Coastal States Organization

Coastal States Organization The Voice of the Coastal States and Territories on Ocean, Coastal & Great Lakes Affairs

Happy Earth Day? 🌎 Newly released details of the President’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget request for NOAA, show that the adm...
04/22/2026

Happy Earth Day? 🌎 Newly released details of the President’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget request for NOAA, show that the administration is proposing to eliminate federal funding for coastal zone management programs for the second year in a row. Join CSO in calling for Congress to maintain funding for these programs by signing our statement at https://coastalstates.org/sign-on-to-urge-congress-to-fund-coastal-management-programs/

🌊 Big news — we just launched something we're really proud of! Investing in America's Coasts is a brand-new site from th...
04/14/2026

🌊 Big news — we just launched something we're really proud of!

Investing in America's Coasts is a brand-new site from the Coastal States Organization dedicated to showing what's actually happening when we invest in our nation's coastlines.

Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, communities from Georgia to Maryland to Hawai'i are building resilience against flooding and erosion, restoring wetland habitats, opening new public access to the water, and protecting the coastal heritage that makes each place unique.

This site tells those stories — and we want to hear yours, too.

👉 Check out the interactive map to see projects near you
👉 Read about early successes in places like Ossabaw Island and Kaua'i
👉 Learn how coastal management funding works
👉 Share why the coast matters to you

Visit the site: funding.coastalstates.org And if this resonates with you, please share it with someone who loves the shore. 🙌

March is coastal month in DC!! We kicked off the month with our annual Spring Member meeting which brought together staf...
03/24/2026

March is coastal month in DC!! We kicked off the month with our annual Spring Member meeting which brought together staff from 35 coastal zone management programs. Together, we discussed challenges and opportunities, celebrated our partnerships with and , met with Congressional members and staff and even got to check out some projects in Maryland and enjoy some Chesapeake Bay Oysters!

This past week was all about beach nourishment! On Wednesday, CSO's Derek Brockbank and Rebecca Dennis, joined a briefin...
02/02/2026

This past week was all about beach nourishment! On Wednesday, CSO's Derek Brockbank and Rebecca Dennis, joined a briefing held by the House of Representatives' Coastal Communities Caucus to discuss federal policy around beach nourishment. Thanks for organizing!

The next day, CSO held a webinar for our members which featured discussions on beach nourishment opportunities through FEMA and database of beach projects around the US.

Day 12: As we near the end of 2025, we look towards the future of coastal management. America's coasts face ever increas...
12/25/2025

Day 12: As we near the end of 2025, we look towards the future of coastal management.

America's coasts face ever increasing hazards, such as extreme weather, sea level rise and flooding, as well as new opportunities around the blue economy, energy production and more. In response, coastal management continues to adapt and innovate to meet these challenges and make the most of these opportunities.

Coastal management programs today are investing in the technology, know-how and workforces of the future. But they can't do it alone.

It takes the continued support of the federal government and states to maintain their unique partnership, innovation and new technologies coming out of universities and the private sector and YOU. Everyone can play a role in helping their coasts to thrive into future, whether that be by keeping their coast clean or by urging their elected officials to prioritize coastal issues.

From all of us at CSO we wish you a wonderful holiday season and happy new year!

Day 11: Marine Debris Every year a tremendous amount of debris ends up on America’s coasts. This pollution poses threats...
12/25/2025

Day 11: Marine Debris

Every year a tremendous amount of debris ends up on America’s coasts. This pollution poses threats to the natural environment, wildlife and can even impact people. However, most marine debris is preventable and coastal programs help to educate their communities on how to avoid contributing to the problem and helping to organize clean ups.

Clean Virginia Waterways and the VA Coastal Zone Management Program led a large collaborative research project and developed recommendations to address abandoned and derelict vessels (ADVs) in Virginia’s waterways. An ADV inventory was created through this work group and continues to be updated by Virginia CZM with input from various ADV partners and reports from the general public on a near-weekly basis in order to identify new ADVs, verify the status of previously reported vessels, and to prioritize vessels for removal based on available resources. While Virginia CZM lacks the authority to remove or fund removal of ADVs, staff play a critical role in providing clarity to the public on the complex ADV prevention, removal, and disposal process as well as alerting partners with the authority and resources to do so in a timely manner to eliminate redundant efforts where possible.

It’s not only large debris that needs to be removed from waterways and beaches. In New Jersey, as part of the MidAtlantic Regional Council on the Ocean (MARCO) marine debris work group, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Coastal Management Program conducts two beach clean ups a year at Island Beach State Park to track marine debris and balloon litter. Clean ups like this happen on beaches around the U.S. every year to help keep our coasts safe, healthy and beautiful.

Day 10: Ocean EnergySeveral coastal management programs play a key role in the sustainable, responsible, and effective r...
12/24/2025

Day 10: Ocean Energy

Several coastal management programs play a key role in the sustainable, responsible, and effective regulation and management of offshore energy such as wind and oil and gas.

The Louisiana coastal program has a stated goal “...to provide a fair, predictable and effective regulatory system that allows opportunities for development and economic growth through the use of our natural resources while at the same time ensuring protection of public safety and the environment. That balance is the focus of our role as stewards of Louisiana's bountiful natural resources that are so critical to our economy and our culture.” One of those natural resources is the oil and gas off the state’s coast. The energy sector, which includes offshore oil and gas, and other energy sources contributes $77.7 billion in economic value or roughly 25% of the state economy.

