Focus Areas:
Watersheds
"Restoration projects provide immense ecological and flood protection benefits, but they require creative financing solutions to move from concept to implementation." -US Water Alliance
The Problem
The Recommendation
Funding for river and wetland restoration projects is often inconsistent and falls short of what is needed for large-scale ecosystem recovery.
Restoration projects face barriers such as limited access to long-term financing, regulatory hurdles, and competition for public funds with other infrastructure priorities.
Critical restoration work is often delayed due to funding despite its potential benefits for biodiversity and flood protection.
Federal conservation grants, private environmental impact investments, and tax credits for wetland protection can drive more consistent funding for these projects. Additionally, collaboration with land trusts and environmental funds can enhance the availability of capital for river restoration.