NOAA works with our partners to restore habitat in the Great Lakes region to support the fish, ecosystems, and communities that rely on these important natural resources. Learn about a few key numbers that help illustrate the scope of our habitat restoration work in the region through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. Contact: Julie Simmons.

Recently completed research projects funded by the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office have explored how different species, including the commercially important summer flounder and black sea bass, may change their habitat use due to climate change. Changes in which species spend time in the Chesapeake Bay—and when—can affect how the entire food web works. Contact: Bruce Vogt.

As the Upper Barataria Marsh Creation project advances toward completion in mid-2023, several videos are now available to explore the vast scale of the project. The new videos include a series of four project fly-over vignettes, a habitat-focused update, and an in-depth video explaining the need for the 1,200-acre project in southern Louisiana and its projected benefits to humans and wildlife. Contact: Mel Landry.

The Federal and State Trustees of the Metal Bank Superfund Natural Resources Damages Settlement are seeking public input to identify projects within the Delaware River and the general Philadelphia area. The Trustees will consider projects that provide suitable compensation for injuries to aquatic and land-based resources resulting from the release of hazardous substances at the Metal Bank Superfund Site. Contact: Rich Takacs.

NOAA has released a StoryMap to illustrate deep-sea coral and sponge site characterization, which describes the biodiversity, habitats, populations, communities, and ecological processes of a particular area. Using diving robots, camera systems, and seafloor mapping sonar, scientists explored, studied, and compiled a summary of each site detailed in the StoryMap. NOAA’s Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program guides this work through extensive partnerships.

NOAA developed an interactive online mapping tool to help researchers and coral reef managers identify priority shallow coral mapping locations along the coasts of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Results from the prioritization needs assessment are summarized in the report.

March is Women's History Month. To celebrate, we're showcasing some of our colleagues who contribute to NOAA Fisheries' core missions every day. Learn more about their career journeys, day-to-day jobs, and what Women's History Month means to them.

NOAA, in partnership with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, is announcing a request for proposals under the 2023 National Coastal Resilience Fund for projects that restore and strengthen natural systems, which in turn lessen community flooding and enhance fish and wildlife habitats. This initiative will advance regionally identified priorities and innovative approaches. Pre-proposals are due April 12.

We will be celebrating Marsh Madness the week of March 27- April 3 on social media and keeping a close eye on our brackish areas. Follow along @NOAAHabitat #MarshMadness!