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

a person holding a clipboard stands in chest high grasses with hills behind them
Great Meadows, Acadia National Park

Photo by Catherine Schmitt, Schoodic Institute

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law projects fall into one of five topic areas and compliment key Department of the Interior initiatives.The projects listed below fall under the Protecting and Restoring Island & Coastal Ecosystems in the Face of a Changing Climate topic area. These projects:

  • 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

Project Summaries

Showing results 1-10 of 14

    • Locations: Fire Island National Seashore
    A small brown, tan and orange bird perched on the edge of a wooden boardwalk

    The National Park Service (NPS) will develop designs to restore declining marshes, an important habitat for saltmarsh sparrow.

    • Locations: Buck Island Reef National Monument, Channel Islands National Park, Dry Tortugas National Park, Haleakalā National Park, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park,
    Half above and half underwater view of thick mangrove roots growing.

    The National Park Service will lead a collaborative effort with Department of the Interior bureaus and other partners to promote behaviors that will decrease the risk of spreading invasive species on islands. Education and outreach products will be developed with the goal of reaching the largest audience of island visitors possible.

    • Locations: Acadia National Park
    Two scientists stand in a wetland meadow examining the vegetation

    The National Park Service will restore the highly visited 100-acre Great Meadow wetland of Acadia National Park by replacing or installing culverts, building raised boardwalks, managing invasive plants, planting native plants, and remediating man-made landscape alterations. The project will also improve fish passage and restore and measurably reduce flooding of trails.

    • Locations: Haleakalā National Park
    • Offices: Inventory and Monitoring Division, Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Directorate, Pacific Island Inventory & Monitoring Network
    a yellow Hawaiian bird with curved beak perches on a branch

    The National Park Service, in partnership with many other agencies and organizations, will suppress invasive mosquito populations through biocontrol to reduce avian malaria and prevent the extinction of several federally threatened and endangered native forest bird populations at Haleakala National Park.

    • Locations: Biscayne National Park, Buck Island Reef National Monument, Dry Tortugas National Park, Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve, Virgin Islands National Park, Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument
    a diver in scuba gear examines coral

    The National Park Service will take a multi-faceted approach to coral management by implementing disease treatment, on-the-ground restoration, research, and other management actions to increase coral reef health.

    • Locations: Cumberland Island National Seashore, Fort Matanzas National Monument, Timucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve
    two people carry oyster ball onto beach with marsh grasses

    We're restoring shoreline at 3 parks with Pervious Oyster Shell Habitat (POSH) modules created from oysters recycled from restaurants. These will serve as the base of new oyster beds that will fight erosion from boat wakes.

    • Locations: Padre Island National Seashore
    a rectangular bare patch of ground with rusted equipment

    The National Park Service will remove orphaned oil and gas infrastructure from the Lemon Pad oil and gas site at Padre Island National Seashore. The project will address public safety concerns and benefit threatened and endangered species, including the Northern Aplomado falcon. Site restoration will include restoring wetland and wind-tidal habitat and improving of the overall health of the surrounding landscape.

    • Locations: Padre Island National Seashore
    an oil and gas site with equipment and machinery

    The National Park Service will remove orphaned oil and gas infrastructure from the South Spirit oil and gas site at Padre Island National Seashore. The project will address public safety concerns and benefit threatened and endangered species, including the Northern Aplomado falcon. Site restoration will include restoring wetland and wind-tidal habitat and improving the overall health of the surrounding landscape.

    • Locations: Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
    a forested area with view between the trees of a marshy area

    The National Park Service completed compliance and design for a proposed network of mainland trails to enhance health and fitness opportunities for nearby residents including Red Cliff Tribal members and to expand mainland trail experiences for visitors of Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.

    • Locations: Acadia National Park
    a woman and a girl take photos of fall foliage from a boardwalk in a forested wetland area

    The National Park Service in partnership with Friends of Acadia and Schoodic Institute will restore the ecological integrity of the Great Meadow wetland and improve the recreational trail network accessing the wetland in Acadia National Park.

Last updated: October 6, 2023