U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse announced today $2,480,539 in federal funding to enhance the resilience of Rhode Island communities. The grants, awarded through the National Coastal Resilience Fund (NCRF), will support two projects on Aquidneck Island aimed at protecting critical infrastructure and restoring natural habitats.
The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) receives $1,800,000 to restore Mill Creek in Portsmouth. The project will utilize box culverts and nature-based solutions to improve shoreline habitat and safeguard essential infrastructure from flooding and storm surge.
“This funding is a vital investment in both the protection of our natural resources and the safety of our communities,” said DEM Director Terry Gray. “By addressing stormwater and flooding risks at Mill Creek in Portsmouth, we not only improve climate resilience but also restore the vital coastal ecosystems that sustain our region for future generations.”
The Eastern RI Conservation District secures $680,539 for the restoration of Elizabeth Brook in Newport. The project aims to reduce flooding and enhance coastal resilience through floodplain restoration and riparian buffer creation along 1,200 linear feet of the brook.
“Eastern Rhode Island Conservation District is thrilled to receive this funding to continue working to address coastal resilience in the Elizabeth Brook watershed. Working closely with committed partners from the City of Newport, Aquidneck Land Trust, Naval Station Newport, and local experts, we are confident this project will produce much-needed, community-driven, nature-based solutions that mitigate flooding and restore habitats,” said Sara Churgin, District Manager, Eastern RI Conservation District. “We are looking forward to the ability to engage with the residents of Newport’s North End, an Environmental Justice area, and empower neighbors to help steer the design process, working alongside a hired consultant to ensure solutions meet the needs of all collaborators. This award plays an important role in helping push this project forward.”
The fund is jointly administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Past Rhode Island recipients include the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council, Bristol County Water Authority, Town of New Shoreham, University of Rhode Island, Friends of Green Hill Pond, Save The Bay, and the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council.
In Rhode Island, NCRF funding has supported various initiatives, including identifying sites vulnerable to sea level rise, designing flood prevention projects, and restoring dunes and habitats that act as natural buffers for coastal areas.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s $492 million investment over five years for the NCRF underscores the federal government’s commitment to enhancing coastal resilience in the face of climate change. As coastal communities continue to grapple with environmental challenges, these projects represent critical steps toward creating more resilient and sustainable coastal ecosystems.
