The Coastal States Organization represents the nation’s Coastal States, Territories, and Commonwealths on ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resource issues. |
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Spotlight on Coastal Management:
iHeartEstuaries Week!
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This week, show some love for estuaries – these unique ecosystems do a lot!
Estuaries –
- provide coastal protection benefits including mitigating impacts of sea level rise
- provide habitat to over 600 commercial fish species and more than 2/3 of all commercial seafood species
- are refuges for people and wildlife and support vibrant recreation and tourism opportunities
- and much more!
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Celebrating 50 Years of Ocean and Coastal Conservation |
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2022 is a BIG year for ocean and coastal conservation! Not only is it the 50th anniversary for the CZMA, it is also the 50th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, Marine Mammals Protection Act, and National Marine Sanctuaries Act.
Learn about the CZMA 50th here!
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In the States and Regions |
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Hundreds of Puerto Ricans Take Over ‘Private Beach’ in Dorado to Protest Access
Hundreds of Puerto Ricans climbed the rocky paths that surrounded Dorado Beach to protest the decades-long privatization of one of Puerto Rico’s most prominent natural resources. By law, every beach in Puerto Rico should be open and accessible to the public, but the last few decades have seen private beachfront hotels and apartments creep onto the coastline, essentially privatizing some beaches unless a person is staying at one of these many expensive developments or if they choose to brave dangerous paths that lead into these beaches. Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, is one of these examples. Over the years, multiple people have complained that they were denied access to the ostensibly public beaches because the development declared that they were on their property. This culminated in a Saturday protest demonstration at Sardinera Beach. Read more
Shoreline Commission Gets Closer to Proposing Legislation That Would Clarify Public Rights
If you have access to an old ox cart, now would be the time to get out a tape measure and figure out exactly how wide it is. The answer to that seemingly esoteric question could determine where you're allowed to walk on the beach this summer. As the special House commission on shoreline access gets closer to wrapping up its work, a few more points of consensus have emerged. First, the General Assembly should pass a law that outlines the public's rights in more precise terms than the state constitution, which guarantees the right to passage along the shore. Second, it makes sense to think about the seaweed line (also known as the wrack line or swash line) as the dividing line between private property and public shoreline — but people should probably be allowed to walk a short distance above it. How far, exactly? That's where the ox cart comes in. Read more
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Encinitas, Solana Beach to Receive Federal Funds for Sand Replenishment
The cities of Encinitas and Solana Beach will receive $30.5 million in federal funding for a storm damage reduction project that involves sand replenishment along the coastline from Beacon’s Beach to areas north of Swami’s State Beach in Solana Beach. The Encinitas-Solana Beach project aims to protect coastal bluffs and infrastructure by raising and widening the shorelines through sand replenishment. Over a 50-year period, 700,000 cubic yards of sand will be placed along 7,200 feet of beach in Solana Beach approximately every 10 years. In Encinitas, 340,000 cubic yards of sand will be relocated along 7,800 feet of beach in Encinitas every five years. The first round of sand replenishment for both cities will total more than 1 million cubic yards of sand. Read more
Army Engineers Allocate $146M for Crucial Oregon Investments
Army Engineers and planners will receive $146 million for various infrastructure projects at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) sites around Oregon. Funding for these projects originates from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act. "This funding will provide critical improvements to some of the region's most vital civil works infrastructure," said Liza Wells, deputy district engineer of the Portland District. "Oregon's coastal communities will benefit from enhanced economic opportunities thanks to the upcoming repairs to the Coos Bay and Tillamook jetty systems; while also increasing the safety aspects of traversing the dangerous Pacific coast. We'll also make improvements to our system of dams throughout the region; it's important work and we're eager to move these jobs forward." Read more
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Sabine Pass to Galveston Bay Program Begins Levee Construction to Prevent Flooding in Port Arthur, Orange
One project impacting three Southeast Texas counties has a very specific purpose to improve flood protection. The Sabine Pass to Galveston Bay Coastal Storm Risk Management Program is underway to reduce the risk of storm surge impacts in Orange, Jefferson, and Brazoria counties. Southeast Texas is sadly no stranger to devastating hurricanes and the flood damage that comes along with it. Sabine Pass to Galveston Bay CSRM is already in progress and aims to reduce the risk of flooding. Two groups want to raise the bar when it comes to flood protection. Raising the bar really means raising the levee. The US Army Corps of Engineers and the Office of Jefferson County Drainage District 7 are working together on a $40 billion project to improve flood protection. Read more
