WASHINGTON, DC – In an effort to mitigate the impact of climate change on Rhode Island’s coastline and make our coastal communities more resilient, U.S. Senator Jack Reed today welcomed $691,000 in federal funding for two key projects in Rhode Island under the Biden Administration’s Investing in America agenda.  The federal funds will be used to develop plans to make Rhode Island’s coastal wetland habitats more resilient to the effects of climate change and help Providence assess opportunities for future habitat restoration projects along the Port of Providence.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is recommending two key Rhode Island coastal project be eligible for funding:

$492,000 for the City of Providence to conduct an analysis of the Port of Providence to Determine Shoreline, Habitat Restoration, and Climate Resilience Needs While Engaging Local Community Members Most Impacted by the Port

Funding Source: Coastal Habitat Restoration and Resilience Grants for Underserved Communities

The City of Providence will conduct an analysis of the Port of Providence’s coastline, which borders the South Providence and Washington Park neighborhoods. The assessment will identify current shoreline conditions and potential opportunities for future habitat restoration. The city will also partner with Groundwork Rhode Island and Save the Bay to conduct outreach and provide educational opportunities for local community members. 

$199,000 for the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) to Improve Coastal Wetland Resilience within the Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

Funding Source:  National Estuarine Research Reserve System Habitat Protection and Restoration Grants

This project will address sea level rise impacts by supporting the design and permitting of projects that protect important coastal wetland habitats within the Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. The development of construction plans, cost estimates, and permit applications for three habitat areas—Coggeshall Marsh, Nag West Marsh, and the T-Wharf Shoreline—will ultimately provide room for the habitat to move upland. The restoration planning will include mitigation measures, such as rerouting coastal roads and removing infrastructure that impedes marsh migration.

“Climate change is real and we need to invest in protecting our shorelines and coastal communities.  This latest infusion of coastal resiliency grants will help Rhode Island develop and implement effective strategies to mitigate the impacts of climate change,” said Senator Reed, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee that funds NOAA.

The federal funding for these two projects comes from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (P.L. 117-58) and the Inflation Reduction Act (P.L. 117-169).  Senator Reed voted to pass both bills, which President Biden signed into law.

The two coastal resilience grants announced today represent a s mall fraction of NOAA’s nearly $6 billion in planned total investment under from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act.