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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The Guide to Coastal Hazard Adaptation Strategies Suitable for Hawaii’s Coastlines, is a new, comprehensive resource that identifies a range of coastal adaptation strategies suitable for Hawaiʻi, and outlines the considerations and regulatory framework that may apply to the implementation of various adaptation strategies.

Hawaii’s coastlines face chronic erosion and flooding from sea level rise. To protect the beaches, which are considered a public trust, Hawaiʻi coastal zone management law prohibits the use of seawalls and revetments on sites with beaches, unless it is clearly in the interest of the public. While this rule preserves beach ecosystems, it has left many shoreline residents and planners unclear about what coastal adaptation strategies are available to protect existing development.

Besides shoreline hardening, dune restoration and beach renourishment are common strategies used in Hawaiʻi today. However, due to Hawaii’s diverse coastline, these strategies are not appropriate in all situations. Hawaii’s coastal areas are varied in geology, uses and development. These characteristics affect the vulnerability of coastal areas and underscore that there is no “one size fits all” solution.

This informational resource identifies over 40 adaptation strategies that could be suitable for Hawaii’s coastlines to protect from coastal hazards such as erosion, storm flooding, wave impact forces and sea level rise flooding. Strategies range from gray (built structures) to green (nature-based) solutions and includes strategies applicable for parcel and regional scale needs. Each strategy includes information on advantages and disadvantages, relative cost for implementation and maintenance, ideal scale and site conditions, as well as potential permits that may be required. Read a summary here and access the Guide here.

After 8 Major Hurricanes in 6 Years, Some Gulf Coast Communities are Hitting a ‘Tipping Point’

When Hurricane Idalia slammed into Florida Wednesday morning, it became the eighth major hurricane to hit the Gulf Coast in the last six years. And it may not be the last; Atlantic hurricane season hasn’t yet peaked, and the Gulf of Mexico has been historically warm – more energy to fuel more deadly storms. But as the tireless work of rebuilding begins in places like hard-hit Pasco County, Idalia’s landfall renews the question of whether it’s appropriate to rebuild in some areas, experts told CNN, and where to do so. Human-caused climate change is wreaking havoc on the Gulf Coast, which is already experiencing some of the fastest sea level rise in the world. As the ocean swallows shore, it makes the impacts of storm surge and flooding more dangerous for the communities in these low-lying areas. To make matters worse, many insurance companies are also pulling out of some Gulf states, leaving homeowners and businesses with more risk and fewer options to finance their recovery in a way that will leave buildings stronger and better able to withstand the next storm. Read more here.

Early Estimates Put Idalia’s Insured Losses at $3-9 Billion for Florida

Preliminary estimates of insured losses from Hurricane Idalia have already begun, with about $9 billion in losses predicted for Florida alone. The estimates are far lower than some in Florida had feared and well below the $60 billion in losses from Hurricane Ian, which followed a similar path less than a year ago but targeted more heavily populated areas on Florida’s southwest coast. UBS, the multinational investment bank, said Wednesday that its estimates for Florida range from $4 billion to $25.6 billion, with an average of $9.36 billion, Reuters news service reported. That would mean Idalia would cost insurers less than 10 of the costliest hurricanes to hit the United States. ...“To put this event into context … Hurricane Ian last year, impacting a much more densely populated area, brought total damage and economic loss of $180-210 billion,” AccuWeather said in a bulletin. “Hurricane Michael in 2018 devastated parts of the Panhandle area of Florida, again in a slightly more populated area than Idalia, with a total damage and economic loss of about $30 billion.” Read more here.

Horseshoe Crabs Get Protection in South Carolina After Harvesters, Conservation Groups Reach Deal

Harvesting of horseshoe crabs will end on more than 30 islands along the South Carolina coast under a new deal conservation groups struck with Charles River Laboratories. The deal comes in the wake of a federal lawsuit challenging the Charleston-based lab’s controversial collection of the crabs for its lucrative blood extraction business. The company has long collected the crabs for their bluish blood, which is used to make an extract that can detect deadly toxins in vaccines and medical equipment. A gallon can fetch $60,000. But conservationists also have fought the practice for years, arguing that the harvest harms the crabs and threatens vulnerable birds such as the red knot, a species that feeds on the crabs’ eggs. The agreement, which was filed Aug. 23 in the federal court in Charleston, lasts for five years and involves Charles River Labs, the S.C. Department of Natural Resources, Gault Seafood and Marsh Point Farm. The Southern Environmental Law Center represented the Defenders of Wildlife and the Coastal Conservation League. Read more here.

