Nature-Based Infrastructure: NOAA’s Role
Released: 2020-01-02T00:00:00

T he National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) currently supports natural, nature-based, or green infrastructure and other related types of features (hereinafter referred to as nature-based infrastructure) as part of its statutory mandates to support, research, restore, and conserve natural resources. Practitioners and decisionmakers have been using the term nature-based infrastructure and supporting nature-based infrastructure features since at least the late 2000s (although these types of features have been assigned various names over time). Nature-based infrastructure may continue to be appealing due to (1) stakeholder emphasis on infrastructure features that benefit both humans and the environment in multiple ways and (2) recognition that infrastructure may be longer lasting if it can adjust to changing environmental conditions in the short and long terms. Members of Congress may consider whether and how to support nature-based infrastructure activities at federal agencies, including NOAA, with these objectives, among others, in mind.

This report describes how NOAA characterizes nature-based infrastructure and the agency's current activities supporting research and implementation of nature-based infrastructure. The report also discusses potential issues for Congress including (1) definitions of nature-based infrastructure in statute, (2) NOAA's authority to support nature-based infrastructure, (3) how NOAA coordinates with other federal agencies and nonfederal entities on nature-based infrastructure activities, and (4) how NOAA funds nature-based infrastructure activities and its total nature-based infrastructure-related expenditures.

Nature-Based Infrastructure as Defined by NOAA

NOAA has defined natural infrastructure and nature-based infrastructure in NOAA Administrative Order (NAO) 216-117: NOAA National Habitat Policy. NOAA defines natural infrastructure as "healthy ecosystems, including forests, wetlands, floodplains, dune systems, and reefs, which provide multiple benefits to communities, including storm protection through wave attenuation or flood storage capacity and enhanced water services and security."

Similarly, NOAA defines nature-based infrastructure as "engineered systems where natural features are combined with more hard or structural engineering approaches to create a hybrid system."

However, across NOAA's publicly accessible documents and websites, the agency appears to use the terms nature-based infrastructure, natural infrastructure, and green infrastructure interchangeably. Table 1 lists several types of nature-based infrastructure features as identified by NOAA. According to NOAA, nature-based infrastructure projects may include features that are completely natural, such as open lands and trees, or may incorporate varying degrees of hard or "gray" steel and concrete structures, such as bulkheads ( Figure 1 ). Often, multiple types of nature-based infrastructure features are combined within a project. The selection of nature-based infrastructure features often depends on a combination of available funding, space constraints, land or roof availability, technical feasibility, hydrologic impact, and community acceptance, among other factors.

According to NOAA, nature-based infrastructure can provide several benefits in addition to flood, erosion, and runoff management, such as improved water quality, wildlife habitat, opportunity for groundwater recharge, recreation uses, and aesthetic appeal, among others. The extent to which nature-based infrastructure features provide these benefits is partially dependent on the location and types of features used.

NOAA's Nature-Based Infrastructure Activities

NOAA's National Habitat Policy (NAO 216-117) directs the agency to protect, maintain, and restore ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes ecosystems by "applying natural and nature-based infrastructure," among other activities. According to the agency, this work is supported by a variety of statutory mandates and authorities. Congress has not defined in statute nature-based or related terms for NOAA, nor has it explicitly directed NOAA to broadly support nature-based features or related activities across the agency.

NOAA's nature-based infrastructure activities fall primarily under three line offices: the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Ocean Service (NOS), and Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR). According to NOAA, many of the agency's nature-based infrastructure activities are related to restoration and conservation projects; the projects are typically local or regional in scale and take place within coastal or Great Lakes states.

NMFS's Restoration Center administers the community-based restoration grant program with congressionally appropriated funds to support nature-based infrastructure activities, among other restoration activities, implemented by institutions of higher education; nonprofit and for-profit organizations; U.S. territories; and state, local, and tribal governments. The NOAA Restoration Atlas, a project-tracking database, lists over 2,000 community-based restoration projects, many of which include nature-based infrastructure features and multiple benefits. For instance, the Restoration Center provided funds for the planting of marshgrass along the coast of Northumberland County, VA, to reduce shoreline erosion and improve fish habitat ( Figure 2 ).

Several programs and activities under NOS support research and implementation of nature-based infrastructure. For example, the Coral Reef Conservation Program, National Coastal Zone Management Program, and National Estuarine Research Reserve System provide technical assistance and administer competitive grant programs to a variety of entities, such as institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations; and local, state, and tribal governments, among others. Coastal scientists with NOAA's National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science have estimated the economic value of nature-based infrastructure to stabilize coastlines along the Pacific Northwest. Additionally, the Damage Assessment, Remediation, and Restoration Program, a program with components in both NMFS and NOS, supports nature-based infrastructure implementation through funds recovered in settlements or litigation. For example, it has supported the design and implementation of a living shoreline with breakwaters in Pensacola, FL, to (1) create and restore salt marsh and reef habitat and (2) protect and stabilize the shoreline, with funds from the BP Deepwater Horizon spill settlement ( Figure 3 ).

