Clean Water Current

President Biden celebrated Earth Day on April 22 by issuing an Executive Order to preserve US forests and announced efforts to summarize all federal programs and available resources on nature-based solutions and green infrastructure.

To facilitate use of federal resources, the National Climate Task Force’s Coastal Resilience Interagency Working Group, co-led by the White House Council on Environmental Quality and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, released a Compendium of Federal Nature-Based Solutions for Coastal Communities, States, Tribes, and Territories—streamlining access to more than 100 information resources and 48 federal programs that can support nature-based solutions in coastal areas. 

The compendium offers simplified access to recommended federal resources and guidance on coastal green infrastructure, nature-based solutions, and habitat restoration that are available to assist coastal communities, states, tribes, and territories in evaluating, enabling, and investing in nature-based adaptation strategies.

Beyond the Clean Water State Revolving Fund Green Project Reserve, numerous federal programs offer potential sources of support for nature-based solutions and green infrastructure. Additional federal programs housed within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Economic Development Administration (EDA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) offer grant opportunities, loans, planning, design, construction and/or technical assistance to communities for green and nature-based projects.

Please contact Danielle Cloutier, NACWA Legislative Director, with any questions or to discuss further.