Federal grant requirements overwhelm coastal tribes trying to adapt to climate change

Coastal tribes in the Northwest are struggling to secure federal grants essential for climate adaptation, often bogged down by excessive paperwork and misaligned funding priorities.

B. ‘Toastie’ Oaster reports for High Country News.

In short:

• Northwest coastal tribes must relocate due to rising sea levels but face obstacles in securing federal funding.
• A new report highlights that grant applications are burdensome, diverting critical tribal resources from climate adaptation.
• Tribal leaders emphasize that while funding is available for planning, there’s little for infrastructure needed to implement those plans.

Key quote:

“There’s so many lessons there for other kinds of communities who are going to have to face these same issues in the coming years, and the tribes are doing it first.”

— Meade Krosby, senior scientist at UW

Why this matters:

Coastal tribes are among the first to face the harsh realities of climate change. Their struggle to secure necessary funding not only endangers their communities but also offers vital lessons for future climate adaptation efforts.

Read more:

• Dwindling salmon and treaty rights in the Puget Sound.
• Tribal commissions fight for fishing rights.
• “We are a salmon people”.