CHAPTER 102 —COASTAL HABITAT CONSERVATION
§8301. Purpose
The purpose of this chapter is to legislatively authorize the Coastal Program of the Service in effect as of December 11, 2024, to conduct collaborative landscape-level planning and on-the-ground coastal habitat assessment, coastal habitat protection, coastal habitat restoration, and coastal habitat enhancement projects in priority coastal landscapes to conserve and recover Federal trust species.
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Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Short Title
§8302. Definitions
In this chapter:
(1) Coastal ecosystem
The term "coastal ecosystem" means a biological community of organisms interacting with each other and their habitats in a coastal landscape.
(2) Coastal habitat assessment
The term "coastal habitat assessment" means the process of evaluating the physical, chemical, and biological function of a coastal site to determine the value of the site to fish and wildlife.
(3) Coastal habitat enhancement
The term "coastal habitat enhancement" means the manipulation of the physical, chemical, or biological characteristics of a coastal ecosystem to increase or decrease specific biological functions that make the ecosystem valuable to fish and wildlife.
(4) Coastal habitat planning
The term "coastal habitat planning" means the process of developing a comprehensive plan that—
(A) characterizes a coastal ecosystem;
(B) sets protection, restoration, or enhancement goals and identifies the priorities of those goals;
(C) describes conservation strategies and methodologies;
(D) establishes a timetable for implementation of the plan; and
(E) identifies roles of participants and stakeholders.
(5) Coastal habitat protection
(A) In general
The term "coastal habitat protection" means a long-term action to safeguard habitat of value to fish and wildlife in a coastal ecosystem.
(B) Inclusion
The term "coastal habitat protection" includes activities to support establishment of a conservation easement or fee title acquisition by Federal and non-Federal partners.
(6) Coastal habitat restoration
The term "coastal habitat restoration" means the manipulation of the physical, chemical, or biological characteristics of a coastal ecosystem with the goal of returning, to the maximum extent practicable, the full natural biological functions to lost or degraded native habitat.
(7) Coastal landscape
The term "coastal landscape" means a portion of a coastal ecosystem within or adjacent to a coastal State that contains various habitat types, including—
(A) a fresh or saltwater wetland in a coastal watershed;
(B) a coastal river, stream, or waterway;
(C) a coastal bay or estuary;
(D) a seagrass bed, reef, or other nearshore marine habitat;
(E) a beach or dune system;
(F) a mangrove forest; and
(G) an associated coastal upland.
(8) Coastal State
The term "coastal State" means—
(A) a State in, or bordering on, the Atlantic, Pacific, or Arctic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, the Long Island Sound, or 1 or more of the Great Lakes;
(B) the District of Columbia;
(C) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico;
(D) Guam;
(E) American Samoa;
(F) the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands;
(G) the Federated States of Micronesia;
(H) the Republic of the Marshall Islands;
(I) the Republic of Palau; and
(J) the United States Virgin Islands.
(9) Federal trust species
The term "Federal trust species" means migratory birds, threatened species or endangered species listed under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (
(10) Financial assistance
The term "financial assistance" means Federal funding provided to Federal, State, local, or Tribal governments, nongovernmental institutions, nonprofit organizations, and private individuals and entities through a grant or cooperative agreement.
(11) Secretary
The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Interior.
(12) Service
The term "Service" means the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
(13) Technical assistance
The term "technical assistance" means a collaboration, facilitation, or consulting action relating to a coastal habitat planning, coastal habitat assessment, coastal habitat protection, coastal habitat restoration, or coastal habitat enhancement project or initiative in which the Service contributes scientific knowledge, skills, and expertise to the project or initiative.
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Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Endangered Species Act of 1973, referred to in par. (9), is
§8303. Coastal Program
The Secretary shall carry out the Coastal Program within the Service to—
(1) identify the leading threats to priority coastal landscapes and conservation actions to address those threats in partnership with Federal, State, local, and Tribal governments, nongovernmental institutions, nonprofit organizations, and private individuals and entities;
(2) provide technical assistance and financial assistance through partnerships with Federal, State, local, and Tribal governments, nongovernmental institutions, nonprofit organizations, and private individuals and entities to conduct voluntary coastal habitat planning, coastal habitat assessment, coastal habitat protection, coastal habitat restoration, and coastal habitat enhancement projects on public land or private land;
(3) ensure the health and resilience of coastal ecosystems through adaptive management procedures based on the best available science;
(4) build the capacity of Federal, State, local, and Tribal governments, nongovernmental institutions, nonprofit organizations, and private individuals and entities to carry out environmental conservation and stewardship measures;
(5) assist in the development and implementation of monitoring protocols to ensure the success of coastal ecosystem restoration and coastal ecosystem enhancement measures; and
(6) collaborate and share information with partners and the public relating to best management practices for the conservation, restoration, and enhancement of coastal ecosystems.
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§8304. Reports
(a) In general
Not later than 1 year after December 11, 2024, and annually thereafter, the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Service, shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations and Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committees on Appropriations and Environment and Public Works of the Senate, and make available to the public on the website of the Service, a report on the Coastal Program carried out under this chapter.
(b) Requirements
Each report submitted under subsection (a) shall assess on regional and nationwide bases—
(1) Coastal Program work on coastal ecosystems;
(2) progress made by the Coastal Program toward identifying the leading threats to priority coastal landscapes and conservation actions to address those threats; and
(3) prospects for, and success of, protecting, restoring, and enhancing coastal ecosystems.
(c) Inclusions
Each report submitted under subsection (a) shall include—
(1) quantitative information on coastal landscapes protected, restored, or enhanced;
(2) funds appropriated to the Coastal Program that have been expended or leveraged;
(3) a description of adaptive management practices implemented; and
(4) a description of emerging challenges or data gaps that hinder the ability of the Coastal Program to achieve the purpose of this chapter.
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§8305. Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this chapter $16,957,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028.