Connecticut Shoreline Guide Showcases Geology, Ecology, and Wildlife of CT Shoreline Released

Connecticut Sea Grant and the Connecticut College Arboretum are pleased to announce the publication of Connecticut’s Sandy Shores: An Introduction to the Geology, Plants and Animals, a 130-page guidebook with dozens of color photos and illustrations along with explanatory text about the ecology, geology, common species and why Connecticut’s sandy beaches differ from many others along the Atlantic seaboard. Printed on water resistant paper, the book is intended as an educational companion for visits to the shoreline by anyone interested in learning about the coastal environment, including formal and informal educators, birders, artists, students and the general public. “Our hope in developing this guide is that people can take this guide to the beach in any season and appreciate and understand this highly dynamic system, especially in light of the changing climate and its impacts on Connecticut’s shoreline,” said Juliana Barrett, CT Sea Grant coastal habitat specialist, UConn extension educator and lead author. Read more here.

Latino Youth, Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month via Ocean Conservation

I’ve always had a deep connection to the ocean, which stems from my family and the experiences we shared. My family and I would go on vacation to visit my grandmother in Veracruz, Mexico, where she lived next to a river. And it became part of a tradition to go to the river and learn about it. When I came back to living in San Diego, whenever I went to the Tijuana River Estuary in Imperial Beach — where the Tijuana River meets the Pacific Ocean — I would see and experience the plastic and sewage pollution that caused the beach to be closed. Latino families are among the demographic groups most affected by water and ocean pollution because we tend to live in places that have contaminated bodies of water. And because of the lack of resources and language barrier, we don’t know the reasons why it’s polluted and hence can’t go in or swim in it. Read more here.

Oregon Tribes Protest Offshore Wind Plans

Federal officials’ announcement of two draft wind energy areas off the Oregon coast poses danger to fisheries, jobs and the state’s coastal environment, the Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians say. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s proposal “was premature and threatens fisheries, local fishing jobs, and some of Oregon pristine ocean viewsheds, some of which are sacred to the Tribe,” the confederation said in a statement issued Tuesday. Objections coming out of Oregon are echoing those lodged against offshore wind projects off the East Coast, where local groups continue to mount fierce political and legal campaigns over anticipate impact on fishing and ocean views from coastal communities. Read more here.

[NEW] Wisconsin Coastal Management Program Opens Annual RFP

WCMP is seeking proposals to enhance, preserve, protect and restore resources within the state’s coastal zone – all counties adjacent to Lakes Superior and Michigan, with their nearly 1000 miles of shoreline. They anticipate awarding up to $1.6 million in grant funding. WCMP Grants are available for coastal wetland protection and habitat restoration, nonpoint source pollution control, coastal resource and community planning, Great Lakes education, public access and historic preservation. The due date is Friday, November 2, 2023. There will be a virtual grant workshop September 19, 2023 (A recorded presentation will be made available and posted at http://coastal.wisconsin.gov.) Application materials are available on the WCMP Grants Program webpage. For more information please contact staff at [email protected].

[NEW] NOAA Marine Debris Program Releases Two New Funding Opportunities

The NOAA Marine Debris Program announced two Fiscal Year 2024 Notices of Funding Opportunity for both Marine Debris Removal and Interception Technologies under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. These are two separate funding opportunities, and they have different application requirements. Applicants wishing to compete under both funding opportunities must submit separate letters of intent (LOI) for each. Applicants who submit successful LOIs will be invited to submit a full proposal following the LOI review period. The NOAA Marine Debris Program will award up to $28 million across the two funding opportunities. The Marine Debris Removal letters of intent deadline is Friday October 27, 2023, and an applicant webinar will be offered on September 12, 2023 at 3:00 PM ET (registration required). The Marine Debris Interception Technologies letters of intent deadline is Wednesday November 15, 2023, and an applicant webinar will be offered on September 13, 2023 at 3:00 PM ET (registration required).

