Impact Stories

Program Draws People of Faith to Stories of Illinois Coast

The Takeaway: Thousands took part in the “Migration & Me,” program spotlighting the journeys of butterflies, bees, and people, with support from the Illinois Coastal Management Program.

NOAA-Supported Trail Heralds New Possibilities for Pennsylvania City

The Takeaway: An outdoor haven for walkers, runners, and cyclists adorns the City of Chester, which is designated an “environmental justice community” by the state.

Lake St. Clair in Michigan Sports Accessible Floating Dock, Launch, and Walkway

The Takeaway: This project brings the Michigan Coastal Program’s total water trail investments to $1.5 million, affecting 4,000-plus miles of scenic wonders.

Texas Scientists Rescue Record-High Numbers of Stranded Loggerhead Turtles, Investigate Causes

The Takeaway: The Mission-Aransas Research Reserve joins forces with other scientists aiding loggerhead rescue, rehabilitation, and research into stranding causes.

Gulf Coast Towns Lower Flood Insurance Rates, with NOAA’s Help

The Takeaway: Dozens of communities in three states get the information they need to boost hazard resilience and drive down flood insurance costs.

NOAA Gulf Coast Resilience Grants Go Far

The Takeaway: Five communities gained the assessments they need to guide resilience action, thanks to NOAA funds and community partners.

Great Lakes Shoreline Is Deteriorating—and NOAA Is Hard at Work on Restoration

The Takeaway: This shoreline report, co-authored by a Digital Coast scientist, makes plain the critical importance of NOAA’s nature-based restoration projects in the Great Lakes region.

Coastal Zone Management Makes a Difference

The Takeaway: The Coastal Zone Management Act has guided this nation’s approach to how we protect coastal economies and natural resources. These programs have served us for fifty years and continue to do so.

Massachusetts Map Tours Boost Accessibility, Safety, Program Transparency

The Takeaway: These colorful virtual tours, filled with facts, welcome everyone who has felt left out of coastal adventures and cast a bright light on a state coastal zone management program’s importance.

Virginia Collaborative Promotes Economic Perks of Lower Chickahominy Conservation

The Takeaway: The Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program and partners—buoyed by evidence that conservation funnels millions of extra dollars into the local economy—have signed a memorandum of understanding that promotes ecotourism’s economic benefits and helps preserve Indigenous and ecological assets.

Wade into Estuary Recreation at a NOAA Research Reserve

The Takeaway: Paddling azure waterways. Casting a line for that delectable campsite dinner. Spying an elusive warbler in a birder’s paradise. These adventures and many more await.

Twenty Years of Growing Relevance: NOAA’s Historical Hurricane Tracks Tool

The Takeaway: This popular tool pulls in a wide net of users, from vacation planners and storm-history buffs to technical experts modeling storm risks.

North Carolina Oyster Farms Provide Several Ecosystem Benefits

The Takeaway: A research team’s discoveries are helping agencies and committees guide oyster aquaculture expansion in the state.

NOAA Helps Maine Communities Assess, and Expand, Working Waterfront Economy

The Takeaway: NOAA’s economic-analysis resources and workshops uncover the power of working waterfronts.

North Carolina Partners Analyze and Address Stormwater Pollution Threats

The Takeaway: Participants in this research reserve partnership project sized up the nature of the threat and produced resources designed to lessen risks for outdoor-recreation fans and the Rachel Carson portion of the North Carolina Research Reserve.

NOAA-Supported Series Brings First-Generation College Students into the Fold

The Takeaway: The “Step into STEM” mentoring and workshop series, initiated and co-led by a Margaret A. Davidson Fellow, guided these students on crucial first steps toward science, technology, engineering, and math careers.

NOAA Strengthens Resilience Before, During, and After Disasters

The Takeaway: NOAA initiatives and state partnership programs are making a difference throughout the nation’s coastal zone.

Oregon Adds Emergency-Supplies Guide to Disaster Resilience Efforts

The Takeaway: Already, 10 jurisdictions have incorporated tsunami considerations for safer land-use plans. Now, all of Oregon’s coastal communities have “disaster cache” guidance to increase local survival odds in the wake of tsunamis and earthquakes.

Delaware’s Climate Action Plan Takes Off

The Takeaway: The Delaware Coastal Management Program helped develop the plan, and public-private leaders have embraced it, proposing initiatives that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fast-track adaptation steps.

NOAA Cheers Citizen Scientists

The Takeaway: These coastal volunteers walk the talk of science and stewardship by gathering data to help ecosystems remain vibrant and communities grow more resilient.

Blue Plan Maximizes Coastal Coordination, Minimizes Conflict

The Takeaway: This inventory of the natural resources and uses of the Long Island Sound represents a guide for the future.

NOAA Aids Largest-Ever West Coast Oyster Data Map

The Takeaway: The findings could spark restoration efforts that are much more strategic and effective, thanks to project leaders and partners that include California’s Elkhorn Slough Research Reserve.

NOAA Blue Carbon Enterprises Lessen Climate Change Damage

The Takeaway: Coastal wetlands research, restoration, tools, data, workshops, and partners—NOAA brings every blue carbon asset to the fight against climate-change-related hazards and harm.

NOAA Research Reserve Receives Enthusiastic Welcome in Connecticut

The Takeaway: NOAA’s Connecticut National Estuarine Research Reserve, the nation’s 30th, signals an exhilarating new era for the state’s coastal education, research, and ecotourism sectors.

NOAA’s “Green” Expertise Meets New Infrastructure Era

The Takeaway: Some U.S. infrastructure funding that is headed NOAA’s way will maximize the benefits of nature to lessen climate change damage.

Birds of the Coast Have a Friend in NOAA

The Takeaway: At a critical time for many species, NOAA collaborates with partners to protect coastal bird habitats and populations.

Native Americans Play Critical Roles in Many NOAA Projects

The Takeaway: We take a look at the great things that can happen when NOAA and Indigenous communities work together on coastal issues.

NOAA Boosts Coastal Hardiness

The Takeaway: The agency and its partners help coastal communities lessen hazard dangers, curb carbon emissions, and protect the coast’s environmental and economic assets.

3D Model of Bay Sheds Light on Eelgrass Restoration, Adaptation Strategies

The Takeaway: A NOAA-supported analysis of California’s Morro Bay estuary found links between seagrass collapse and later erosion that will inform bay-area adaptation strategies and could influence global seagrass conservation strategies.

Programs Improve Public Access for All

The Takeaway: NOAA safeguards coastal public access and inclusive adventures through the efforts of the National Coastal Zone Management Program and National Estuarine Research Reserve System.

Environmental Educators Tailor Lessons to Diverse Student Needs

The Takeaway: Students of the coast love to learn when educators reach them where they are—whether that’s online, in the field, or through the wisdom of their own culture and stewardship traditions.

Four Research Reserves Produce $165 Million in Yearly Economic Benefits

The Takeaway: The four Florida and Oregon reserves studied feature innovative programs and a combined 423,475 acres of habitat, all of which keep nature-based businesses, researchers, and nonprofits humming along.

