DEP Receives $2.57 Million Grant for Florida Coasts

DEP Receives $2.57 Million Grant for Florida Coasts

Federal award will help restore coastal resources and assist coastal communities

TALLAHASSEE - The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has been awarded a $2.57 million grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to continue and increase protection for Florida’s coastal resources and to further the state’s work in revitalizing coastal communities.

"The help of federal grant funding means that Florida can continue our commitment to restore marine habitat and safeguard vital coastal areas," said DEP Secretary Michael W. Sole. "By working with other agencies as well as local governments and nonprofit organizations, we can protect the sandy beaches and coastal communities that attract millions of visitors every year and provide an outstanding quality of life for residents."

The grant will be used for a variety of state priorities including investigating Florida’s offshore springs and archaeological sites; continue the agency’s understanding and research with non-point source pollution such as fertilizers, oil and grease runoff from roadways, or faulty septic systems; developing plans for post-disaster redevelopment and harmful algal bloom response; restoring seagrasses; developing a statewide program for reporting seagrass status and trends; and developing a beach sediment atlas. In addition, five coastal communities and non-profit groups will receive funds to improve public access to public lands, restore coastal habitats, revitalize waterfront areas, promote shoreline stewardship and develop a maritime museum. These five subgrants, totaling almost $200,000 and distributed by DEP to the local communities, support the larger mission of the federal grant and contribute to the state’s environmental priorities.

DEP’s Florida Coastal Management Program administers the annual cooperative grant from NOAA. The Program includes a network of agencies that protect and enhance the state’s natural, cultural and economic coastal resources and helps sustain viable waterfront communities. The program coordinates local, state and federal agency activities using existing laws to ensure that Florida's coast remains a valuable resource for future generations. The Program also provides beach safety and access materials to coastal communities, such as the state’s beach safety flag system and rip current awareness signs.