Santa Monica Bay Restoration Foundation (Santa Monica, CA) $171,973
Santa Monica Bay Subtidal Eelgrass Restoration
Use various methodological approaches to restore eelgrass from the Southern California Bight to Santa Monica Bay.

Hudson River Foundation Raritan River (Watershed, NJ) $84,249
Restoring Aquatic Habitat Through Climate-Ready Infrastructure
This project assessed and prioritized the removal of bridges and culverts that no longer serve our human and aquatic communities, with new infrastructure that allows for unhampered flow of aquatic life and water, now and under future climate change scenarios. Restoration opportunities for problematic culverts were found in each of the eleven subwatersheds assessed on the Lower Raritan River in New Jersey.

Lowlander Center (Dulac, LA) $246,359
Lagniappe for the working coast: reducing flood risk and protecting sacred sites and tribal communities’ resilience by strengthening Louisiana’s marshes
Complete site assessments and obtain the coastal use permits to restore marshes in southern Louisiana in the immediate area of the three Sovereign Tribes in Southern Louisiana – Grand Bayou, Grand Caillou/Dulac, and Pointe-au-Chien. The field-centered work of this project is to identify specific canals for restoration using will use expert knowledge, including Indigenous Knowledge and Local Knowledge.

Buzzards Bay Coalition (Buzzards Bay, MA) $75,345
Optimizing & Expanding the Impact of Nitrogen-Reducing Septic Systems (NRSS)
Real-time nitrogen data will be collected through handheld sampling methods and evaluated for the potential to reduce the time and expense of monitoring nitrogen-reducing septic systems (NRSS). The use of NRSS can be expanded for more timely restoration of coastal water quality in Buzzards Bay and beyond

Kwiaht (Lopez Island, WA) $96,100
Living Breakwaters for Estuaries in the San Juan Islands
Design and build eight or more, 100-foot oyster reefs in cooperation with private homeowners at strategic points around Fisherman Bay that will Function as growing, self-healing “living breakwaters” to defend critical habitat and homes, and redirect bay sediments where new marsh habitats can form in 25-50 years.

Tillamook Estuaries Partnership (Tillamook, OR) $99,000
Sitka Sedge Tidal Wetland Project (SSTW)
Produce preliminary (30%) restoration designs that will enable future reconnection of the wetlands and restoration of hydrologic function, further habitat complexity, increase species diversity, and improve water quality for the Sitka Sedge Tidal Wetlands.

The Research Foundation for the State University of New York/ Peconic Estuary Partnership      (Peconic Bay, Long Island, NY) $249,739
Ground water refugia eelgrass restoration project
This project will demonstrate the use of groundwater as thermal refugia in an emerging restoration strategy for eelgrass. Using assessments of key parameters (e.g.: radon, groundwater discharge) and novel seagrass transplant techniques, we will test and demonstrate an approach that has the potential to transform this type of eelgrass restoration. Doing so will make such projects more predictable and effective, allowing for larger-scale efforts in estuaries impacted by groundwater discharge.

Center for Inland Bays (Rehoboth Bay, DE) $249,872
Thompson Island Living Shoreline
Improve water quality in Rehoboth Bay and protect an important cultural heritage site through shoreline stabilization and enhancement  on Thompson Island. The living shoreline will address: wave energy dampening; natural accretion/nourishment; enhanced spawning/nesting habitat; protection and enhancements to marsh habitat; and beach regeneration.

Cascadia Research Collective (Puget Sound, WA) $125,700
Return of the Giants: Understanding whale unusual and unexplained mortalities within Puget Sound
Better understand unusual and unexplained mortalities of whales (humpback and gray) in the Puget Sound National Estuary. Insight into what has caused this increase in occurrence and mortalities as well as what is drawing animals to this area will result in developing key management actions to reduce anthropogenic impacts and preserve what is beneficial to these whales.

City of Houston/ Houston Parks and Recreation Department (Houston, TX) $183,000
Coastal Savannah and Riparian Habitat Restoration Project
Restore 24.5 acres of coastal prairie, wetland, and savanna habitat in Ann Taylor Park and 21 acres of riparian forest in Furman Greenspace to provide wildlife habitat, mitigate against flooding, and help trap sediment and pollutants from entering waterways that lead to Galveston Bay.

University of Florida (Tampa Bay, FL) $239,181
Identification of main sources of nitrogen pollution from septic systems to inform policy and resilience planning in the Tampa Bay estuary
The project goal is to provide managers of Old Tampa Bay, and city planners in the Pinellas and Hillsborough counties with the contribution of nitrogen from septic tanks in Old Tampa Bay. This information will detail priority areas for sewer upgrades or the installation of new sewer systems.

East Coast Zoological Society of Florida, Inc. d/b/a/ Brevard Zoo (Indian River Lagoon, FL) $96,275
Restore Our Shores: Indian River Lagoon Oyster Restoration
ECZS will contribute to countywide plans to construct 14.5 acres of oyster reef in the Indian River Lagoon through a three-part project including a site selection study, oyster shell recycling, and construction of a half acre of oyster reef.

Harwich Conservation Trust (Hinckleys Pond and Herring River, MA) $250,000
Hinckleys Pond-Herring River Headwaters Eco-Restoration Project – Phase Two: Eco-Restoration Construction Construct an eco-restoration project to restore ±30 acres of retired cranberry bog to natural wetlands and restore 500 feet of pond shoreline on 174-acre Hinckleys Pond to improve water quality; enhance river herring spawning habitat; create wildlife habitat; create publicly accessible trails and learning opportunities for local Technical High School students.