NOAA Provides Assistance to Coastal Communities

The Takeaway: Some U.S. coastal communities have plentiful data for creating robust resilience plans. Others are struggling to catch up. NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management is focused on providing equal access to the data, tools, and expertise they deserve.

NOAA Reserve Hosts First-Ever Carbon-Offset Initiative by U.S. Pro Football Team

The Takeaway: The Philadelphia Eagles football team will expand mangrove and seagrass restoration efforts at Puerto Rico’s Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in order to offset travel-related emissions, in a partnership with the Ocean Conservancy and The Ocean Foundation.

Ohio Water-Quality Grades Educate and Inspire Action

The Takeaway: “A to F” report cards enlighten residents on the “where” and “what” of water-quality problems, as well as actions to take that could help improve grades.

Report Card Increases Stewardship of Galveston Bay Ecosystem

The Takeaway: Data on saltwater and freshwater wetland losses, from the Digital Coast, inform this scientific analysis and the stewardship actions that follow.

Digital Coast Informs Texas Decisions on Conserving Bird Habitat

The Takeaway: Coastal managers can assist migratory bird survival by learning more about changing marshes, land cover, and sea level rise. Digital Coast data helps.

NOAA Commemorates Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month

The Takeaway: Community pride and the centuries-old practices of Native Pacific Islanders inform several NOAA-supported projects to protect this region’s natural treasures.

Research Reserve Restoration Funds Strengthen Tribal Partnership

The Takeaway: California’s Elkhorn Slough Research Reserve was awarded $1.3 million to safeguard habitat and bolster stewardship efforts in a partnership with the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band.

NOAA Research Reserve, Volunteers Save Record Number of Turtles from Cold

The Takeaway: More than 900 cold-stunned sea turtles were rescued and treated, thanks to quick mobilization by Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve staff members and volunteers.

Social Science Course Illuminates “People Part” of Managing the Coast

The Takeaway: In Florida, past course participants are enhancing partnerships to safeguard mangroves and the community benefits that spring from these ecosystems.

NOAA Aids Exploration of Macroalgae as Renewable Energy Source

The Takeaway: The cultivation of marine macroalgae, such as seaweed and kelp, could benefit both human energy needs and ocean ecology.

The Digital Coast Strengthens Students’ Case Studies

The Takeaway: NOAA’s Sea Level Rise Viewer and other resources deepened student insights on the environmental and societal implications of climate change, and on potential adaptation strategies.

NOAA Report Informs Florida’s “Blue Economy” Strategies

The Takeaway: Study team recommends connecting ocean economy leaders and cultivating businesses and employees in “high return on investment” fields.

MarineCadastre.gov Played a Part in Reef Project’s Success

The Takeaway: Scientists used vessel-traffic data and maps when considering the best test reef spot for boosting the vulnerable Lake Sturgeon population in Michigan.

Illinois Boosts Ecology, Community along Lake Michigan Industrial Corridor

The Takeaway: Habitat restoration, multiuse trails, an accessible kayak launch, a more effective port district—the Illinois Coastal Management Program helps bring a fresh new spirit to this area.

Grants Bolster Illinois Port District’s Financial and Community Assets

The Takeaway: Funding and assistance by the Illinois Coastal Management Program strengthens operations and helps remedy infrastructure problems.

Shipwreck Project Preserves Indiana’s Maritime History

The Takeaway: Researchers conducted a survey of shipwrecks in the coastal waters of Lake Michigan to update records and understand how to continue conserving these underwater museums.

Students Care for Watersheds Using Traditional Hawaiian Practices

The Takeaway: Participants in the Bay Watershed Education and Training program learn that culturally-based practices benefit the Heʻeia community’s environment and quality of life.

Socially Distanced Volunteers Clean Up 9,000-Plus Pounds of Trash

The Takeaway: Much credit for the impressive haul goes to the commonwealth’s coastal zone management program and the volunteers, who followed strict health and safety protocols.

Thirty Years of Horseshoe Crab Surveys Reveal Increase in Species

The Takeaway: Each year since 1990, volunteers from around the Delaware Bay estuary join forces to count and document these important, joint-legged arthropods.

Restoration Dollars Bring Six Times the Return on Investment

The Takeaway: A 2020 follow-up study confirms 2011 projections by calculating that a NOAA habitat restoration investment of $10 million is powering up the local economy by at least $57 million, with more benefits every year.

Washington Coastal Resilience Project Ups Hazard Readiness

The Takeaway: New sea level rise projections and guidance are informing community policies, plans, development, and funding projects, with help from NOAA programs and grants.

Redesigned Parking Lot Improves Stormwater Management

The Takeaway: When flooding caused parking and runoff issues, the Florida Coastal Management Program stepped in to fund a parking lot redesign with irrigation, a rain garden, and porous pavement that allows rainwater to pass into the ground below.

Hawaii Scientists Cultivate and Replant Heat-Resistant Corals

The Takeaway: Groundbreaking experiment in coral “assisted evolution” is made possible by the long-term support of NOAA and Hawaii partners.

Alaska’s Digital Coast Fellow Boosts Community Storm Resilience

The Takeaway: Community storm histories, an online tool, and flood-risk maps prompt a $1 million-plus resilience grant to aid 44 additional Alaska Native communities on the hazard frontlines.

Pandemic Presents No Obstacle to North Carolina’s Achievements

The Takeaway: In a year complicated by quarantine, the state’s research reserve personnel rack up awards and accomplishments.

NOAA Helps Alaskans Plan for Imminent Threats and Future Resilience

The Takeaway: A project to collect critical water-level information in remote communities is backed by NOAA’s geospatial services contract, technical assistance, and oceanographic data program.

A Road-Flooding Fix Is Coming to California State Park

The Takeaway: Park visitors and bayside neighbors will enjoy a safer, more accessible area because a group organized by NOAA’s Science Collaborative studied and rated various adaptation options.

New Metrics and Models Help Quantify Coastal Ecosystem Benefits

The Takeaway: Research reserves are using these aids to understand and communicate how their projects promote cleaner water, improve resilience, expand habitat, and more.

California Opens Up Public Access in a Big Way

The Takeaway: Adventurers now exploring 1,000-plus miles of land and waterway trails owe much to the three agencies of California’s coastal zone management program.

South Carolina Produces Award-Winning Report on Living Shorelines

The Takeaway: Data, case studies, and a decision tree will improve regulations, the permitting process, and the ability of homeowners to select effective treatments for various shoreline conditions.

Digital Coast Program Gets “Blue Carbon” Added to U.S. Emissions Inventory

The Takeaway: In a global first, NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management ensures that the carbon stored in coastal ecosystems is being counted, aiding U.S. conservation efforts, greenhouse gas cuts, and “blue carbon” market trading.

Council Approves Plan to Make Virginia Beach “Sea Level Wise”

The Takeaway: Six-year study details urgently needed adaptation strategies, complete with potential benefits, costs, and challenges.

Virginia Partnership Launches “Prevent Balloon Litter” Sites

The Takeaway: The state’s coastal zone management program and partners offer ideas to lessen the threat, spotlighting fun and expressive ways to celebrate without producing litter.