Funding Secured for Large-Scale Marsh Creation Projects In Louisiana
The Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act (CWPPRA) Task Force has approved $99 in funding for seven large-scale marsh creation projects in Louisiana. Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) will use the funding for the construction of the Breton Landbridge Marsh Creation (West), No Name Bayou Marsh Creation, and Northeast Turtle Bay Marsh Creation projects and the engineering and design of the East Cove Marsh Creation, Port Fourchon Marsh Creation, Northeast Turtle Bay Marsh Creation Extension, and Grand Bayou Ridge and Marsh Restoration – Increment 2. Read more
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Wolf Administration Announces Funding to Protect Lake Erie
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced that six projects received Coastal Zone Grants totaling more than $250,000. The grants, which are aimed at protecting and restoring the Lake Erie Coastal Zone, will be used toward projects that will benefit the critical habitat and ecosystem. “The Lake Erie Coastal Zone is an extraordinary environmental, economic, and community resource that is under growing pressure from threats such as development, pollution, and, increasingly, climate change,” said DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell. “Local organizations that develop strategies and carry out projects to restore and protect these natural resources are an important bulwark against these pressures. DEP is committed to supporting these partners with grant funding and technical assistance.” Read more
$1.5 Million In Federal Funds to Go Towards Lake Michigan Shoreline Investment Study
Chicago’s Lake Michigan shoreline will receive a $1.5 million investment in federal funding, allowing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to survey and study the shoreline. The project will seek to repair existing shoreline infrastructure and further protect against shoreline deterioration. The project is being funded as a part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed late last year. After the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completes their study, further funds will be allocated for the construction of shoreline infrastructure. Read more
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February 17, 2022
February 23, 2022
February 23-24, 2022
February 24, 2022
February 28 - March 4, 2022
March 1, 2022
March 8, 2022
March 8-10, 2022
March 10, 2022
March 17, 2022
March 30-31, 2022
March 31, 2022
April 6-7, 2022
April 13-14, 2022
April 25-28, 2022
May 15-19, 2022
July 19-21, 2022
October 25-27, 2022
December 4-8, 2022
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Updated Sea Level Rise Technical Report Released
The Interagency Sea Level Rise and Coastal Flood Hazard and Tool Task Force announced the release of the 2022 Sea Level Rise Technical Report, updating the federal government’s authoritative SLR projections. The report provides updated future sea level rise scenarios out to the year 2150, extreme coastal water level (tide-gauge) probabilities associated with observed impacts and applicable for most US coastlines, and information to help communities assess potential changes in average tide heights and height-specific threshold frequencies as they strive to adapt to sea level rise. Learn more and read the report here
NOAA Unveils New Sea Level Rise Snapshot
NOAA has released a new sea level rise snapshot, one of four new or improved Coastal County Snapshots. The snapshot incorporates the most up-to-date sea level rise projections as published from the 2022 Sea Level Rise Technical Report, and also allows the user to explore the projections from the previous report. This Digital Coast tool provides easy-to-understand charts and graphs that describe complex, county-specific coastal data. Communities use this information to ascertain community vulnerability and to plan accordingly. Other topics recently released include coastal flooding, the coastal economy, and the marine economy.
FEMA received a record-breaking request for funding in the applications submitted for the Fiscal Year 2021 Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities and Flood Mitigation Assistance grant programs. The application period closed Jan. 28. The Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program received requests from state, tribal, and territorial applicants for $4.16 billion. Every state and territory applied for funding. For the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) program, FEMA received requests from applicants in 25 states for $534 million. This response demonstrates the need for FEMA to continue investing in programs that address climate resilience and to ensure funds reach communities with the greatest need. FEMA made $1.16 billion available in funding for FY 2021 across these two programs The Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program made $1 billion available in funding and received requests for $4.16 billion, while the Flood Mitigation Assistance program made $160 million available in funding and received requests for $534 million. These grants support state, local, tribal and territorial governments reduce the risk they face against the disaster and natural hazards to strengthen community resiliency.
