Ocean and Coastal Highlights

As part of the Secretary Haaland’s NEWSWAVE 5, learn about how DOI is committed to the Pacific Island territories and freely associated states in supporting their ability to address the growing impacts of the climate crisis. On a recent trip, Secretary Haaland and Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs Carmen G. Cantor visited the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, the Republic of Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia to discuss how investments in climate resilience and ecosystem restoration will make a tangible impact in the protection and preservation of these stunning islands and the communities that steward them.

Funding provided through Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will advance DOI’s restoration and resilience framework. “At a time when tackling the climate and biodiversity crises could not be more critical, these investments in clean water, clean air, wildlife habitat, cultural resources and open spaces will benefit people, wildlife and local economies for generations to come,” said Secretary Deb Haaland.

Secretary Haaland shares highlights of the work DOI is doing to bolster our Blue Portfolio.

Secretary Haaland welcomed the White House 2023 Conservation.
Summit to the Main Interior Building in Washington, DC in March 2023 where key actions, including an Ocean Climate Action Plan, were announced. The Summit was a gathering of advocates, organizers, non-profit organizations, and partners working on important projects that are restoring our coasts, reinvigorating our coral reefs, and protecting our ocean for future generations.

Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs Carmen G. Cantor joined the U.S. delegation at the Our Ocean Conference in Panama City, Panama in March 2023, to highlight the Department of the Interior’s role in conserving our ocean, Great Lakes, and coasts.

In May 2023, DOI announced $12 million in key investments from the Inflation Reduction Act for climate change planning, mitigation, adaptation and resilience for the U.S. Territories of American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI). Funding will increase coastal resilience across the U.S. territories through new infrastructure that will mitigate flooding, prevent erosion, improve stormwater drainage, and build stronger and more sustainable communities.

In April 2023, USGS scientists were part of an international team that investigated the pathogenic microbe that caused the urchin die-off. Understanding the source of the fatal urchin disease is key to planning mitigation strategies.

The Coastal Barrier Resources Act (CBRA) been highly successful in reducing development intensity on coastal barriers, and it has also saved taxpayers billions of dollars. A study published in the Journal of Coastal Research estimated that the law reduced coastal disaster expenditures by an estimated $9.5 billion between 1989 and 2013, and predicts that it could save as much as $108 billion by the year 2068 (in 2016 dollars).

New USGS research at coral growth assessment stations shows that some eroding coral reefs could begin growing again if restoration goals planned for the area are achieved. The research supports NPS managers with help prioritizing areas to protect and restore.

To address the threats of future or further spreading, a group of fisheries managers and biologist armed by science and biology, known as the Lake Erie Committee, developed an Adaptive Response Plan to identify the most effective ways to remove these destructive, non-native fish.