Coastal Program Chips in During Pandemic to Keep Beaches Clean

The Takeaway: Unspent travel funds from Texas’ coastal zone management program will aid with beach maintenance expenses so local governments are able to keep the public safe as beaches reopen.

California Balances Habitat Conservation with Public Beach Access

The Takeaway: The California Coastal Commission acted on the pleas of local residents in a win for both environmental justice and public health.

Program’s Leadership and Data Maps Lessen Ocean-Use Conflicts

The Takeaway: As offshore wind energy comes to the state, the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program helps a variety of sectors air concerns and document existing ocean uses.

Role-Play Workshops Accelerate County’s Adaptation Action

The Takeaway: Officials and residents in South Carolina’s Georgetown County practiced working through adaptation-related decisions and trade-offs with the help of a South Carolina research reserve and NOAA’s Science Collaborative program.

New Hampshire “Green Credits” Process Okayed by Two Regulators

The Takeaway: “Credit for Going Green” provides a strategy for earning regulatory credits by installing natural buffers, plus a way to calculate buffer pollution-removal rates, with support from four national estuarine research reserves and NOAA’s Science Collaborative program.

Florida Experiment Lessens Shoreline Damage from High-Energy Waves

The Takeaway: A dual-defense strategy led to a 30- to-90-percent reduction in destructive wave energy.

Community Leadership Paves the Way to Promising Erosion Treatment

The Takeaway: A project that mimics aspects of cobble sand beaches virtually stopped the erosion of shoreline uplands in pilot studies aided by NOAA and Washington State’s coastal zone management program.

U.S.-Mexico Partners Cut Borderlands Plastic and Marine Debris

The Takeaway: The Tijuana River Research Reserve provides technical assistance and training for the effort.

Fire Safety Initiative Showcases Cultural and Ecological Connections

The Takeaway: Collaboration between Oregon’s South Slough Research Reserve and local tribal groups ensures a maximum use of forest resources and plentiful opportunities for environmental education.

Estuary Education Goes Virtual

The Takeaway: NOAA’s National Estuarine Research Reserve System provides online tours, activity books, and more to teachers and students.

Officials and Tribal Groups Restore Wisconsin Point

The Takeaway: This revitalized Lake Superior peninsula—a win for cultural, ecological, and recreational reasons—was made possible by $1.5 million in grants administered by Wisconsin’s coastal zone management program.

Maryland Hosts New NOAA National Marine Sanctuary

The Takeaway: Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary protects wetlands and the nation’s maritime history, aided by the state’s coastal zone management program.

Oregon Reserve’s Paddle Sport Investments Spur Ecofriendly Tourism

The Takeaway: The South Slough Research Reserve’s water trail system, tours, and outreach contribute to a growing South Coast market for canoeing, kayaking, and stand-up paddling adventures.

NOAA Helps Protect Reefs That Boost Resilience and the Economy

The Takeaway: A road improvement partnership on Puerto Rico’s Culebra Island lessens sediment and pollutants that harm this irreplaceable resource.

Rookery Bay Ecotours Are Rewarding, in More Ways Than One

The Takeaway: An innovative public-private partnership supports the work of the Rookery Bay Research Reserve while fostering estuary education and stewardship.

Hudson and Harbor Day Offers Hands-On Estuary Education

The Takeaway: Thousands of students equipped with waterproof waders and chemistry kits, sketch pads, and data sheets record estuary wonders with the help of New York’s Hudson River Research Reserve.

Study Teases Out What Makes a Tidal Marsh “Happy” or “Unhappy”

The Takeaway: Research reserve scientists and others explain marsh persistence with a twist on novelist Leo Tolstoy’s famous “happy families” opening line.

Stream Flow Findings Benefit Alaska Salmon Stocks

The Takeaway: A Hollings Scholar’s project at the Kachemak Bay Research Reserve will help resource managers better manage Chinook salmon.

Fortified Tidal Crossing Will Stand Strong against Climate Change

The Takeaway: A town’s culvert is now large enough to repel the next 100 years of intensifying hazards—and more tidal crossing fixes are on the way, thanks to a process co-led by the New Hampshire Coastal Program.

Historic Pollution Settlement Awards $1 Million to Nurdle Patrol

The Takeaway: The Mission-Aransas Research Reserve’s Nurdle Patrol documented plastic pellet pollution, evidence used to help reach an unprecedented $50 million settlement of a Clean Water Act lawsuit.

NOAA Sea Level Rise Viewer Boosts Wastewater Safety through 2070

The Takeaway: This Digital Coast tool helped the Jackson County Utility Authority pick a wastewater treatment locale away from rising flood hazards, potentially saving millions in repair costs.

Student Marsh Plantings Save Shoreline from Devastating Hurricane

The Takeaway: The Apalachicola Research Reserve’s environmental education program delivers real-life storm protection while bolstering the local habitat and ocean economy.

NOAA-Supported Shell Reef Fortifies Tribal Way of Life

The Takeaway: The Pointe-au-Chien people pushed back against floods and erosion by installing 200 tons of recycled oyster shells along a 400-foot shoreline.

Lake Superior Trail Improvements Support Bustling Ecotourism Sector

The Takeaway: The Minnesota Coastal Zone Management Program, covering the state’s Lake Superior region, has invested more than $350,000 to enhance recreational trails, which bring millions of tourism dollars into the local economy.

Study of 15 Research Reserves Finds Crabs Pose No Large-Scale Salt Marsh Threat

The Takeaway: While specific crab species can cause local damage, rising seas appear to be a bigger threat to salt marshes nationwide.

Ohio Efforts Enhance Lake Erie Ecology and Economy

The Takeaway: Two NOAA-supported projects bring together wetlands restoration and research with landscape conservation strategies.

NOAA Support Sets the Stage for Disaster Recovery Preparedness Policy

The Takeaway: It’s a good day when years of grants and tech assistance by NOAA and the Hawaii Coastal Zone Management Program lead to a new climate adaptation policy.

Research Reserve Adds Emotional Health Outreach after Hurricane

The Takeaway: Local Hurricane Maria survivors can receive expert help for their trauma and stress, because the Jobos Bay Research Reserve connects them with appropriate resources.

New Program Enriches 25 Years of Environmental Education

The Takeaway: A stewardship program for older schoolchildren soon will join a popular, two-day field trip for fourth graders at Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay Research Reserve.

Expertise Speeds Sunken Vessel Removal after Hurricanes

The Takeaway: Fast removal of hundreds of vessels, which had wreaked havoc and blocked much-needed supplies, was aided by the U.S. Virgin Islands Coastal Zone Management Program.

Cross-Sector Campaigns Reduce Single-Use Plastics and Styrofoam

The Takeaway: Partners led by the U.S. Virgin Islands Coastal Management Program promote reusable and biodegradable products to cut trash and keep wildlife safer.

Replanting Effort Is Restoring Estuary’s Lost Dunes

The Takeaway: Volunteers fortify sand dunes against storm surge and erosion with help from the New Hampshire Coastal Management Program.

