The U.S. Department of Commerce and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced more than $106 million in funding for state and Tribal salmon recovery programs and projects in Alaska, California, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. The funding will go toward 16 programs and projects under the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund, according to an Aug. 17 news release.
“This funding, made possible in part by President Biden’s historic Investing in America agenda, provides an important opportunity to bolster salmon and steelhead recovery and invest in the communities that rely on them,” Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said in the release. “The diligent work carried out by NOAA Fisheries and partners will help ensure the funding reaches regions and fish populations where it is needed most.”
A considerable portion of the funding comes from both the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, according to the release.
The support aims to enhance the recovery and conservation of Pacific salmon and steelhead in Alaska, California, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, focusing on four "Species in the Spotlight" and aiding the recovery of 28 Endangered Species Act-listed salmon and steelhead species, the release said.
The recommended programs and projects will encompass various activities such as habitat restoration, fish passage improvements, research and monitoring. This effort targets species like Central California Coast coho salmon, Sacramento River winter-run chinook salmon, southern resident killer whales and Cook Inlet beluga whales, the release reported.
Additionally, the funding will sustain Tribal treaty fishing rights and native subsistence practices, according to the release.
The funding also bolsters place-based resilience and climate adaptation. While the applications are recommended for funding, final decisions will be made in the coming months. The announcement coincides with the one-year anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act, underscoring its significance in advancing climate action and resilience, the release said.
