NOAA, Biden-Harris Administration announce $71.1 million for California project as part of Investing in America Agenda

Today, Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced that the Department of Commerce and NOAA have recommended $71.1 million for a project in California 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 $71.1 million to help underserved communities in California develop and implement new strategies to protect themselves from flooding and wildfires.” 

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; build resilience to coastal hazards such as extreme weather events, pollution and marine debris; restore coastal habitats that help wildlife and humans thrive; build the capacity of underserved communities and support community-driven restoration; and provide employment opportunities.

“As central coast communities work to rebuild from recent devastating storms, this award recognizes that the impacts of climate change are complex, and thus implements a multi-faceted approach to building climate-ready coastal communities” said NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad, Ph.D. “With this funding, this region can come together as a team, offering support to those who might otherwise be overlooked and more likely to be negatively impacted by climate change. This collaborative approach will reduce the region’s vulnerability to flooding, wildfires, and other climate change impacts.”

The recommended project, Regional Adaptation for Climate Resilience of Monterey Bay Coastal Communities, includes $71.1 million for work led by the California Marine Sanctuary Foundation. The project will implement adaptation strategies that create a regional, collaborative approach for addressing flooding and wildfire risks while building capacity through workforce development. These transformative strategies include nature-based approaches designed to strengthen ecosystem and habitat resilience and protect human communities. 

With an emphasis on meaningful engagement with tribes and marginalized communities, this unified, region-wide coalition will create generational impact through building the local knowledge and skills necessary in building resilient infrastructure and improving adaptive capacity for current and future climate hazards.

“Monterey Bay communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis have faced disastrous consequences from flooding and fires these past several years,” said Senator Alex Padilla. “Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, this transformational investment will bolster climate-resilient infrastructure, protect fragile coastal ecosystems, and empower disadvantaged working families as Monterey Bay adapts and prepares for future disasters.”

“California is no stranger to the destructive consequences of the climate crisis,” said Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. “From wildfire to catastrophic flooding, we must ensure our community is equipped with the resources to tackle these climate risks. The Biden-Harris Administration has committed to doing exactly that since day one, and this investment—made possible by the Democratic-led Inflation Reduction Act—is no exception. I am pleased to see NOAA support the Monterey Bay area in creating equitable climate adaptation and mitigation strategies while emphasizing collecting local input and building up a workforce necessary to take on this effort. I look forward to working with NOAA as this investment makes an impact.”

“Last Congress, we worked hard to do our job and pass historic legislation to confront climate change,” said Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-CA).  “Today we are hearing about the effects of our work with the announcement of this major federal investment in local conservation programs, workforce development, and our infrastructure to reduce the risks of damage from wildfires, flooding, storm surges, and sea level rise.  California's 19th Congressional District will soon be feeling the impact of this federal investment as we strengthen and bolster the resiliency and security of our community and, ultimately, the future of our country.”  

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.