Award-Winning Training Prepares Rhode Island for Rising Hazards

The Takeaway: A course and outreach events, aided by the Narragansett Bay Research Reserve, help coastal officials consider resilience planning and check off state-mandated adaptation training.

Oral Histories Shed Light on Georgia’s Family Fishing Culture

The Takeaway: Interviews of family fishermen, a project supported by the Georgia Coastal Management Program, hold important lessons for today’s policy makers and resource managers.

Debris Removal Leaves Weeks Bay Cleaner and Safer

The Takeaway: Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve worked with partners to haul away hazardous abandoned boats and other marine debris while raising boat owners’ awareness.

Coastal Grant Initiates Bat-Monitoring Towers across Pennsylvania

The Takeaway: Approximately 50 monitoring towers provide the “missing link” in bat migration data—a must for Lake Erie offshore planning—and NOAA, the Pennsylvania Coastal Program, and Texas Tech made the first two towers possible.

Volunteers Plant New Forest to Stem Grass Fire and Runoff Risks

The Takeaway: More than 10,000 new trees make communities safer and help protect coral reefs, shorelines, and ecotourism, thanks to partners that include the Guam Coastal Management Program and NOAA.

Wetlands Restoration Is Fulfilling a Community Vision

The Takeaway: Heʻeia’s restored wetlands on Oahu are already providing benefits such as increased food security, water quality, and native species.

An Entire Year of Reef Education Inspires Guam Residents

The Takeaway: Guam Year of the Reef offered over 50 public events and a museum exhibit to educate thousands on protecting this resource.

Monitoring Increases Kayaker Safety at Wisconsin National Park

The Takeaway: The Wisconsin Coastal Management Program and partners installed an award-winning monitoring system for sea cave explorers at the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.

Guam’s Coral Partners Mitigate Thorny Issue

The Takeaway: NOAA’s Coral Reef Conservation Program joins others in tackling damage from crown of thorns sea stars.

Filtration System Keeps Saipan Lagoon Cleaner

The Takeaway: The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands’ coastal program made the system feasible by updating environmental regulations and fining those who don’t comply.

Eye in Sky Monitors Resource Threats

The Takeaway: Is it a bird? A plane? No, it’s an unmanned aerial vehicle used by a Pacific commonwealth’s coastal program to spot natural resource dangers.

LaoLao Bay Dive Path Will Reduce Reef Impacts

The Takeaway: Coastal program design that keeps divers to a set path is likely to improve coral health and recruitment.

Accessible Boardwalk Will Promote Habitat Protection and Education

The Takeaway: The commonwealth’s coastal program joined a multi-partner effort to protect water quality and important wildlife and marine species.

Journal Features Largest Collection of Scientific Publications by Native Hawaiians

The Takeaway: The He‘eia Research Reserve contributed to field studies and editorial leadership.

Green Infrastructure Improves Stormwater Management in Guam

The Takeaway: Green roofs, cisterns, and rain gardens: Guam’s Coastal Management Program is taking a comprehensive approach to flooding and stormwater management.

Coastal Grant Restores Town Landmark in Crown Point

The Takeaway: The restoration of a 140-year-old bridge, a site for cultural and architectural education, was given a boost by Indiana’s coastal program.

Wild Rice Initiative Will Restore Native Coastal Wetland Species

The Takeaway: A NOAA-supported project to map Lake Superior locations of wild rice and foster its cultivation preserves the cultural legacy of the region’s Native Americans.

Training Inspires Homer to Advance Green Infrastructure

The Takeaway: After trainings, officials use course materials in clean-water efforts and seek to remove green infrastructure barriers.

Research Reserve Plays Key Role in Disaster Prevention and Response

The Takeaway: The Padilla Bay Research Reserve’s expertise and data inform a plan to protect natural resources from oil-spill disasters.

Newly Trained Law Enforcement Officers Guard Natural Treasures

The Takeaway: Graduates of a new academy, supported by NOAA Corals, enforce environmental and resource laws.

New Research Reserve Findings Back Up Marine Debris Campaign

The Takeaway: New findings and a campaign by the Mission-Aransas Research Reserve are tackling Texas' marine debris problem.

Hawaii and NOAA Corals Partner on Healthier Reefs

The Takeaway: NOAA works to bolster reef resilience and lessen stressors.

Digital Coast Aids Post-Maria Resilience Three Ways

The Takeaway: Puerto Rico is building back stronger with a Digital Coast tool and trainings in flood mapping and green infrastructure.

Charleston Again Turns to NOAA for Sea Level Rise Guidance

The Takeaway: A Digital Coast expert's sea level rise briefing moves officials to recommend higher elevations on new buildings.

Wisconsin’s Coastal Program Invests in Milwaukee’s Menomonee Valley

The Takeaway: Former abandoned area is on strong path to recovery. Sustainable design standards, new parks, trails, and stormwater approaches pave the way toward a better future.

Education Program Takes Root in Illinois Classrooms

The Takeaway: What started with a single school has expanded to educate over 1,500 students on the ins and outs of the water cycle and the importance of Lake Michigan.

“Day in the Life of a Samoan” Gives Tourists a Taste of Island Life

The Takeaway: American Samoa’s coastal program partnered with the visitors bureau to promote local culture, coastal stewardship, and economic development.

Good Neighbor Septic System Campaign Safeguards Waterways and Public Health

The Takeaway: Thousands of Indiana’s coastal residents now know simple steps to keep systems operating smoothly.

Coastal Ecotourism Workshops Make a Big Splash

The Takeaway: The state’s booming tourism industry gains 130 people trained to lead gentle explorations of coastal habitats.

Tech Partners Track Turtle Species at Risk

The Takeaway: An app gathers portable, shareable data on the diamondback terrapin and an invasive snail species.

Targeted Outreach Tackles Invasive Eucalyptus Threat

The Takeaway: The Elkhorn Slough Research Reserve’s approved plan to remove some invasive eucalyptus and replant with native species will leave a healthier, more diverse ecosystem.

Waukegan’s Harbor Cleanup Revitalizes City Scene

The Takeaway: Harbor’s clean bill of health strengthens the lakefront’s appeal as a recreational and cultural hub for the community.

‘Use-Local’ Sediment Policies Bring Resilience and Industry Bonuses

The Takeaway: New Round Island illustrates perks of using local dredge material in restoration projects.

Refinery Explosion Brings Immediate Action from Research Reserve

The Takeaway: The Lake Superior Research Reserve helped officials address public concerns about water, air, and food safety.

Illustrated Drain Markers Focus on Sustainable Wastewater Practices

The Takeaway: Alabama community sports winning wildlife designs and one thousand storm drain markers.

Flood-Control Investments Bring Big Returns

The Takeaway: A Lake Superior city has likely avoided millions of dollars in flood damage through smart stormwater planning.

Beaver Island Water Trail Grows Paddling and Ecotourism Opportunities

The Takeaway: New destination for paddlers burnishes Michigan’s reputation as “The Trails State.”

