Gov. Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) on Wednesday announced that the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program (WCMP) has received over $750,000 from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The investments awarded will support the WCMP’s ability to plan for and implement habitat restoration and conservation projects in Wisconsin’s coastal communities, including supporting ongoing flood management, assessing shoreline erosion, restoring wetlands and building more resilient coastal communities.
An annual survey of Great Lakes local governments by the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative in 2023 found that Great Lakes municipalities anticipate spending millions toward coastal resilience-related projects and hazard preparation in the next decade. The more than $750,000 awarded to DOA is being administered by the WCMP through local and regional grants to help build local and regional capacity to protect and restore Great Lakes coastal habitats and develop future projects, helping to offset future costs associated with preserving and protecting these natural areas.
Projects set to receive funding include:
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Northwest Regional Planning Commission — $60,000;
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The Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission — $282,423;
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The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District — $192,829;
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The Burke Center for Ecosystem Research in Ashland — $184,199; and
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The Lake Superior Headwaters Sustainability Partnership — $40,000.
