Rhode Island Ocean State Climate Adaptation Resilience (OSCAR) Fund

The Ocean State Climate Adaptation and Resilience (OSCAR) Fund, jointly managed by the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank (RIIB), the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM), and the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC), provides grants for coastal and riverine adaptation and resilience projects on public lands. The Rhode Island legislature allocated $4 million in state funding for the OSCAR program in FY24, and no funding match is required. 

Projects must enhance or protect habitats to mitigate climate change impacts. Projects may also promote public access to coasts or rivers, or repair public shoreline protection infrastructure. Eligible applicants include any entity that controls or owns public lands (including privately owned lands that are dedicated to public use, such as through publicly-held easements), such as state/municipal governments and public or quasi-public agencies.

The OSCAR Fund was first approved by the RI General Assembly in 2021, with new rules adopted in 2023. The 2024 Request for Proposals states that eligible projects include, but are not limited to, ones that:

  • Reduce vulnerability of public infrastructure on low-lying lands through removal or relocation,
  • Restore floodplains,
  • Provide revegetation,
  • Acquire land to preserve public access, and
  • Redesign, resize, or replace culverts and bridge spans at wetland crossings.

Projects must not harm coastal, estuarine, or riverine habitats. Grant funding may not be used to repair or replace existing infrastructure, or construct new infrastructure (including shoreline protection structures, roads, or bridges), save for the eligible projects listed above. Awarded grants must include community outreach and engagement, and long-term monitoring. 

The OSCAR program is codified in Rhode Island General Laws Title 46 (Waters and Navigation) Chapter 23.3 (The Ocean State Climate Adaptation and Resilience Fund). OSCAR is administered per Rhode Island Code of Regulations (RICR) Title 250 (Department of Environmental Management) Chapter 170 (Resilience and Climate Change) Subchapter 10 Part 1 (Ocean State Climate Adaptation and Resilience Fund Policies and Procedures), Title 830 (RIIB) Chapter 10 (Programs) Subchapter 35 Part 1 (Ocean State Climate Adaptation and Resilience Fund Policies and Procedures), and Title 650 (CMRC) Chapter 30 Subchapter 5 Part 1 (Ocean State Climate Adaptation Fund Policies and Procedures). 

Publication Date: July 13, 2021

Related Organizations:

Sectors:

  • Coastal
  • Land management and conservation

Resource Category:

Resource Types:

  • Funding program

States Affected:

Impacts:

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