal management. The multifaceted projects associated with this grant represent a strong, proactive response 20 years in the making through the work of the Washington State Coastal Climate Resilience Partnership. This collaborative effort, facilitated by the Washington Coastal Zone Management Program, developed a shared vision for coastal climate resilience among local, state, and tribal partners.
- Regional Collaboration for Better Resilience Outcomes in the Puget Sound Basin. King County, Washington: $1,999,963.
This project will enhance regional collaboration by providing staffing and programming support to the Puget Sound Climate Preparedness Collaborative, a network of local and county governments, tribes, regional agencies and other organizations working to build community, economic and environmental resilience to climate change. With this funding, the collaborative will strengthen local and regional capacity, partner with Coast Salish tribes to increase regional understanding of climate change impacts, and establish a knowledge base of climate preparedness resources. Challenges to be addressed include increases in coastal and river flooding; wildfires; drought; and extreme heat events.
“In coastal states like Washington, climate change is raising sea levels, leading to increased coastal flooding and saltwater intrusion that threatens our communities. These climate impacts are damaging roads and bridges, putting homes and businesses at risk, and leading to huge economic costs,” said Washington Governor Jay Inslee. “Thanks to President Biden and Vice President Harris, the Inflation Reduction Act is providing the resources we need to strengthen our coastal communities, improve our infrastructure, and protect jobs and families in these vulnerable areas.”
“No one knows the impact of climate change on coastal communities more intimately than Washington state. Our coastlines, marine habitats, and the communities that call them home are absolutely central to Washington state’s economy and culture, which is why it was so important to me to secure resources to bolster Washington state’s climate resiliency when negotiating the Inflation Reduction Act,” said Senator Patty Murray (D-WA). “The over $75 million in funding announced today is going to restore marine habitats and shorelines, improve stormwater drainage, build a climate-informed workforce, and much more. These awards are going to make a big difference for those that call our coastlines home.”
“Washington’s beloved coastlines are on the front lines of climate change. These infrastructure investments will make us more resilient – realigning State Route 112 near Neah Bay, restoring vital habitat along Puget Sound, improving stormwater drainage systems, and boosting shoreline recreational access,” said Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA). “These projects bring state, tribal, and local stakeholders together with other partners to better protect Washington’s coast and the Salish Sea for years to come.”
“Washington state is home to some of our nation’s most beautiful shorelines & waterways, and we must protect them and strengthen our resilience against the growing impacts of climate change,” said Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01). “This $75 million federal investment in the Washington State Coastal Climate Resilience Initiative and the Puget Sound Climate Preparedness Collaborative will help create safer infrastructure, strengthen ecosystems, and better prepare communities. Thanks to Democrats’ Inflation Reduction Act, this funding will make a real difference in our communities, ensuring we can adapt and thrive.”
“Protecting Washington’s environment is one of my top priorities,” said Congressman Rick Larsen (WA-02), the lead Democrat on the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee. “In Northwest Washington, local, state and Tribal entities partner with NOAA on projects to recover wildlife habitat in Chinook Marsh, reduce flood risk for productive farmland near Swans Trail Slough and restore floodplain on Spencer Island. Thanks to this critical funding, these partners will have the resources and support they need to build on their work to make North Puget Sound communities more resilient to climate hazards and create more jobs.”
“This funding is a big deal for our region. With 3,000 miles of coastline and more than 70,000 miles of rivers and waterways, our state is particularly prone to the threats posed by the climate crisis – including sea level rise, coastal erosion, and loss of vital habitats and ecosystems,” said Congressman Derek Kilmer (WA-06). “That’s why I am thrilled that NOAA is delivering new federal funding for the Washington Coastal Climate Resilience Initiative to help complete major projects across our region – like realigning SR112 on the Peninsula, restoring critical shoreline, improving stormwater drainage, and protecting and restoring important fish habitat. These transformational projects will create jobs, protect the environment, and make coastal communities more resilient.”
“I’m thrilled to see NOAA recommending more than $75 million in funding for Washington State to address the impacts of climate change,” said Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (WA-07). “This transformative investment will support the Washington State Department of Ecology and King County’s work to accelerate climate resilience efforts throughout our region. Both projects will strengthen regional coalitions by bringing together stakeholders from Tribes, local government, academic institutions, nonprofits, and state agencies to reduce vulnerability from coastal hazards and advance our state’s preparedness efforts. I was proud to directly support Washington State’s application and to have championed the Inflation Reduction Act — which funded the Climate Resilience Regional Challenge — in Congress. With this investment, our state will continue to lead the way in climate action, protect communities that have been historically marginalized and overburdened by climate injustice, and take vital steps to save our planet and our people.”
Additional information is available on the Climate Resilience Regional Challenge website.
Climate, weather, and water affect all life on our ocean planet. NOAA’s mission is to understand and predict our changing environment, from the deep sea to outer space, and to manage and conserve America’s coastal and marine resources.
