By Tracey C. O’Neill
Washington – One
year after Superstorm Sandy wielded its wrath and destruction upon Rhode
Island’s coastal communities, the state’s congressional delegation garnered
millions of dollars in additional support for reconstruction and recovery
efforts directed to Rhode Island communities by way of multiple federal grant
programs.
HUD funds bring $16M to local communities
“One
year ago, Hurricane Sandy pummeled the coast of Rhode Island, wreaking havoc on
our coasts and causing millions of dollars in damage,” said U.S. Senator
Sheldon Whitehouse, in a press release last week. “I’m proud to announce this
$16 million dollar grant, which will help Rhode Island communities recover from
the devastating effects of the storm.”
The $16 million disaster recovery funding, part of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program was approved for use in infrastructure upgrades throughout receiving communities, as well as home, business and public facility repairs.
A
combined effort of Senators Sheldon Whitehouse and Jack Reed, as well as U.S.
Congressmen David Cicilline and James Langevin, the CDBG-DR funding to Rhode
Island, grown to more than $19 million since Sandy’s impact on the state’s
coastal and inland communities was assessed, allows individual communities a
wide berth in determining their restoration needs. Although slated for
restoration of primary housing and infrastructure, the grants also encourage use
for economic revitalization in disaster-impacted areas.
Department of Interior shores up coastal
and inland waterway restoration efforts
In
an announcement on October 24, Secretary of the Interior, Sally Jewell lauded
the award of $162 million in funding for Atlantic Coast communities, targeted
to be invested in 45 restoration and research projects. The slate of projects
included the restoration of marshes, wetlands, beaches, and the rebuilding of
coastal shorelines. Funds were also supportive of research studies on storm
surge impact and mitigation modeling.
“What
we witnessed during Hurricane Sandy was that our public lands and other natural
areas are often the best defense against Mother Nature,” Jewell said in a
release. “By stabilizing marshes and beaches, restoring wetlands, and improving
the resiliency of coastal areas, we not only create opportunities for people to
connect with nature and support jobs through increased outdoor recreation, but
we can also provide an effective buffer that protects local communities from
powerful storm surges and devastating floods when a storm like Sandy hits.”
FWS Atlantic Coast projects to support RI
ecosystems
Rhode
Island communities are targeted for multiple projects and interstate sharing of
DOI funding through proposals sponsored by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
A
dam removal project, estimated at $2.3 million is outlined for Rhode Island and
Connecticut. The objective, to restore connectivity, enhance fish passage and
reduce the risk of flooding during future storm events is expected to remove
the White Rock Dam (Ashaway) and Bradford dams along the Pawcatuck River, as well
as the Shady Lee Mill Dam (North Kingstown) on the Mattatux River. Included is
the installation of one fishway on the Pawcatuck and a natural riparian area in
North Kingstown.
The
dam removal and fish passage installation on the rivers is expected to promote
the restoration of habitat and reduce flooding during large storms.
Socioeconomic benefits of the dam project were calculated at over $11 million.
Whitehouse
applauded the actions of DOI in a statement after the announcement. Referencing
a $4.1 million project shared with the states of Massachusetts and Maine, the
statement said, “The state will also share funds with other affected states to
help pay for additional projects, including 400 acres of salt marsh restoration
in the Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge in Charlestown andSachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge in Middletown in an effort to
strengthen natural coastal barriers and infrastructure.”
Additional
Atlantic coastal projects involving Rhode Island include the continuation of
topographical surveys, data collection and analysis in watershed and ecosystems
adversely affected by Superstorm Sandy. The projects concentrate on identifying
Sandy’s effects and changes to coastal environments in an effort to strengthen
future mitigation and conservation planning.
Storm surge and erosion protection at the
forefront
Storm
surge impact and evaluation studies in coastal states, including Rhode Island,
Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Maine, Maryland, Delaware, New York and
Virginia make up more than $5.7 million in DOI funding. Storm surge projects
benefit affected communities through the support of “high quality storm surge
and erosion protection, infrastructure protection, commercial and recreational
fisheries production, hunting, bird-watching, boating, and local tourism,” said
a report from DOI.
Sea level rise and climate change included
An
additional $1.7 million Rhode Island inclusive funding was allotted to the
efforts of Landscape Conservation Cooperatives (LCC) in identifying and determining
through data analysis, areas in need of coastal ecosystem conservation,
mitigation, restoration, flood abatement and management due to storm surge and
sea level rise.
Narrow River funding focused on salt marsh
health
The
Rhode Island National Wildlife Complex in Charlestown garnered $4 million in
funding through the Hurricane Sandy Coastal Resiliency Competitive Grant Program for the improvement of salt marshes
and maritime shrublands – the funding to be dedicated to projects along the
Narrow and Maidforth Rivers.
According
to information on the organization’s Facebook page, the Narrow River project
objectives focused “on determining the current health and condition of salt
marsh habitats and coastal shrub communities.” Restoration and improvement of
habitat productivity are also identified as organizational goals.
On
the Maidforth River in Middletown, the study and resolution of river plugging
and flooding issues are targeted.
DOI and FWS open $100 million competitive
grant opportunity
On
Tuesday, DOI began accepting request for proposals for an additional $100
million in competitive grant funding through the Hurricane Sandy Coastal
Resiliency Competitive Grant Program. The program, administered by FWS,
supports innovative mitigation projects that increase coastal resiliency, the
capacity to withstand future storm damage and to restore and rebuild public
assets across the Sandy-affected region. The grants are supportive of projects
that create resilient habitats and promote green space.