Under OAR, the Climate Program Office and the National Sea Grant College Program (Sea Grant) both support research and implementation of nature-based infrastructure through competitive grant programs on a variety of topics, including nature-based infrastructure. For example, the Climate Program Office has awarded grants to institutions of higher learning and agencies within state government to support the development and application of methodologies to value nature-based infrastructure. Sea Grant also may support research or provide technical assistance for nature-based infrastructure projects. For instance, Alaska Sea Grant organized trainings in "Green Infrastructure for Coastal Resilience" for municipal and borough planners, designers, landscape architects, public housing authority planners, academics, and nonprofits. In another case, New York Sea Grant funded the monitoring of nature-based shoreline erosion management measures in various regions of New York.

Additional NOAA programs may have roles related to nature-based infrastructure, such as reviewing projects that may use nature-based infrastructure and providing underlying data for decisionmaking. For example, the NMFS Office of Protected Resources is often involved in reviewing nature-based infrastructure projects that may affect protected species under NOAA's jurisdiction. NOAA may also direct appropriated funding to nonfederal organizations, such as the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, to support nature-based infrastructure activities. For example, NOAA provides funds and program oversight to the foundation's National Coastal Resilience Fund, which in FY2019 funded grants to "create, expand, and restore natural systems in areas that will both increase protection for communities from coastal storms, sea- and lake-level changes, inundation, and coastal erosion while also improving valuable habitats for fish and wildlife species," among other objectives.

Potential Policy Issues for Congress

Definitions in Statute

Congress has not defined the term nature-based infrastructure , or similar terms, in statute for NOAA as it has for USACE and EPA. For example, in P.L. 114-322 Congress defined natural and nature-based features and directed USACE to consider the features when studying the feasibility of flood risk management, hurricane and storm damage reduction, and ecosystem restoration projects (33 U.S.C. Â§2289a). In P.L. 115-436 , which amended the Clean Water Act, Congress defined green infrastructure and directed EPA to promote green infrastructure use, among other activities (33 U.S.C. Â§1362(27) and 33 U.S.C. Â§1377a).

Congress may consider whether and how to define the term and the types of nature-based infrastructure for NOAA. Some Members of Congress have proposed definitions within the context of new NOAA programs. For example, H.R. 1317 in the 116 th Congress would provide definitions for natural , nature-based , and nonstructural features to be used as criteria for new NOAA financial assistance programs. Two other nearly identical bills in the 116 th Congress, H.R. 3115 and S. 1730 , define the term living shoreline for the use within a new agency-administered grant program.

A NOAA-specific definition of nature-based infrastructure and similar terms in statute may help the agency prioritize and manage its nature-based infrastructure activities. A definition also could potentially limit the types of nature-based infrastructure, by inhibiting the development and adoption of new designs and features that are not captured in a statutory definition. Further, a NOAA-specific definition may conflict with other federal agency definitions for nature-based infrastructure. Congress may consider whether one definition should be used among all federal agencies to minimize the potential for confusion. A single definition across all federal agencies, however, could conflict with the various missions and activities of the different federal agencies.

Authorities for Nature-Based Infrastructure

Congress has directed NOAA to support, research, restore, and conserve natural resources in a variety of statutes. Congress has not enacted authorities specifically for nature-based infrastructure activities; however, NOAA has interpreted some of its authorities to include support for nature-based infrastructure activities. For example, in 2009 Congress directed NOAA to create the Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program (CELCP) under the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA; P.L. 111-11 , 16 U.S.C. Â§1456-1 and Â§1456d). Congress established the CELCP to provide grants to nonfederal entities to protect "important coastal and estuarine areas that have significant conservation, recreation, ecological, historical, or aesthetic values" (16 U.S.C. Â§1456d), which may include natural or open lands, identified by NOAA as nature-based infrastructure in Table 1 . Similarly, Congress instructed NOAA to conduct and support "activities to conserve coral reefs and coral reef ecosystems" (16 U.S.C. Â§Â§6401-6409). NOAA has identified coral reefs as a type of nature-based infrastructure ( Table 1 ); coral reefs have been shown to buffer waves and provide protection from shoreline erosion.

Some stakeholders contend that NOAA is already authorized to support nature-based infrastructure features through its existing statutes. Others in Congress, however, have proposed legislation that would expand the type of nature-based infrastructure activities NOAA currently supports. For example, in the 116 th Congress, H.R. 1317 would direct NOAA to "improve the resilience of the built and natural environment to natural disasters and climate change" by using natural, nature-based, and nonstructural features, among other features. Another bill, H.R. 3115 , would require NOAA to administer grants for "designing and implementing ... living shorelines; and ... innovative uses of natural materials and systems to protect coastal communities, habitats, and natural system functions," among other provisions. Expanding NOAA's authority for nature-based infrastructure activities has been met with some opposition. For example, some in Congress have argued that a new NOAA grant program that H.R. 3115 would authorize "strays from the long-standing Congressional intent of providing eligible coastal states and territories the flexibility to design programs that best address local challenges by inserting federal priorities into a state-run program."

