Coastal Wetlands Initiative

Addressing coastal wetland loss, protection, and restoration by bringing together seven federal agencies with programs and authorities that manage coastal wetlands.

On this page:

• About the Program
• Types of Assistance
• How This Program Helps Build Resilience
• Connections to Other EPA, Federal, or Non-Governmental Efforts

About the Program

The EPA established the Coastal Wetlands Initiative (CWI) in response to the loss of coastal wetland acreage, as documented by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The CWI addresses the need for enhanced conservation of coastal wetlands and works in partnership with several federal agencies involved in wetland conservation on the Interagency Coastal Wetlands Workgroup (ICWWG) (pdf). The CWI also coordinates with Tribes, states, local government, and non-governmental stakeholders to learn more about regional coastal wetland stressors and successful protection strategies.

Types of Assistance

The CWI offers convening and technical assistance that can help build climate resilience.

Convening Assistance

Through the CWI, the EPA leads the ICWWG, which helps to address coastal wetland loss, management, and restoration by bringing together seven federal agencies with programs and authorities that protect and manage coastal wetlands.

Technical Assistance

Through the CWI, the ICWWG has produced resources that can inform further research and management decisions around coastal wetlands conservation.

How This Program Helps Build Resilience

The CWI focuses on coordinating the conservation and restoration of wetland acreage and function. The resources and interagency coordination of the CWI can help build resilience through natural wetland infrastructure and the benefits that wetlands may provide (e.g., flood protection, erosion control, wildlife food and habitat, commercial fisheries, water quality, recreation, carbon sequestration). The types of projects supported by the CWI include:

• Coastal Wetlands Reviews provide information regarding stressors on coastal wetlands, local protection strategies, and key gaps that, if addressed, could help reverse wetland loss. These reviews are the products of meetings with stakeholders in coastal watersheds throughout the Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, North Atlantic, and Gulf of Mexico regions.
• Coastal Wetland Loss Pilot Studies provide a deeper understanding of the drivers behind coastal wetland loss in four coastal watersheds (San Francisco, California; Galveston, Texas; Cape Fear, North Carolina; Tampa, Florida).
• Living Shorelines Academy funded by the EPA serves as a hub for learning about living shorelines and houses an extensive collection of information including a national data portal, online training modules, and in-person training.
• Tidal Restriction Avoidance and Removal Webinar discusses tools from state, federal, and academic entities that aid in tidal restriction identification, assessment, prioritization, restoration planning, and project funding.
• Interagency Coastal Wetlands Workgroup Recommendations (pdf) for Reducing Wetland Loss in Coastal Watersheds of the United States Report presents recommendations that aim to reduce and reverse the loss of wetlands in coastal watersheds.

Through these projects, the CWI can inform a coastal-wetlands-focused approach for addressing and building resilience in coastal communities.

Connections to Other EPA, Federal, or Non-Governmental Efforts

The CWI and the ICWWG helps coordinate coastal wetlands programming and research among the federal agency partners. Through CWI, the ICWWG engages with non-governmental partners to build knowledge, coordination, and action on issues related to coastal wetland loss. The EPA Coastal Wetlands page provides coastal wetland resources from other agencies and non-governmental partners.