Restore America's Estuaries

The 2024 National Estuary Program Watershed Grant request for proposals is now open. Click below to complete the RFP, review the application requirements, and submit your proposal. Letters of intent are due by 5:00 pm PT/8:00 pm ET on Friday, January 17, 2025. https://lnkd.in/gwZr3ivy

RAE is looking to hire a Vice President of Program Administration and Finance. If you care about protecting our coasts, bays, and estuaries, visit the link in the bio to learn more about the position.

Restore America's Estuaries is proud to officially announce our newest partnership with the Engineering With Nature? (EWN?) Program. EWN, a division of the US Army Corps of Engineers, creates more sustainable infrastructure by integrating engineering and natural systems to protect our waters. This partnership is a foundation for our organizations to collaborate on promoting nature-based solutions that will protect our coasts and shorelines. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eEG32nk8

From October 6-10, Restore America's Estuaries (RAE) hosted the 12th Annual Coastal and Estuarine Summit in Washington, D.C. The event brought together managers, scientists, educators, outreach professionals, students, government officials, and federal employees to discuss coastal restoration challenges and solutions. LISS partners presented on various topics, including adapting to sea level rise, mapping and monitoring salt marshes, and the Long Island Sound Community Impact Fund (LISCIF), which offers technical assistance, support, and capacity-building resources to organizations in communities facing environmental and human health risks. Subawardees such as the Hutchinson River Restoration Project, the Mill River Wetland Committee, Inc., and Environmental Leaders of Color shared reflections on how they utilized LISCIF funds to bring change to their communities Additionally, speakers highlighted the Long Island Sound Environmental Justice Needs Assessment, a year-long study identifying the needs of underserved communities in the LIS region. Participants went back to their organizations with knowledge of new and innovative resiliency approaches, and accounts of successful habitat restoration projects from across the country. PC: Brad Williamson/RAE #CoastalRestoration #EnvironmentalJustice #LongIslandSound #SustainableCommunities

Missed the Restore America's Estuaries Summit? Here’s a quick recap! Our team had an amazing time discussing innovative nature-based solutions (NBS), including coastal habitat restoration and thin layer placement for resilience in the Chesapeake Bay and Gulf of Mexico. A big highlight was showcasing the TEXBUMP Project at the Coastal Innovation Hub, in partnership with Ducks Unlimited. We demonstrated how our GIS-based Decision Support System is helping to enhance restoration across Texas—exciting stuff for anyone focused on sustainable ecosystems! Thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth! We’re inspired by the conversations and partnerships formed. Let’s continue advancing ecosystem restoration together! #CoastalInnovation #Restoration #Resilience?

Can't believe it's already been one week since we said goodbye to the #RAESummit! Thank you to the RAE staff, Chesapeake BAy Foundation, presenters, all our volunteers, and everyone who worked to pull off one of the best Summits ever!

Don’t miss RAE’s own Hilary Stevens as she joins a panel on ‘Blue Carbon: The Power Within’, a brand new CNN documentary that challenges your views on climate change and inspires action, revealing how the resilience of people and ecosystems can pave the way for a sustainable future. 10/21 7-9 pm in Fairfax, VA https://bit.ly/4f9ZgCf

On this Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Restore America’s Estuaries celebrates the countless Indigenous communities that reside on estuaries, commemorates those Tribal Nations who were removed from their land over the previous centuries, and recognizes all Indigenous advocates who fight for cleaner ecosystems. Thanks to Melissa Ehrenreich and the Indigenous Conservation Council of the Chesapeake Bay for sharing their resources to support non-native allies in partnering more deeply with Tribal Nations and Indigenous partners in Virginia. The ICC's tireless efforts to build robust tribal environmental programs as a part of a larger goal of reuniting their people and exercising their sovereignty and self-determination is an example of the environmental stewardship that is ongoing in Tribal Nations across the globe. https://lnkd.in/e_pyCWkv

The votes were counted, and the #RAESummit Poster Contest winner was ?? ???? Andrew Ferris with CRCL!!! Andrew's poster on the Big Branch Marsh Restoration won him the People's Choice vote and a RAE swag bag! Melissa Deinys was the big winner of our poster voting sweepstakes and will be receiving a dozen blue crabs, and by special request a crab plushie, shipped right to her door! Thanks to everyone who voted and presented their poster at this years Summit!

Great to gather with new and old friends at Restore America's Estuaries earlier this week! Tribal leadership was on full display with Nikki Bass, Vice Chair of the Nansemond Indian Nation and Dana Adkins, Environmental Director for the Chickahominy Indian Tribe at the open plenary who shared tribal history, dreams for the future, and ways partners can help Tribal Nations rematriate their lands in the Chesapeake Bay! A super thank you to Christy Everett for her moderation of the discussion and always, always championing great partnership for Tribal Nations! Wonderful to meet Daniel Hayden finally in person and thank you providing such a powerful platform for Indigenous perspectives. Such an honor to meet Assistant Secretary Jainey Bavishi and grab a selfie with her before her remarks on how NOAA has moved forward to make grants more accessible including through the removal of matching fund requirements to get resources on the ground to protect nature and people. Later that day, the ICC was one of several participants discussing innovations in restoration in a panel convened by the Environmental Policy Innovation Center later in the day. Thank you to Phoebe Higgins for inviting us to share ideas on Indigenous models to watch and all the other panelists including John Paul Miller, Megan Terrell, Kyle Graham, and Kelley Jorgensen. Dana said it best when he said, "I was happy to see a significant focus was placed on the importance of involving local communities in conservation efforts.?Engaging those who live and work near rivers and estuaries ensures that solutions are practical, culturally relevant, and sustainable.?Additionally, the discussions highlighted the necessity of cross-sector collaboration.? Collaborations among Tribes, government agencies, non-profits, and the private sector are essential for developing more comprehensive and effective strategies." We agree, Dana!