[NEW] FEMA Announces FY22 BRIC and FMA Selections

On August 28, 2023, FEMA announced the selection of 124 projects for this year’s BRIC National Competition. In addition, this is a follow-up from May 19, when FEMA announced the BRIC initial selections for the Tribal Set-Aside and the State and Territory Allocation. FEMA made $2.295 billion available for the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant program in fiscal year 2022. BRIC received 803 subapplications totaling more than $4.6 billion from 55 states, territories, and the District of Columbia. The agency also received requests from 37 tribal governments totaling more than $56.2 million in the Tribal Set-Aside funds. Learn about the application process here and see the selected projects here.

Biden-Harris Administration makes $240 million available for habitat restoration and coastal resilience through Investing in America agenda

On August 15, NOAA Fisheries announced the availability of up to $240 million in funding for transformational habitat restoration and coastal resilience projects as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act. Through this funding opportunity, NOAA will support habitat restoration approaches that enhance the resilience of coastal and Great Lakes communities — including tribes and underserved communities — against climate hazards. This announcement came one day ahead of the one-year anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act, the largest climate investment in U.S. history.

ASAP Hosting 2023 Private Sector Climate Service Providers Academy this Fall

The American Society of Adaptation Professionals is hosting a virtual academy for private sector climate service providers. It is geared towards providers working with design, architecture, engineering, or planning clients in the Great Lakes, South Central, the Caribbean, California/Nevada, or the North/Mid-Atlantic regions. The virtual academy aims to give providers the tools they need to develop higher-quality climate services and help their businesses succeed in the rapidly evolving climate services marketplace. Learn more here.

Urban Ocean Lab Releases Guidebook on Ocean Climate Funding for Coastal Cities

Urban Ocean Lab has identified over $21.7 billion in funds that cities are eligible to use in implementing ocean climate action projects, $11 billion allocated from the IRA and $10.7 billion allocated from the IIJA. Cities and other coastal project managers must act quickly to identify and apply for applicable project funding as many federal programs have already started awarding funds to applicants. This guidebook is intended to be a concise directory to assist cities in accessing the remaining and ongoing funding opportunities afforded for ocean climate projects in these two laws. 

Ocean Acidification Mini-Grant Opportunity

NOAA's Ocean Acidification Program has announced a FY24 Education mini-grant opportunity to provide assistance for the development of ocean and coast educational tools in underserved and/or Indigenous communities. Letters of intent are due by Friday, September 15, 2023.

TNC and PEW Release RFP for Shellfish Growers Resiliency Fund

The Nature Conservancy and The Pew Charitable Trusts’ Supporting Oyster Aquaculture & Restoration (SOAR) Program has issued a request for proposals (RFP) for the Shellfish Growers Resiliency Fund (Fund). The Fund aims to pave the way for a more resilient and sustainable U.S. shellfish industry that benefits the ocean and the communities which rely upon it. Funding will be open to applicants in the United States and U.S. Territories. The award will fund projects up to $20,000 for one-to-two-year projects and will target shellfish growers, shellfish aquaculture industry associations, and closely linked supply chain companies supporting aquaculture. The application deadline for the RFP is Friday October 6, 2023. To learn more about the Fund and the application process, visit the SOAR website: https://www.nature.org/soar. If you have questions about the Resiliency Fund, please contact Rebekah Borgert [email protected].

Request for Proposals on Including Indigenous Ways of Knowing in Decision-Making for Ocean and Coastal Management

The Lenfest Ocean Program released an RFP for projects that elevate Indigenous Peoples in sharing their traditions, culture, knowledge, and wisdom to improve evidence-based decision-making for the management, conservation, and restoration of coastal marine species, habitats, and ecosystems. The RFP is intended to support identification, analysis, and/or communication of Indigenous Knowledge and wisdom (where it is culturally appropriate); and engagement approaches that facilitate the inclusion of this knowledge into ocean and coastal management decisions. The deadline to apply is Monday, October 16, 2023.