2022 RAE Coastal & Estuarine Summit: Now Accepting Presentation Proposals
Restore America’s Estuaries (RAE) proudly presents the 2022 Coastal and Estuarine Summit with support from Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana (CRCL). This event will bring together the coastal restoration and management communities to explore issues, solutions, and lessons learned in their work. The fate of New Orleans and other south Louisiana communities depends on successful coastal management and restoration, as does the health of the Gulf of Mexico, making this the perfect location for the 2022 RAE Summit. RAE is requesting for proposals for sessions that will provide both practical and inspirational help and guidance to our community in meeting the challenges and seizing the opportunities for coastal restoration in the years to come. Proposals are due April 8, 2022. Learn more and submit proposals here.
National Working Water Front Conference Call for Proposals
The 6th National Working Waterfront Conference will be held on July 19-21, 2022 at the waterfront campus of UMass Boston. The event provides a forum for stakeholders from across the U.S. and Canada to connect and showcase innovative, successful, and timely solutions to waterfront and waterway issues. Abstracts and session proposals are currently being excepted. The deadline to submit is February 25, 2022. Learn more about the conference and how to submit proposals here.
Call for Abstracts and Session Proposals for National Working Waterfront Network Conference
The 6th National Working Waterfront Conference will be held on July 19-21, 2022 at the waterfront campus of UMass Boston. The event provides a forum for stakeholders from across the U.S. and Canada to connect and showcase innovative, successful, and timely solutions to waterfront and waterway issues. Abstract and session proposals are due February, 25, 2022. Learn more and submit here.
New Hampshire Critical Flood Risk Infrastructure Grant Applications
The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Coastal Program and Watershed Assistance Section are accepting Critical Flood Risk Infrastructure Grant applications for flood resilience and stormwater management projects located within New Hampshire’s Coastal Watershed. Coastal watershed communities and their stormwater infrastructure are highly susceptible to damage from severe flood risks, including relative sea-level rise (RSLR), coastal storms, RSLR-induced groundwater rise, extreme precipitation, and freshwater flooding. Applications are due April 15, 2022, learn more and apply here. An informational webinar will take place on March 7, 2022, register for the webinar here.
Public Comment on Conservation and Stewardship Tool as part of America the Beautiful
The Department of the Interior, in coordination with the Departments of Agriculture and Commerce and the Council on Environmental Quality, has invited public comment regarding the development of the American Conservation and Stewardship Atlas, a new tool that will be used to track conservation and restoration of U.S. lands and waters. The Atlas is part of the America the Beautiful initiative to conserve, connect, and restore at least 30 percent of America’s lands and waters by 2030. Comments are due by March 7, 2022. Learn more here.
Department of Transportation Notice of Funding Opportunity
The U.S. Department of Transportation has published a Notice of Funding Opportunity for $1.5 billion in grant funding through the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) discretionary grant program. RAISE grants can be used for a wide variety of infrastructure projects. Applicants are encouraged to consider how their projects can address climate change, ensure racial equity, and remove barriers to opportunity. The application deadline is April 14, 2022. Four webinars on the grant program will be offered in February, more information on these webinars is available here. The NOFO is available here.
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In The States
In The Agencies
In NGOs, Industry, and Academia
Job Boards
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The views expressed in articles referenced here are those of the authors and do not represent or reflect the views of CSO.
If you have a news item or job posting to include in future CSO Newsletters, please send an email to: rkeylon@coastalstates.org with a subject line: "Newsletter Content". Please include the information to be considered in the body of the email. Please note: CSO reserves final decision regarding published newsletter content and may not use all information submitted.
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Coastal States Organization | 50 F Street. NW, Suite 570, Washington, DC 20001 | 202-508-3860 | cso@coastalstates.org | www.coastalstates.org |
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