The
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) studies and predicts changes in climate, weather, oceans, and coasts. It also supplies environmental information, stewardship services, and applied scientific research around the world. Its FY22-26 strategic plan,
Building a Climate Ready Nation, focuses on climate resiliency and economic development, incorporating environmental stewardship and equity throughout the planning and implementation stages. As communities and military installations prepare for long-term sustainability in response to climate change, NOAA's scientific capabilities and observational and forecast data are valuable assets for modeling and strategic planning purposes. NOAA grants and programs support continued community and military partnerships in these efforts and enhance the ability to assess shared vulnerabilities and strengthen critical infrastructure, programs, and services, while considering an installation's unique resilience requirements.
Compatibility Factors relevant to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: Biological Resources, Land Use, Marine Environments, Water Quality, Scarce Natural Resources
Relevant Programs and Plans
The Coastal and Estuarine
Land Conservation Program (CELCP) grants allow state and local governments
to purchase or obtain conservation easements on threatened coastal and estuarine
lands. More than 110,000 acres have been protected so far, with another
16,000 acres added through in-kind contributions. Property selection considers
how the following goals are met:
- Protect coastal ecosystems, wetlands, corals, and natural shorelines
- Preserve natural features that provide storm protection, such as
dunes and barrier islands
- Minimize loss of life and property by directing development out
of high-risk areas
- Safeguard coastal water quality
- Preserve historic, cultural, and archaeological features
- Protect aesthetic coastal features and scenic vistas
- Provide opportunities for public access to the coast
Conservation easements can be used to deter encroachments on military
installations and areas critical to mission readiness. While the REPI program
is most closely linked to defense communities, CELCP properties may be another
way for communities to leverage multiple federal resources to support compatibility.
Local governments can partner with military installations and state and
local partners to identify areas with overlapping objectives.
National Coastal Zone Management Program: Authorized by the Coastal Zone
Management Act (CZMA) of 1972, the program is a partnership between the
federal government and coastal and Great Lakes states and U.S. territories.
Among its enhancement goals are restoring, improving, or creating wetlands,
addressing coastal hazards, enhancing public access, dealing with marine
debris, supporting special area management planning, ocean and Great Lakes
resource management, energy and government facility siting, and aquaculture.
Maryland's coastal zone includes all 16 counties bordering the Atlantic
Ocean, the Chesapeake Bay, and the Potomac River to Washington, D.C., Baltimore
City, and all jurisdictions within the 16 counties. Many Maryland military
installations rely on these coastal areas as training routes and encroachment
buffers.
Maryland's coastal zone management program is managed by the Department
of Natural Resources and coalitions of local, state, military, and federal
partners can apply for aid to ensure that environmental preservation, public
access to coastal resources, and mission readiness can work in tandem. Learn
more about coastal management organizations in Maryland on NOAA's state
profile.
Digital
Coast is an online tool managed by NOAA's Office
for Coastal Management and provides coastal data, tools, and training materials
to tackle coastal resiliency issues and meet the changing needs of the coastal
management community. Information available through the Digital Coast can
help communities and military installations with resiliency planning by
providing data about current and future environmental challenges and ways
to translate that data so that it is understandable and useful.
The National
Coastal Resilience Fund, like the National Coastal Zone Management Program, is another federal program that helps
advance the overlapping benefits of coastal preservation and restoration,
while preventing encroachments on military facilities. The National Coastal
Resilience Fund is a partnership between NOAA, the
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and other private and government
partners; including the Department of Defense. It funds and executes projects
to restore wetlands, dunes, coral reefs and other coastal features with
a goal to restore, improve, and strengthen natural infrastructure that helps
absorb storm impacts. Find examples of coastal resilience success stories,
applicant resources, and other information on the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's
program dashboard.
