Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: Ecosystem Restoration

NPS / Connar L'Ecuyer

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was signed on November 15, 2021. It is a historic investment in the restoration and protection of the environment.

The law includes funding for ecosystem restoration, fire mitigation and prevention, and transportation projects that benefit the communities and areas served by the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service.

Fact sheet: Interior Department to Take Action to Restore Lands and Waters, Advance Climate Resilience.

Ecosystem Restoration Investments under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

In Fiscal Year 2022, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provided $15 million for ecosystem restoration projects in national parks. Projects fall into the below topic areas and compliment key Department of the Interior initiatives. See the list of projects through Fiscal Year 2026 below.

Protecting and Restoring Island & Coastal Ecosystems in the Face of a Changing Climate

Conserve and restore unique biocultural island resources and increase biodiversity with a focus on Pacific Islands and U.S. Territories. Restore function and integrity of near-shore (coral and oyster reefs, sea grass) and coastal communities (salt marsh, sand dunes, bluffs, mangrove, maritime forest) to protect park natural and cultural resources, support local communities, and promote visitor enjoyment. 

DOI Keystone Initiatives: Foster native biodiversity in island systems AND rehabilitate and realign coastal salt marsh 

Building Climate Resilience and Increasing Biodiversity in High-Priority Sagebrush and Forest System

Build climate resilience and increase biodiversity in high-priority sagebrush and forest systems with a focus on core areas, connectivity, and the use of science-driven decision making. Leverage BIL Fire and other fund sources for restoration of priority systems, including reduction of woody fuels, treatment of invasive species, and reestablishment and expansion of native species. 

DOI Keystone Initiatives: Defend and grow the core in sagebrush systems AND build and expand drought resilience in the Klamath Basin 

Promoting Landscape Conservation and Improving Habitat Connectivity in Grasslands

Restore grasslands and prairies, including development of native seed/plant capacity for revegetation of cultural landscapes and priority ecosystems, improvement of soil health, treatment of invasive species, and restoration of hydrologic function. Support resilient multi-species conservation, wild and healthy bison herds, layover and core habitat for birds and pollinators, and natural and human communities. 

DOI Keystone Initiatives: Bison, birds, and bees: restore and protect grasslands for co-stewarded, healthy, wild bison herds, migratory bird populations, and critical pollinators 

Cultivating Ecosystem Resilience in Appalachia Through a One Health Approach 

Promote resilient ecosystems by managing deer, invasive plants, exotic pests and pathogens, restoring degraded forest stands and wetland systems, and restoring native vegetation and mitigating environmental hazards on mined lands in Appalachia. Support healthy forests, wetlands, and other systems that are resilient to climate change and other stressors, protect cultural landscape integrity, enhance visitor experience, and promote local community health. 

DOI Keystone Initiatives: Improve human and environmental health in Appalachia 

Restoring and Improving Natural Freshwater Systems

Restore damaged and degraded freshwater systems (streams, wetlands, riparian areas) to increase biodiversity, improve fish passage, protect tribally important and sacred sites, and contribute to healthy communities in both rural and urban disadvantaged (Justice 40) areas by providing clean water, reducing flooding, and allowing for recreational activities and access.  

DOI Keystone Initiatives: Gravel to Gravel: assess and restore salmon in the Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim basin 

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Projects

Funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is supporting projects in national parks across the country. Explore active projects near you below.

BIL-Ecosystem Restoration - Project Funding Summary

Park	State	PROJECT TITLE	FY22	FY23	FY24	FY25	FY26

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Project Summaries by Topic Area

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  Sagebrush and Forest System

  Building Climate Resilience and Increasing Biodiversity in High-Priority Sagebrush and Forest System

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  Grasslands

  Promoting Landscape Conservation and Improving Habitat Connectivity in Grasslands

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  Island and Coastal Ecosystems

  Protecting and Restoring Island & Coastal Ecosystems in the Face of a Changing Climate

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  One Health in Appalachia

  Ecosystem Resilience in Appalachia Through a One Health Approach  

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  Freshwater Systems

  Restoring and Improving Natural Freshwater Systems

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  All Project Summaries

  Explore all Bipartisan Infrastructure Law – Ecosystem Restoration project summaries.

Energy Community Revitalization Program

The National Park Service will plug, remediate, and reclaim orphaned oil and gas wells in national parks. There are approximately 1800 oil and gas wells located in at least 47 parks. An estimated 364 of the wells are actively operating, while the remaining wells are inactive, plugged, abandoned, or orphaned. In FY22, NPS initiated 26 BIL funded projects totaling $9.8 million for well plugging, site reclamation and infrastructure removal activities in national parks. The projects are prioritized based on three factors:

1. public health and safety,

2. potential environmental harm, and

3. other subsurface impacts or land use priorities.

Energy Community Revitalization Program

Learn more about how the National Park Service is using BIL funds to reclaim 'orphaned' wells throughout parks through the Energy Community Revitalization Program.

BIL-ECRP - Project Funding Summary

PROJECT TITLE	Park	FY22	FY23

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Energy Community Revitalization

Project Summaries

Restoration Success Stories