Inflation Reduction Act – Upper Mississippi-Illinois River Basin
TL/DR –
The Department of the Interior, through the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, has selected seven nature-based resiliency projects in the Upper Mississippi and Illinois River basin. The projects, which represent the largest climate investment in history, aim to reduce the risks and damages of flood and drought by restoring resilient habitats using nature-based solutions, providing benefits for local wildlife and recreational activities, while also potentially reducing environmental impacts on neighboring communities. The projects, which will receive over $3.5 million in funding, support the Biden-Harris administration’s America the Beautiful Initiative, a challenge to protect, conserve, connect, and restore the nation’s lands, waters, habitats, and wildlife.
Resiliency Projects on National Wildlife Refuge System lands
Seven nature-based resilience projects have been chosen in the Upper Mississippi and Illinois River basin. This region spans five states in the Midwest, including vast bottomland forests, wetlands, and riverine habitats that sustain 60% of America’s migrating birds and 40% of the continent’s waterfowl, as well as a diverse range of fish and wildlife. Through the Inflation Reduction Act, this area has been allocated $10 million — marking the largest climate investment in history for nature-based resilience and restoration.
The projects aim to lessen the risks and damages from floods and droughts by restoring resilient habitats using nature-based solutions such as levee removal or setbacks, reconnecting flood plain wetlands and backwaters, and reengineering climate-adaptive infrastructure. Invasive species will also be removed and replaced with native plant species. These actions will positively impact fish and wildlife, while also offering recreational activities and providing surrounding communities with environmental benefits such as clean water and air, and potential reduction in flood and drought impacts.
With the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, the Department of the Interior is putting forward a $2 billion downpayment to restore our nation’s lands and waters. In March, an investment of more than $120 million from the Inflation Reduction Act was announced to repair and restore areas of the National Wildlife Refuge System and partnering state wildlife management areas affected by adverse weather events. The investment emphasizes projects promoting coastal resilience, climate adaptation, addressing invasive species threats, and providing additional data collection for successful natural resource resilience.
The Upper Mississippi and Illinois River basin resilience projects offer a unique chance to meet restoration needs designed to reduce the impacts of climate change on an ecosystem rich in fish, wildlife, and plants, benefitting everyone who lives, works, and recreates there.
Through these investments, we are collaborating with state partners to complete diverse, large-scale projects that are beneficial for these conservation areas, encompassing projects that advantage underserved communities and Tribal interests. This supports the Biden-Harris administration’s America the Beautiful Initiative, a ten-year challenge for locally led and voluntary conservation to protect, conserve, connect, and restore our nation’s lands, waters, habitats, and wildlife. Get more information on our work through the Inflation Reduction Act.
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