NOAA Funds Ensure That a Treasured Campground Stays Intact

The Takeaway: NOAA and the Michigan Coastal Zone Management Program led a study that resulted in moving a beloved campground to a safer location.

Watershed Management Plan Protects Economy and Ecology

The Takeaway: Steps to improve watershed health help safeguard area’s tourism and recreation sector.

Sapelo Island Seedlings Harvested for National African American Museum

The Takeaway: The Sapelo Island Research Reserve played an important role.

Veterans Benefit from Nature’s Power to Heal and Teach

The Takeaway: Programs help military veterans adjust to civilian life through on-the job training and outdoor activities.

Parasite-Host Findings Aid Knowledge of Temperature Impacts

The Takeaway: Research reserve data from seven states contributed to one of the first U.S. studies to quantify how temperature-parasite interactions affect the survival of both parasites and their hosts.

NOAA Expands Coastal Opportunities for People with Disabilities

The Takeaway: Creating sign language for “estuary” and other coastal terms, and trails that accommodate wheelchairs and the needs of the visually impaired—these are just two of the contributions from research reserves and coastal zone management programs.

Cold-Stun Alert Aids Fishery Managers and Seatrout Stocks

The Takeaway: The alerts’ real-time monitoring data comes from three research reserves in Virginia and South Carolina.

Learning about Estuarine Ecosystems in American Sign Language

The Takeaway: Three New England research reserves, the Center for Research and Training at The Learning Center for the Deaf, and Boston University created an immersive instructional experience for educators of the Deaf. The benefits keep adding up.

NOAA Funding Improves Visitor Access and Safety at Research Reserve

The Takeaway: On the way is a new stormwater filtering system and upgraded parking, walkway, and school bus areas.

Program Promotes Wetland Restoration by Reducing Regulatory Burden

The Takeaway: The Louisiana coastal program led an innovative fee initiative that helps restore local wetlands vital to the commercial fishing industry.

Nature-Based Shoreline Workshops Given Top Marks

The Takeaway: An overwhelming majority of Lake Erie shoreline engineers, designers, and landowners surveyed intend to apply what they learned.

“Blue Economy” Initiative Aims to Expand Commercial Port Use

The Takeaway: Boosters analyze industry’s strengths, promoting its sustainability and other pluses.

Recycled Materials Fashion Show Funds Cleanup and Restoration

The Takeaway: Fishing, birding, and canoeing at Pipe Creek Wildlife Area is becoming a scenic pleasure again.

Lake Superior Harbor Reopens Three Years after Devastating Storm

The Takeaway: New amenities and improved infrastructure strengthen the local economy and make Saxon Harbor visitors safer, thanks in part to the Wisconsin Coastal Zone Management Program.

Former Industrial Brownfield Becomes Lake Michigan Park

The Takeaway: State coastal management program funds community trails, storm-resilient natural infrastructure, and more.

Trail Extension to Benefit Philly’s Walkers and Cyclists

The Takeaway: A NOAA grant helped leverage $36 million for the extension, part of an urban revitalization effort expected to enhance hazard resilience and the economy.

Rain Barrel Expo Stems Runoff with Crowd-Pleasing Campaign

The Takeaway: “Don’t Give Up the Drip” rainbarrels decorated by local artists, and displayed by businesses, bring stormwater management issue front and center.

Lake Superior Estuarium Tells Estuary and Great Lake Story

The Takeaway: This research reserve attraction provides family-friendly activities and exhibits exploring the area’s ecosystem, natural history, and cultural richness.

“Heart of the Lakes” Videos Capture the Power of Nature

The Takeaway: The importance of Great Lakes conservation comes alive in first-person digital stories.

NOAA Seed Money Leads to Hawaii Tool—and Groundbreaking Adaptation Policies

The Takeaway: Hawaii is incorporating sea-level rise science into state planning processes—and a tool supported by NOAA plays an important role.

Community Vision Rejuvenates Chicago Recreation Area

The Takeaway: An urban oasis long described as a “hidden gem” is becoming a destination park once again, with improvements supported and managed by Illinois’ coastal management program.

Tool Helps Safeguard Coastal Habitat While Cutting Red Tape

The Takeaway: Oregonians can more easily spot vulnerable resources, thanks to tool from the state’s coastal management program.

Creating a Flood-Ready Community

The Takeaway: A leadership training, now in its fifth year, has taught one hundred-plus participants ways to lessen local flood risks by enacting practical plans, codes, and ordinances.

NOAA Rehabs Puerto Rico Reefs,Trails, and Flood Maps

The Takeaway: The agency joined with partners to reattach more than 7,000 coral reef fragments, restore a research reserve’s entire trail system, and provide flood-risk maps and training.

San Diego County Benefits from Adaptation Strategy

The Takeaway: Fourteen adaptation planning initiatives are taking place in nine cities with the help of a NOAA grant and a local research reserve.

Fort Lauderdale Walks the Talk on Climate Adaptation

The Takeaway: Officials are cutting flood dangers in 16 areas, and a study supported by NOAA and the state coastal management program paved the way.

Fast-Tracked Permits Nourish Beaches and Habitat

The Takeaway: Beach renourishment permits in North Carolina now can be issued in as little as 35 days. These permits previously took up to 135 days to complete.

Tool Reduces Ocean Conflicts

The Takeaway: Offering a cohesive approach to offshore management, the Mid-Atlantic Regional Ocean Action Plan aids industries connected to offshore energy, tourism, undersea cables, and marine traffic.

Tide Station Data Can Be Lifesaving

The Takeaway: Near-real-time data, plus research reserve expertise, helped a Maine fire chief decide to evacuate residents during a fierce nor’easter.

Federal Contracting Vehicle Benefits State and Local Efforts

The Takeaway: The vehicle makes available tens of millions of dollars for geospatial projects and helps officials respond quickly when disasters strike.

Three Reserves Beat Back Green Crab Threat

The Takeaway: Early detection and action (more than 192 traps at 83-plus sites) stops this predator from wrecking the shellfish industry.

Website Shows People Where to Fish, Swim, and Play

The Takeaway: Providing public access information helps promote recreation and tourism, which fuels Virginia’s ocean economy.

Towns Will Cut Flooding While Boosting Public Access and Compliance

The Takeaway: Virginia’s coastal towns will identify sites to protect and restore that fulfill a variety of needs.

Plan and Legislation Secure Economic Vitality of Working Waterfronts

The Takeaway: Five new bills will help promote and protect economic activity along Virginia’s waterfront communities.

Coast Smart Program Cuts Hazard Risks for Communities

The Takeaway: Over $1.6 million benefits 23 coastal communities. Many projects are using natural infrastructure to make communities more resilient.

Volunteers Clear 2,500 Pounds of Marine Debris in 24 Hours

The Takeaway: A super moon created ideal conditions for the cleanup, co-led by Florida Coastal Management Program staff.

Plastic Litter Gets Second Life as Toiletry Packaging

The Takeaway: 2,000 pounds of rigid plastic litter becomes new Proctor and Gamble shampoo bottles, toothpaste tubes, and other products.

