As we have seen more and more abnormal and extreme weather along with rising sea-levels, coastal communities and ecosystems have been under immediate threat. Nearly 40% of Americans reside in coastal communities, annually contributing roughly $10 trillion in goods and services to the economy. These areas are now affected more and more by coastal hazards and extreme flooding. In 2023, the US encountered 28 separate destructive climate and weather events costing at least $1 billon, totaling $92.9 billion.
In 2018, the National Coastal Resilience Fund (NCRF) was founded. They invest in conservation projects aimed at increasing, restoring, and strengthening natural infrastructure. This would include coastal forests, marshes and wetlands, beach and dune systems, oyster and coral reefs, rivers and floodplains, and barrier islands which soften impacts of coastal hazards and storms to neighboring communities.
The NCRF partners with the Dept. of Defense, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Occidental Petroleum Corp., and the American branch of the Shell company (oil and gas).
Recently, nearly $1 million is now making its way to New Hampshire through grants totaling $139 million. These grants were awarded to 31 other coastal states and American territories in order “to support nature-based solutions for coastal resilience.” According to NFWF, the money will fund stream-crossing projects in the state’s coastal wetlands and “will result in a pipeline of at least 10 restoration projects to expand habitat for native species, including American eel, brook trout, and American shad, while mitigating flood risk from a 100-year storm event.”
This grant money is destined for the Merrimack River watershed to be used in conservation work. Senator Jeanne Shaheen stated, “New Hampshire’s outdoor economy is one of the state’s most important industries and it’s critical we invest in conservation and resiliency to keep it that way while also protecting and preserving our environment for generations to come.”
With a new in-coming “administration” it remains to be seen what will happen to departments like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and efforts to combat extreme weather and climate change.