Senator seeks reauthorization of National Estuary Program

This satellite image captured in 2000 shows the New York–New Jersey Harbor Estuary--which receives water from the Hudson and Raritan Rivers--to the north and the Delaware Bay estuary to the south (Credit: NASA)

A U.S. senator from Rhode Island is seeking reauthorization of the National Estuary Program, according to the Providence Journal. The program expired in 2010, but still receives some funding from the federal government.

If the effort crystallizes, 28 programs nationwide would be directed to include planning for climate change in their missions. More transparency for dispensation of funds from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency would also be required.

The senator says that estuaries provide buffers against wind and storm surges, as well as filter pollution in water. His bill requests at least $35 million each year for the program, $600,000 of which would go to Rhode Island.

Image: This satellite image captured in 2000 shows the New York–New Jersey Harbor Estuary–which receives water from the Hudson and Raritan Rivers–to the north and the Delaware Bay estuary to the south (Credit: NASA)