Grant Helps Turn Rochester Lot into Great Lakes Tourism Destination

The Takeaway: A new marina bringing hundreds of new jobs and millions into the local economy was made possible by a grant and technical assistance from the New York Coastal Zone Management Program.

Coastal Office Clears Scores of Abandoned Vessels Post-Hurricane

The Takeaway: Staff members completed 50 vessel assessments and 38 vessel removals while guiding the protection of wildlife and sensitive areas.

Businesses Get Customized Hazard-Readiness Scores and Recommendations

The Takeaway: The research reserve administered a self-assessment for businesses to become more resilient in the face of hazardous weather.

Pump Saves City from Hurricane-Related Flood Damage

The Takeaway: A new, large-capacity stormwater pump purchased with a NOAA Regional Coastal Resilience Grant helped Florida’s New Port Richey recover faster following a hurricane.

Program Fosters Visibly Cleaner Boatyard and Marina Waters

The Takeaway: Improvement to water quality helps draw more recreational activity, which boosts the economy.

Research Uncovers Water Pollution Sources and Recommended Actions

The Takeaway: Digital Coast land cover data helped the coastal program study a trout stream’s water quality.

Chesapeake Bay Initiative Educates Hundreds of Virginia Students

The Takeaway: Chesapeake Bay Research Reserve-Virginia partners with local teachers to educate students about the country’s largest watershed.

Environmental Monitoring Benefits Ecosystem, Economy, and Citizens

The Takeaway: The System-Wide Monitoring Program has logged over 71 million observations that inform decisions about storm resilience, water quality, public safety, and much more.

Reserve Findings Fortify Coastal Communities

The Takeaway: Data from the System-Wide Monitoring Program inform adaptation projects throughout the coastal zone.

Reserve Data Help Safeguard Community and Watershed Health

The Takeaway: The System-Wide Monitoring Program detects estuary pollutant levels, toxic shellfish dangers, and many other threats to people and the environment.

Multimillion-Dollar Shellfish Economy Depends on Research Reserve Data

The Takeaway: By monitoring oxygen, eelgrass health, and other marsh variables, the data system supports shellfish habitat and commercial yields.

First-Ever National Marsh Assessment Tool

The Takeaway: Research reserves determine methodology for calculating sea level rise impact on the marsh and test it in 16 locations. Methodology standardizes the effort and creates a national approach.

Digital Coast Site Provides $125 Million in Lidar Data

The Takeaway: More than 30,000 Digital Coast users, including many in the private sector, have downloaded lidar data at no cost to address coast-related issues.

Sewer Pond Turned into a Thriving Wildlife “Jewel”

The Takeaway: The payoff includes cleaner water and an increasing number of migratory birds and tourists.

Coastal Land Cover Partnership Also Benefits Forests and Birds

The Takeaway: Digital Coast and U.S. Forest Service collaboration produces better product at lower cost.

Adaptation Plan Cuts Irma Damage and Saves Money

The Takeaway: NOAA’s Sea Level Rise Viewer, trainings, and tidal gauge helped Tybee Island boost safety and lower flood insurance costs.

Reserve Reaps Green Infrastructure Benefits and Bolsters Recovery Investments

The Takeaway: The reserve’s natural areas protected homes and businesses from five-foot storm surge, and its disaster planning and hurricane-resistant construction helped to safeguard facilities and equipment.

Urban Golf Course-Turned-Wetland Cuts Storm and Flood Impacts

The Takeaway: The project, supported by Texas’ coastal zone management program, provides recreational opportunities and slashes flood risks for thousands of area homes.

Planning for Florida’s Rising Tides

The Takeaway: Flagler County is using GIS and marsh migration modeling in their adaptation planning efforts.

NOAA Grants Improve Disaster Resilience, Recovery, and Redevelopment

The Takeaway: Eleven coastal counties will benefit from an adaptation report that NOAA and the Georgia Coastal Management Program made possible.

Reserves Help Certify Hundreds of “Green Landscaping” Trainers

The Takeaway: More than 200 people have taken the course, which three research reserves helped develop and coordinate.

Erosion Response Planning Proven Effective after Harvey

The Takeaway: Protected dunes returned the favor and lessened storm surge.

Storm Preparations Pay Off

The Takeaway: Emergency permitting program helped state return to normal, faster, after Hurricane Mathew.

Kachemak Bay Reserve Alerts Thousands to Poisoned Shellfish Dangers

The Takeaway: Communicating harmful conditions helps keep shellfish consumers safe.

Reserve “Scrubs” Brush and Trees to Beat Back Wildfire Risks

The Takeaway: These techniques lessen “dry wood” dangers and support wildlife.

Games at Three Research Reserves Supercharge Estuary Education

The Takeaway: These interactive games, co-developed with 140 University of Delaware students, help users understand how specific actions can help, or hurt, wetland creatures and habitats.

First-Ever Coral Recovery Plan Gets Buy-In

The Takeaway: Hawai‘i and the NOAA Coral Program’s cooperative agreement made this possible. Network of no-take zones and fishery management areas represent top two recommendations.

Digital Coast Helps Shore Up Public Safety Amid Flood Risks

The Takeaway: Improving infrastructure before the storm hits is the goal.

Post-Sandy Preparedness Is Increasing Safety and Saving Money

The Takeaway: Coastal communities are using a self-assessment website and other tools to up their resilience game.

Training Exercise Yields 450 Miles of Vulnerability Information

The Takeaway: Participants, led by Digital Coast and South Slough Research Reserve trainers, identified 90-plus community assets at risk from climate change and tsunamis.

Course Graduates Protect Western Burrowing Owl

The Takeaway: Most participants in this Elkhorn Slough Research Reserve workshop later use skills to bolster species protection and habitat conditions.

Citizen Scientists Catch Eels—and Valuable Data

The Takeaway: Over 700 people participate in this catch, count, and release effort. Data collected helps further our understanding of habitat losses or gains, shifts in the food web, and other ecosystem changes.

Groundbreaking Study Uses Reserves to Evaluate Restoration Success

The Takeaway: Newly standardized performance measures make it easier and more economical to evaluate wetland restoration projects.

NOAA Training Graduates Are Safeguarding Coastal Communities

The Takeaway: Ninety-six percent of survey respondents credited Digital Coast Academy with providing job skills and knowledge.

Trainees Learn to Guide Collaborative Meetings to Finish Line

The Takeaway: Participants in “Planning and Facilitating Collaborative Meetings” say it helps them keep discussions productive and makes reaching consensus more likely.

Green Infrastructure Trainees Put Principles into Practice

The Takeaway: Course graduates are given the skills to help lessen flooding and improve water quality in their communities.

Course Connects Dots between Planning and Measurable Results

The Takeaway: “Adaptation Planning for Coastal Communities” helps participants increase project effectiveness, leading to better outcomes.

Adaptation Training Brings On-the-Ground Results

The Takeaway: Course graduates say it helped them jump-start resilience initiatives and better discern which adaptation strategies can work locally. READ MORE

A recent survey showed that the “Adaptation Planning for Coastal Communities...

