U.S. Rep. Seth Magaziner announced the passage of bipartisan legislation that includes $289 million in federal funding to support climate resiliency efforts in Rhode Island.
The funding, which is included in the Water Resources Development Act of 2024, will be used for the Rhode Island Coastline, Coastal Storm Risk Management project. The project includes $188 million in federal dollars and will focus on elevating 290 residential structures, floodproofing 171 non-residential structures, and floodproofing 36 critical infrastructure facilities.
“Sea level rise, coastal erosion and more frequent flooding threaten Rhode Island and our way of life, and we need to invest in long-lasting solutions that will protect homes, schools, businesses and critical infrastructure from the effects of climate change,” Magaziner said. “I am proud that the House passed this legislation, which is a major win for our state, and I will continue working to ensure it’s funded.”
The project area consists of 450 miles of coastline from Point Judith to the Massachusetts border and includes Block Island. It is subject to frequent flooding from high tides, spring tides, and coastal storms and is at risk of experiencing severe sea level rise.
The federal funding will also be used to reauthorize the National Dam Safety Program, which supports dam rehabilitation and repairs, and to increase the federal limit for cost-shared projects for the Continuing Authorities Program. The Army Corps will be able to spend $50 million annually on shoreline protection projects and $2.5 million more per project on storm and hurricane restoration projects.
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) assisted a What’sUpNewp journalist with the reporting included in this story.
