Shaheen, Hassan & Shea-Porter Announce $136K to Support NH Coastal Communities & Ecosystems

(Washington, DC)— U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), the lead Democrat on the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations subcommittee which funds the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), announced with Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01) today that NOAA and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) will award $136,242 to the New Hampshire Nature Conservancy for the Tidal Crossing Replacements for a Resilient Coastal New Hampshire project, which will be matched dollar for dollar. The funding will be awarded through the 2018 National Coastal Resilience Fund (NCRF), and will support the New Hampshire project to design high-priority tidal crossings across New Hampshire’s coastal zone to enhance Seacoast communities and ecosystems. 

“These federal resources will help keep Seacoast communities safe and secure by strengthening natural coastal infrastructure to accommodate rising sea levels caused by climate change, and will also protect New Hampshire’s wildlife and environment,” said Senator Shaheen. “Delivering this federal support to move this project forward was a priority for me, and advocating for measures that protect our community and ecosystem will continue to be top concerns.” 

“Helping our coastal communities become more resilient in the face of storms and flooding is critical to the safety of our people and strength of our economy,” said Senator Hassan. “The Nature Conservancy does important work supporting our ecosystems and protecting New Hampshire’s beautiful natural resources, and this grant will allow them to continue those efforts and help strengthen coastal resiliency.”

“Well constructed tidal crossings, such as culverts or small bridges, allow people to move across our region while ensuring that tidal flows can ebb and flow appropriately,” said Congresswoman Shea-Porter. “I am pleased that this grant funding will enhance our state’s ability to preserve and construct tidal crossings that are equipped to deal with the impacts of our changing climate. Congratulations to the Nature Conservancy and the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, which are doing excellent work in this field, on receiving this significant federal funding that will enhance New Hampshire’s coastal resiliency.”

Senator Shaheen, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, was instrumental in securing the funding for the National Coastal Resilience Fund in the 2018 government spending legislation.