Teacher Workshop Makes Estuary Science Come Alive

The Takeaway: Virginia teachers take this priceless experience back to their classrooms and transfer knowledge to their students.

Students in Three States Learn Hands-On Marsh Restoration

The Takeaway: Project involves 32,000+ students collecting, cultivating, and transplanting, all in the name of restoration.

Master Plan Covers 367-Mile Texas Coast

The Takeaway: Dunes, beaches, wetlands, oyster reefs, and a rookery island will be restored.

NOAA-Funded Helicopter Tool Tracks Shifting Sands

The Takeaway: New technology approach, funded through a coastal management grant, provides information helpful for addressing an annual $3 million problem associated with sand movement and resulting dredging needs.

Dredging and Seeds Help Restore Marsh Ecology

The Takeaway: Restoration project uses dredged sand to deepen channel and build up marsh banks being lost to sea level rise.

Aquarium Tool Uses Sea Level Rise Viewer

The Takeaway: Visitors see how, where, and under what conditions flooding is likely to occur.

Collaboration Aids Fishermen and Offshore Wind Management

The Takeaway: Fine-scale maps of Virginia fishing locations will aid future planning efforts.

Living Shorelines Move from Plans to Reality

The Takeaway: A new accomplishments report proves that the state’s living shorelines strategy is bearing fruit.

Livestreams Alert Beachgoers to Dangerous Currents

The Takeaway: Rip current conditions provided for Duluth, Port of Washington, and Milwaukee.

Lifesaving Beach Initiative Reaches More than a Million

The Takeaway: NOAA and Wisconsin's coastal program deliver life jackets and a social media campaign.

Habitat and Ecotourism Flourish at Lake Erie Bluffs

The Takeaway: Coastal Zone Management leadership and NOAA grants helped purchase a 600-acre site that is good for wildlife, good for the public, and good for the environment.

Cost-Effective Wild Hog Strategy Saves Habitat and Species

The Takeaway: The coastal management program used a helicopter to quickly cover 39,000 acres and eliminate habitat-destroying hogs.

Virginia Features World’s Most Successful Eelgrass Restoration Project

The Takeaway: Project partners have grown this estuary resource from zero to 9,000 acres, thanks to continuous support from the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program.

Lidar of Pre-History Settlement Informs Adaptation Today

The Takeaway: Digital Coast data were used to document shoreline changes over time and peer into the future.

Garden and Shoreline Projects Combat Coral-Harming Pollution

The Takeaway: Coral Reef program co-leads volunteer efforts to plant native vegetation that helps absorb runoff and fortify vulnerable shorelines.

Partnership Increases Impact, Saves Money

The Takeaway: The Rookery Bay Research Reserve and Florida International University make resources go farther by sharing staff, facilities, and other assets.

NOAA Research Reserve Is a First for Pacific Islands

The Takeaway: This research reserve protects 1,385 acres.

County Scraps Hard Structure Plan for Natural Shoreline

The Takeaway: An Ocean Springs park is less flood prone and more scenic, thanks to natural infrastructure informed by the NOAA Digital Coast’s Sea Level Rise Viewer.

Assessment Reveals Estuary’s Economic and Social Value

The Takeaway: Research reserve study says area households would be willing to pay millions for restoring estuary health, reaping rewards for fisheries and quality of life.

Accessible Launch Boosts Local Ecotourism and Revitalization

The Takeaway: People of all mobility levels can use the new paddle-sports launch, which will draw visitors to the area’s trail system. READ MORE

The City of South Haven’s new paddle-sports launch enables people of all mobility levels to...

Study on Coral-Harming Chemical Spurs Corrective Action

The Takeaway: Several states are looking at limiting sunscreen pollution, thanks to support from NOAA’s Coral Reef Conservation Program and others.

NOAA Assesses Tidal Marsh Resilience

The Takeaway: In a first, NOAA scientists standardized a multi-measurement assessment of tidal marsh resilience to sea level rise.

Superstorm Sandy NOAA Disaster Relief Appropriations

The Takeaway: The $2.4 million award emphasized partnerships and region-based, multifaceted solutions. The projects, many focused on natural infrastructure, frequently led to changes to local and state ordinances.

Study Shows Public Willingness to Invest in Restoration

The Takeaway: New York City households willing to pay 3.3 times more for nature-based approaches.

Protection Measures for Trout Habitat

The Takeaway: The coastal management program and partners investigate causes and cures for declines in Lake Superior tributaries.

NOAA Funding Benefits Massive Flood-Control Initiative

The Takeaway: A NOAA grant was used to assess natural infrastructure performance after Hurricane Sandy. Also developed: a web-based tool used to analyze natural infrastructure investments and identify parcels likely to provide the most benefits.

Imitating Nature to Decrease Future Flooding

The Takeaway: A $450,000 NOAA grant was used to ID alternative erosion-control approaches and where sea level rise is mostly likely to impact salt marsh.

Funded Research Leads to New Living Shorelines

The Takeaway: Information and tools about living shorelines were developed using a $425,000 NOAA grant.

City Planning Includes Updated Resilience Strategies

The Takeaway: A $425,000 NOAA award provided the resources needed to identify vulnerabilities and develop evacuation plans, revise stormwater management plans, and implement living shorelines. Also created—a vulnerability index map for all 239 coastal municipalities.

Annual Erie Coast Event Cleans Away 61,000-Plus Items

The Takeaway: Trash findings spurred policy changes that leave beaches cleaner.

Study Finds Mainers Would Make Tradeoffs to Preserve Ecosystem Services

The Takeaway: Wells research reserve helped develop a way to estimate ecosystem values and tradeoffs—useful information for making difficult decisions about the environment.

Digital Coast Aids Waterfront Economic Strategy

The Takeaway: Using NOAA Digital Coast’s economic data and process, this community made a strong case for investing in tomorrow’s waterfront economy.

Coastal Program Helps Birds Take a “Tern” for the Better

The Takeaway: At-risk species on Interstate Island is nesting and breeding again.

Team OCEAN Focuses on Boaters and Beachgoers

The Takeaway: Volunteers make weekly visits to improve boating safety and environmental awareness.

San Francisco Bay Reserve Partners with Smithsonian Institution on Estuary Research

The Takeaway: A global study uses research reserve monitoring data to uncover potential climate change impacts to the marine environment.

Lidar-Derived Waterway Data Reveals Runoff Threats

The Takeaway: Digital Coast data were used to create high-resolution waterway maps.

“Greening” of Barren Hillsides Lets Sun Shine Bright on Corals

The Takeaway: Project funded and led by NOAA corals program turns dusty hillsides green again, dramatically lessening sediment runoff that had formerly blocked sunlight and buried corals in layers of soil.

Clean-Water Turnaround for Northern Lake Erie Coast

The Takeaway: A project aimed at lessening flooding and improving water quality through stormwater reduction resulted in water-absorbing plants and other “best practice” methods being installed in various spots across Lake Erie’s northern coast.

Community Boosts Future Flood Resilience during Post-Sandy Recovery

The Takeaway: Elevated roads, replacement of a major city well, strengthened erosion barriers, and fortified building requirements made the city safer and lowers federal flood insurance rates.