Coordination of Nature-Based Infrastructure Activities

NOAA often supports nature-based infrastructure activities alongside other federal and nonfederal partners. For example, the agency has provided financial and technical support to the aforementioned Pensacola Bay Living Shoreline Project, which also receives support from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. In addition, NOAA has been a part of several federal interagency and interorganizational efforts to better understand and support nature-based infrastructure. For instance, NOAA was a part of the federal Coastal Green Infrastructure and Ecosystem Services Task Force established in response to Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Strategy recommendations. The task force was co-chaired by NOAA and the U.S. Geological Survey and resulted in the development of a 2015 report. Report recommendations focused on "coastal green infrastructure" metrics, production functions (e.g., how can the United States better track how ecosystem changes may impact infrastructure), ecosystem-service valuation, social factors, and decisionmaking support.

NOAA also has been a member of the interorganizational Systems Approach to Geomorphic Engineering (SAGE) working group. SAGE includes representatives from federal and state agencies, academic and research institutes, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector. SAGE is a "community of practice" and aims to share advances in the science, engineering, policy, and financing of nature-based infrastructure across organizations. For example, organizations, including NOAA, have been a part of SAGE pilot projects in selected locations working to address issues such as shoreline loss using nature-based infrastructure. SAGE also brings organizations together to discuss technical, policy, and financial issues through periodic meetings and serves as a public resource aggregator by compiling links to technical guidance, conference proceedings, research, and other materials.

Congress may deliberate whether and how to direct NOAA to manage nature-based infrastructure activities within the agency or with non-NOAA organizations in specific ways. For example, Congress may require NOAA to coordinate its nature-based infrastructure within an intra-agency working group or task force. Alternatively, Congress could establish an advisory board or similar group to provide recommendations for better intra-agency, interagency, and interorganizational coordination. For coordination with organizations outside of NOAA, Congress may authorize in statute an already established working group, such as SAGE, or create a new group focused on nature-based infrastructure.

Some stakeholders may argue that a statutory requirement for NOAA to coordinate with federal and nonfederal partners may facilitate information sharing, promote the efficient use of available funding, and streamline permitting across federal agencies. Others may argue that unless Congress specifically authorizes NOAA to support nature-based infrastructure activities, the agency should (1) focus resources solely on meeting current congressional directives and/or (2) coordinate at their own discretion.

Funding for Nature-Based Infrastructure

Congress funds NOAA to support, research, restore, and conserve natural resources primarily through the annual appropriations process. NOAA reports its spending to Congress on a program-by-program basis, but nature-based infrastructure activities are not tracked specifically as line items in either the agency's annual budget request or in congressional appropriations bills and reports. For example, Congress appropriated $68 million to the National Sea Grant College Program in FY2019; however, NOAA does not track what portion of that funding was used to support nature-based infrastructure activities. Similarly, NOAA does not report the proportion of funding supporting nature-based infrastructure activities in other NOAA programs. Congress may consider requiring NOAA to track and/or report its spending on nature-based infrastructure activities. Other federal agencies also likely do not track spending related to nature-based infrastructure activities, and Congress may consider requiring all federal agencies to report their nature-based infrastructure expenditures. Congress has sometimes required federal agencies to submit crosscut budgets detailing individual agency expenditures (e.g., USACE water resources research and technology institutes expenditures as required under 42 U.S.C. Â§10303) as well as some interagency expenditures (e.g., Great Lakes restoration activity expenditures as required under 33 U.S.C. Â§1268a).

Stakeholders hold different views about whether or how Congress should fund nature-based infrastructure activities. Congress could continue to appropriate funds that support NOAA's core capabilities and mission, without specifying they be used for nature-based infrastructure activities. Alternatively, Congress could, for example, appropriate funds for existing or new NOAA programs that provide grants to nonfederal entities explicitly for research and implementation of nature-based infrastructure. Several bills introduced in the 116 th Congress address funding for nature-based infrastructure activities in various ways. For example, H.R. 3115 would create a new grant program to fund the installation of living shorelines, a type of nature-based infrastructure feature. H.R. 1317 would (1) issue a U.S. Postal Service semipostal stamp and use some of its proceeds to fund prize competitions and research catalog development, and (2) authorize appropriations for capitalization funds to establish state community resilience revolving funds for the implementation of nature-based infrastructure, among other projects. S. 2284 would establish the Carbon Dividend Trust Fund with requisite fund transfers to federal agencies. As proposed in S. 2284 , NOAA's portion of the fund transfer would support several programs, including a coastal resiliency program that would be required to prioritize the consideration of natural and nature-based infrastructure. However, some Members of Congress have argued that the establishment of new grant programs, such as the living shoreline grant program in H.R. 3115 , are "duplicative and wasteful," as Congress already appropriates funding to NOAA that may be used to support nature-based infrastructure.