Warner & Kaine Announce Over $15.2 Million to Address Coastal Resilience in Virginia Beach and on Tangier Island

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $15,250,000 in federal funding to address sea level rise and expand flood resiliency in Virginia Beach and on Tangier Island.

“Coastal Virginia has long been identified as one of the most vulnerable regions of the country to flooding, but thanks to smart federal investments, we’re not just worrying about it anymore—we’re doing something about it,” said the senators. “We’re proud to announce this funding to advance a citywide plan for flood resilient infrastructure in Virginia Beach and to take a significant step forward in slowing erosion of Tangier Island and restoring it to its historical dimensions to preserve this unique part of Virginia. We will keep working to improve resiliency and combat climate change throughout the Commonwealth.”

The funding is broken down as follows:

• $10,300,000 for Tangier Island for maintenance dredging and shoal removal within navigation channels in the Chesapeake Bay. The dredged material will be used to address persistent erosion and will be part of a plan to eventually restore the island.
• $4,950,000 for the Virginia Beach and Vicinity Coastal Storm Risk Management Study. The Coastal Storm Risk Management Study will develop and engineer large-scale flood resilience projects to reduce flood vulnerability for the City of Virginia Beach.

Warner and Kaine have long worked to secure significant federal funding to increase resiliency and protect Virginia’s coastal communities from the impacts of sea level rise. The senators previously secured $1.9 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Fiscal Year 2024 government funding bill for the Virginia Beach and Vicinity Coastal Storm Risk Management Study. Warner and Kaine secured $800,000 in the Fiscal Years 2023 and 2024 government funding bills for studying and permitting the use of dredged material to be used to help Tangier address sea level rise and recurrent coastal flooding and storms. The senators have also secured nearly $399 million for the Norfolk Coastal Storm Risk Management project and $3 million for the Peninsula Regional Flood Risk Management feasibility study for the City of Hampton and the surrounding region.

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