Additionally, under the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act, Louisiana, and the other oil and gas producing states in the Gulf, receives a portion of the revenues from offshore leases through the Land & Water Conservation Fund to support coastal restoration projects.

Coastal management programs work not only with federal partners but also with local and tribal governments and community...
12/23/2025

Coastal management programs work not only with federal partners but also with local and tribal governments and community organizations. Community engagement helps to ensure that important coastal management information around issues like resilience and conservation reach communities. Critically, it also ensures that coastal management programs are responsive to the needs, challenges and interests of the local communities they serve.

Maryland’s Coastal Management Program, in partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Trust, developed the Community-Based Organization Capacity Building Initiative (CBO-CBI) to increase in the number of grant applications from organizations that represent historically under-engaged communities and are new to watershed restoration-focused grant programs, with the long-term goal of building capacity to identify and implement nature based solutions projects. The program is structured with Connector Groups that have and create meaningful connections with community-based organizations, and Technical Assistance providers that assist community-based organizations with grant proposal development. In 2024, CBO-CBI effectively collaborated with 50 community-based organizations, resulting in 22 submitted grant applications and $350,000 of funding for community-based restoration projects!

Meanwhile, in New Jersey, the state’s Community-Based Art grant program funded Monmouth Arts and Artist Allison Hunter to create an art installation that focused on NJ’s waterways and their importance. The Community-Based Art Grant Program is a statewide grant program used to encourage local community organizations to work with artists and their communities to communicate coastal hazards and better prepare for the future of their state and community.

Beach Nourishment is a coastal management practice that seeks to combat erosion and enhance beach width by adding sand o...
12/21/2025

Beach Nourishment is a coastal management practice that seeks to combat erosion and enhance beach width by adding sand or sediment.

In the summer of 2025, the City of Galveston requested assistance from the US Army Corps of Engineers to address the significant erosion happening on the beach’s west end. Following a USACE feasibility study it was determined that the beach was a prime candidate for nourishment through the USACE Continuing Authorities Program 204 program. This program utilizes material dredged by the Corps in nearby areas for beneficial uses, like beach nourishment, meaning that nearly all project costs were covered by the Corps. As of mid-November, 93,308 cubic yards of beach-quality sand had been added to 1,000 linear feet of West Galveston Beach.

“With erosion rates approaching seven feet per year on the west end, this project is essential to protecting our shoreline, homes, and infrastructure,” City Manager Brian Maxwell said. “By partnering with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Texas General Land Office, and the Park Board, we’re turning what would have been discarded dredge material into a meaningful investment in our future.”

The Texas Coastal program in the General Land Office is hoping to follow up this project with additional nourishment efforts next year.

Photos: Texas GLO

Day 7: Blue Economy Our nation’s coasts are significant economic drivers. Coastal dependent industries ranging from ship...
12/21/2025

Day 7: Blue Economy

Our nation’s coasts are significant economic drivers. Coastal dependent industries ranging from shipping, tourism and fishing have shaped and supported communities throughout history. Today, coastal counties contribute more than $9.5 trillion dollars to national GDP annually.
Coastal management programs are tasked with balancing economic development with environmental protection.

In the Great Lakes, partnerships between the States of Wisconsin and Minnesota, the federal government, tribes and local organizations are working to clean and restore the St. Louis River at Duluth-Superior on Lake Superior for fish and wildlife, while ensuring that critical ports like Duluth can continue to thrive. In Wisconsin, efforts like 100% Great Lakes Fish Initiative, are also underway to look at how commercial fisheries can maximize the value of each and every fish caught. This both reduces waste from fisheries and increases the benefits to fisherman and the wider economy.

The state has also played a critical role in planning for the future of Port Milwaukee. “Thanks to Wisconsin Coastal Management Program funding, Port Milwaukee created its Capital Asset Renewal Plan (CARP), a comprehensive effort to guide present and future Milwaukee maritime leaders in planning for the Port’s success over the next several decades. The CARP will inform our efforts to strategically manage needed infrastructure improvements and guide our funding strategy for long-term asset repair and replacement.” - Jackie Q. Carter, Director of Port Milwaukee (Wisconsin Great Lakes Chronicle 2023).

Day 6: Natural Infrastructure Coastal zone management programs are always looking for effective ways to address coastal ...
12/20/2025

Day 6: Natural Infrastructure

Coastal zone management programs are always looking for effective ways to address coastal challenges. More and more programs are turning to nature-based solutions like living shorelines, oyster reefs or green infrastructure to tackle issues like erosion.

In March 2024, Maine Geological Survey, Maine Coastal Program, and Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry - Bureau of Parks and Land partnered to place discarded holiday trees on Popham Beach as a pilot project with the purpose of rebuilding sand dunes. Over the course of several months, sand was trapped by the trees, which resulted in elevation gains and establishment of dune grass. Shifts in the position of the nearby Morse River caused some loss of beach area more recently, which could have been more severe in the absence of the holiday tree pilot project.

Third photo from top left: Nick Whiteman (MGS), Sean Vaillancourt (BPL), Devin Domeyer (MCP), Rachael Hamilton (MCP - NOAA Coastal Management Fellow), Peter Slovinsky (MGS), Melissa Britsch (MCP), and Mike Brillant (BPL volunteer) next line.

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