Biden-Harris Administration recommends funding of $2.5 million for projects in Wisconsin to strengthen Climate-Ready Coasts as part of Investing in America agenda

Today, Vice President Harris announced that the Department of Commerce has recommended $2.5 million for projects across Wisconsin to make communities and the economy more resilient to climate change, as part of the Investing in America agenda. Across Wisconsin, three projects will create jobs and boost economic and environmental outcomes for coastal communities. The awards are made under the Biden Administration’s Climate-Ready Coasts initiative funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) with additional funds leveraged from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). 

“The Great Lakes are an economic and cultural engine and we are proud to continue supporting Wisconsin’s efforts to help Great Lakes communities become more resilient to climate change,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “Thanks to President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act, coastal communities across the country, like Wisconsin, can continue the important work of building a climate-ready nation.”

Administered by the Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (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.

“Wisconsin’s responsible stewardship of the Great Lakes is a model for the country, and NOAA is excited to support efforts to help Wisconsin’s Great Lakes communities,” said Rick Spinrad, Ph.D., NOAA administrator. “These projects will help ensure equitable access to Wisconsin’s incredible natural areas, and support economic opportunities for communities across the state.”

“Our Great Lakes are home to a precious ecosystem, provide safe drinking water for millions of Americans, and are critical to our Made in Wisconsin economy, and we need to do everything we can to protect them for generations to come,” said Senator Tammy Baldwin. “I am proud to help bring home these resources to help Wisconsin communities keep our Great Lakes clean, act on and respond to climate change, and support good-paying jobs. I am excited to see these resources get put to work and look forward to seeing a continued investment from the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in our fresh coasts.”

These projects are part of NOAA’s nearly $6 billion total investment under BIL and IRA. Recommended projects and funding amounts in Wisconsin include:

• Conservation of Sand River Headwaters 
  Wisconsin Department of Administration: $1.9 million
  Funding Source: Coastal Zone Management Habitat Protection and Restoration Grants 
  This project will allow Bayfield County to acquire 2,001 acres of ecologically significant land that are vital to the health and functioning of Lake Superior’s coastal resources. The ecosystems within the acquired land provide stopover habitat for migratory birds, spawning areas for Great Lakes fish, aesthetic views of Lake Superior, and passive recreation.The acquisition also completes a broader agreement with the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa for the County’s reinvestment of proceeds from an earlier land sale that repatriated nearby land formerly owned by the County to the Red Cliff. 
• Establishing Regional Restoration Visions and Identifying Projects within the Lake Superior Headwaters Sustainability Partnership Region
  University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents: $350,000
  Funding Source: National Estuarine Research Reserve System Habitat Protection and Restoration Awards
  This project will develop detailed, actionable habitat restoration visions for congruent geographic regions within the St. Louis River Estuary, with guidance from a diverse and participatory group of stakeholders. The work will be led by the Minnesota Land Trust through the Lake Superior Headwaters Sustainability Partnership, a consortium of federal, tribal, state, county, municipal, and community partners working to implement sustainable, landscape-level conservation in the headwaters of Lake Superior. 
• An Expansion of Coalition-Based Efforts to Reduce Marine Debris Throughout the Great Lakes Region
  Wisconsin Sea Grant: $300,000
  Funding Source: Marine Debris Community Action Coalitions 
  Wisconsin and Ohio Sea Grant Programs will work together to develop a plastic-free coalition within the Cleveland Metropolitan area. The project's primary objectives will be to reduce the consumption of unnecessary single-use plastics by individuals and businesses, thereby reducing pollution entering the watershed. This project will also expand the efforts of Plastic-Free MKE (Milwaukee), particularly surrounding the coalition's education and outreach efforts focused on marine debris.