NOAA Funding Expands Middle Bass Island Wetlands Preserve

The Takeaway: Conservation partners are using NOAA funding to double the size of an Ohio island preserve and protect valuable habitat.

Hampton Roads’ Sea Level Rise Adaptation Advances on Multiple Fronts

The Takeaway: The area has several projects underway to help improve current conditions and plan for the future.

Grants to Satellite Beach Clear Path for Adaptation Action

The Takeaway: NOAA and the state’s coastal program provided early funding for the City of Satellite Beach’s sustainability plan.

Turning to Nature to Address Coastal Erosion

The Takeaway: NOAA grant used for Nature Conservancy initiative.

Navy Pier Project Serves as Model for Natural Infrastructure Techniques

The Takeaway: A grant from the coastal management program helped turn this old pier into a public, environment-friendly space.

Data Models Sea Level Rise Exposure for Future Populations

The Takeaway: Digital Coast data informed climate adaptation strategies throughout the coastal zone.

Offshore Renewable Energy Planning

The Takeaway: The Oregon Coastal Management Program will help ensure that ocean uses and natural resources are considered in wave energy plans.

Coastal Hazards Resilience Network

The Takeaway: Partners join forces to focus on multi-hazard planning, preparedness, response, and recovery.

Red Cross Using NOAA Tool to Pinpoint Vulnerable Populations

The Takeaway: NOAA’s Coastal County Snapshots help responders understand situation complexities.

Grants and Regional Group Tackle Coastal Flooding Concerns

The Takeaway: More than 39 of Maine’s coastal communities benefited from resilience-related data and technical assistance.

Partnering to Support Clean Marina Program

The Takeaway: The Michigan Coastal Program certifies marinas and educates boaters to protect water resources.

Relocation of Highway 1 in San Luis Obispo County

The Takeaway: California’s coastal zone management program was part of the team that negotiated this sensitive effort. End results included a road moved inland and new park and visitor facilities.

Fautasi Coastal Challenge Leads Stewardship Efforts

The Takeaway: A race of traditional long canoes creates a platform for islanders to learn about coastal challenges. The effort was established by American Samoa’s coastal zone management program.

Environmental Education Supports Tribal Harvests

The Takeaway: Schools throughout this Wisconsin region are using the education model, which integrates scientific research with real-world evidence.

Visualizing Locally Relevant Sea Level Rise Scenarios

The Takeaway: Coastal management program uses NOAA products to upgrade local and regional planning efforts.

Smart Planning Leads to America’s First Offshore Wind Farm

The Takeaway: CZM program co-led the development of a comprehensive, science-based ocean planning approach that minimizes use conflicts and protects natural resources. The public is reaping big benefits.

Protecting Wetland Forests from Invasive Species

The Takeaway: One project is underway to identify a resilient tree to replace the ill-fated ash.

Headwaters Important for Salmon Health

The Takeaway: A reserve research documents the importance of headwater streams; conservation interests take note.

Climate Trainings Started Here Impact other Coastal States

The Takeaway: Washington workshop gives planners local data and provides examples of successful adaptation strategies.

Invasive Cordgrass Eradicated in Padilla Bay

The Takeaway: Natural resource managers benefit from Padilla Bay’s experience in removing and controlling invasive species.

Forest Management Program Developed by Research Reserve

The Takeaway: Maine is the most forested state in the nation; good forest management practices play an important role in maintaining water quality and wildlife habitat.

Project Rescues Wetlands from Sea Level Rise

The Takeaway: The restoration also expands otter habitat and safeguards a super-efficient “blue carbon” source, with help from the Elkhorn Slough Research Reserve.

Study Provides Baseline Data and Triages Adaptation Needs

The Takeaway: Precision models help Alaska assess vulnerability amid glacial melt and coastal uplift.

New Policies Please Hunters and the Reserves

The Takeaway: Hunting grounds are clearly marked, and hunting passes are required.

Citizens Lead the Way as Communities Prepare for Climate Change Impacts

The Takeaway: Tools help local leaders face environmental and economic challenges, thanks to the South Slough Research Reserve and other partners.

Using Lidar to Plan for Sea Level Rise

The Takeaway: Data and imagery of dikes and levees will help Oregon size up future flooding risks and prioritize wetland restoration projects.

First Tribal National Park in United States

The Takeaway: This 89-acre portion of Red Cliff Reservation protects lands that are culturally and environmentally significant.

Protecting Water Quality through Marsh Restoration

The Takeaway: Study determines marsh restoration cost and effectiveness; a 50 percent planting density seems to be the magic number.

A Future for Native Oysters along the Pacific Coast

The Takeaway: Data and tools from three West Coast research reserves allow officials to choose restoration “sweet spots” for bringing back declining oyster grounds. READ MORE

Native oysters are in decline along the Pacific Coast....

Water Trails Spur Ecotourism

The Takeaway: Water trails represent a way to promote use and enjoyment of Michigan’s shoreline and spur economic development.

Academic and Governmental Partnership Leads to Safer Lake Michigan Surf

The Takeaway: Real-time forecasting system keeps swimmers safer by detecting hazardous wave conditions. READ MORE

Rip currents—strong channels of water that flow out from the shore—claim more lives annually than tornadoes, hurricanes, lightning...

Major Flood Forecast Gap Repaired for Houston Area

The Takeaway: High resolution data from the Digital Coast show how buildings and infrastructure will be affected by floodwaters.

Identifying Habitat Loss, Prioritizing Restoration

The Takeaway: Local partners are working together to restore and preserve natural habitats.

Adaptation Planning Paid Off for This Community

The Takeaway: NOAA tools were used to adjust building codes and land use policies, implement nature-based solutions, and incorporate climate change. Actions paid off when Post-Tropical Cyclone Sandy hit. READ MORE

Bridgeport...

A Social Marketing Campaign Targets Litter in Laolao Bay

The Takeaway: Funding from NOAA’s Coral Reef Conservation Program made successful campaign possible; Saipan officials are inspired to use the approach again.

Research Reserve Became State’s First 100% Solar-Powered Nonprofit

The Takeaway: The effort is generating 73,000 kilowatt hours and offsets 90,000 pounds of carbon dioxide each year.

Identifying Sources of Pollution That Affect Coral Reef Communities

The Takeaway: Digital Coast land cover and coral data map the relationship between people and nature.

Getting City Kids to the Shore

The Takeaway: More than 10,000 kids see the beach for the first time and learn about coastal stewardship through this Coastal Management Program-funded effort.

Bluff and Shore Erosion Hotspots Identified for Lake Michigan Shoreline

The Takeaway: Planners will use this information, funded through the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program, to lessen future erosion risks.

Beach Access and Water Quality App Released

The Takeaway: Visitors can get directions and information about more than 620 public access points.

Assessing the Delaware River Basin Using Land Cover Information

The Takeaway: Data showed that land development averaged 19 football fields per day over a five-year period.

Volunteer Storm Team Elevates Water Quality Issues

The Takeaway: This effort helps coastal officials make decisions about shellfish harvesting.