NOAA releases its new and improved Coastal County Snapshots
Upcoming Events
Related News
Key Takeaways
On January 18, 2022, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released its new and improved Coastal County Snapshots. This Digital Coast tool provides easy-to-understand charts and graphs that describe complex, county-specific coastal data. Please see NOAA’s explanation of the tool here.
Communities can use this information to determine community vulnerability and to plan accordingly. Topics currently include coastal flooding, the coastal economy and the marine economy. It is expected that a snapshot focused on the sea-level rise will be a new feature in the next couple of months. NOAA has added that additional snapshot topics can be incorporated in the future.
Snapshots are currently available for most coastal counties in the contiguous United States and Hawaii. The data come from many sources, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management.
NOAA worked with NACo to develop the Coastal County Snapshots tool in recent years. Additionally, NACo is a NOAA Digital Coast Partnership partner, which provides an effective platform for groups to work together to address coastal issues.
NACo will monitor the Coastal County Snapshots tool closely and update members as additional information becomes available.
Advocacy
NOAA seeks input on the administration’s goal to conserve 30 percent of lands and waters by 2030
On October 29, NOAA announced it is accepting public comments on how the agency can help achieve the goals and recommendations in a report titled Conserving and Restoring America the Beautiful 2021.
Related News
U.S. House of Representatives passes SPEED Act and other permitting reform bills
On December 18, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the SPEED Act (H.R. 4776). The SPEED Act would strengthen county involvement in decision-making and make needed commonsense reforms to the federal environmental review process.
House Natural Resources Committee advances the Endangered Species Act Amendments Act of 2025
On December 17, the House Natural Resources Committee advanced the Endangered Species Act (ESA) Amendments Act of 2025 (H.R. 1897). The version passed by the committee adopted several changes from the initial bill and would address key county concerns by improving the implementation of the ESA. The legislation now awaits a floor vote before the whole U.S. House of Representatives.
Senators introduce bipartisan UPGRADE Act to support small and rural public water systems
On December 15, Sens. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) introduced the Unincorporated Partnerships for Grant Resources, Assistance, and Drinking Water Enhancements (UPGRADE) Act (S. 3465), a bipartisan bill that would strengthen federal support for small public water systems and helps unincorporated communities access clean and affordable water.