Inflation Reduction Act: Restoration and Resilience

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) became law on August 16, 2022. It provides the National Park Service with a historic opportunity to address critical ecosystem resilience, restoration, and environmental planning needs.

Guided by the Department’s Restoration and Resilience Framework, the IRA Restoration and Resilience projects in national parks represent broad-scale and impactful resource investments across every corner of our nation—from Alaska to Florida to Maine.

Not only will these projects help park managers and partners restore important ecosystems and wildlife habitat but will also help build resilience so our park lands and waters will be able to withstand future impacts from climate change or other threats.

Investing in Ecosystems

Explore Inflation Reduction Act Projects

The list shows projects and the estimated funding investment by state. Exact dollar amounts allocated to states and parks are subject to change as project planning and adaptation occurs to achieve the greatest on-the-ground conservation results.

Inflation Reduction Act Topic Areas Explained

The NPS is implementing spending in 11 topic areas that focus on high priority restoration and resilience needs.

Ecosystem Resilience

Climate Change Vulnerability Assessments 

Based on sound science, the National Park Service will assess climate vulnerabilities at parks to identify effective management actions. 

Protect Critical Cultural Resources at Risk Due to Climate Change  

Projects will increase the resilience of cultural resources in parks to lessen their risk to climate change effects.

Enhance Ecosystems Resilience  

Projects will implement climate change adaptation actions for park natural and cultural resources, enhance resilience, and/or develop scientific information to support adaptation/resilience decisions on resource issues and park assets.  

Support Youth Corps Partnerships for Conservation, Restoration, and Climate Change Resilience 

Projects will build on several successful NPS youth programs to expand career opportunities in national parks, conservation, and science. 

Leverage Long Term Monitoring Data for Climate Change Resilience Planning  

The NPS Inventory and Monitoring Division (IMD) will evaluate and deliver inventory and vital signs monitoring data to enhance science-informed climate vulnerability and resilience planning. 

Ecosystem Restoration

Restore Imperiled Systems and Enable Science-Informed Decision Making  

Projects will develop and implement actions for landscape conservation activities that restore critical ecosystem function and build resilience.  

Mitigate Physical Safety Hazards on Abandoned Mineral Lands (AML)  

Projects will be directed toward large physical hazard mitigation, site reclamation, or ecosystem restoration projects that pose high levels of risk to people and the environment.  

Manage Priority Invasive Species  

Projects will seek to prevent, control, or eradicate invasive species and/or develop new tools that will assist in the management of these species. 

Advance Bison Conservation  

Projects will advance bison conservation in national parks through staffing, partnerships, and agreements. 

Clean Up Known Legacy Pollution and Conduct Removal Site Evaluations at Top Priority Contaminated Sites  

The NPS will deploy Legacy Pollution cleanup funds to advance health, environmental, and social conditions through the restoration of two contaminated waste accumulation areas identified: Virgin Islands National Park’s Caneel Bay and Yosemite National Park’s El Capitan. 

Environmental Review

Environmental Review

Redevelop the existing Planning, Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) system to be more effective, secure, and reliable. The new system will incorporate an updated user interface with refreshed workflows that are easier to navigate and are hosted within modern technology infrastructure.