Exploring the Impact of Climate Change on Floodplains
(Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Since January 2023, President Joe Biden’s National Science Foundation (NSF) has allocated millions of dollars in grants funded by the American Rescue Plan, Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID stimulus package. These grants, while unrelated to COVID, support crucial research on climate change.
The American Rescue Plan, aimed at providing relief to families affected by the COVID-19 crisis, allocated $600 million to the NSF. The agency committed to using this funding to assist individuals and institutions most impacted by the pandemic. However, three years after the legislation was signed, the money is still being distributed through research grants that have no direct connection to COVID.
For instance, in July 2023, a grant of $246,000 was awarded to Amherst College in Massachusetts to deepen our understanding of how floodplains respond to climatic changes. Another grant of over $7 million was given to the University of Texas at Austin to create a welcoming environment for marginalized researchers. Additionally, the NSF provided $181,000 to California Polytechnic State University to investigate the structural organization and changes within a school of fish.
Overall, federal spending disclosures reveal that the NSF has awarded more than $23 million in American Rescue Plan grants since January 2023, all unrelated to COVID.
This revelation challenges the defense of the spending package by congressional Democrats, as economists argue that it contributed to the surge in inflation, reaching a nearly 40-year high. While Republicans criticized the bill as wasteful, claiming it was unnecessary for boosting the U.S. economy, Democrats hailed it as a lifeline for struggling Americans.
However, many of the funded projects were obscure and not directly tied to the pandemic. Furthermore, some recipients of American Rescue Plan funds faced challenges in utilizing the funds within the designated timeframe.
In the year following the bill’s passage, American schools only spent 7 percent of the $122 billion in federal aid allocated to them. Meanwhile, many districts used the funds for bonuses for teachers and administrators.
Economists attribute the $2 trillion price tag of the American Rescue Plan to the inflationary pressures. Although President Biden initially dismissed the idea that his stimulus spending caused inflation, his own administration acknowledged in its annual “Economic Report of the President” that such spending “could have contributed to high inflation.”
Other economists, including the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, explicitly state that the American Rescue Plan significantly contributed to inflation. In October 2022, then-House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D., S.C.) admitted that congressional Democrats were aware that the spending would lead to increased inflation.
In addition to the Amherst College grant, the NSF allocated $219,000 to Radford University in October to study oyster reef erosion. This project aims to understand the erosion processes occurring in areas where oysters are found, as these ecosystems have suffered significant losses due to various factors.
Neither the White House nor the NSF have responded to requests for comment.
What are the implications of climate change on floodplains and their effectiveness as a regulatory mechanism for mitigating flooding?
Rican-rescue-plan-covid-19-stimulus-economy” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>inflation crisis plaguing the United States. Critics argue that the indiscriminate allocation of funds, regardless of their relevance to the pandemic, undermines the credibility of the relief package and diverts resources from areas that are in urgent need of support.
However, amidst the ongoing debate over the allocation of funds, we must not overlook the importance of the research being conducted by the NSF on climate change. One area of study that deserves attention is the impact of climate change on floodplains.
Floodplains, the low-lying areas adjacent to rivers and streams, play a critical role in natural flood control. They act as storage areas for excess water during times of high precipitation, mitigating the risk of downstream flooding. However, the changing climate patterns and extreme weather events caused by global warming are putting immense pressure on these floodplains, compromising their effectiveness as a regulatory mechanism.
Rising global temperatures have resulted in more frequent and intense rainfall events, leading to an increased risk of flooding. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), extreme precipitation events are expected to become more prevalent in the future. This poses a significant threat to communities that are situated in flood-prone areas.
In addition to increased precipitation, climate change is also influencing other factors that impact floodplains. For instance, the melting of glaciers and polar ice caps contributes to rising sea levels, leading to higher water levels in rivers and exacerbating the potential for flooding. Additionally, changes in land use patterns, such as deforestation and urbanization, further exacerbate the vulnerability of floodplains.
The NSF-funded research on floodplains seeks to enhance our understanding of these complex interactions between climate change and floodplain dynamics. By studying how floodplains respond to climatic changes, researchers aim to develop models and predictive tools that can help policymakers and communities manage and adapt to the evolving risk of flooding.
This research includes studying the hydraulic processes within floodplains, such as the flow of water and sediment transport during flood events. Understanding these processes is crucial for developing effective floodplain management strategies, including the design of flood control structures, land-use planning, and early warning systems.
Furthermore, the research also investigates the ecological impacts of climate change on floodplain ecosystems. Floodplains are home to diverse and unique habitats that support a wide array of plant and animal species. Changes in hydrological patterns and the frequency of flooding can disrupt these ecosystems, leading to the loss of biodiversity and important ecological functions.
By studying the ecological impacts, researchers can assess the resilience of floodplain ecosystems and develop conservation strategies to mitigate the potential loss of biodiversity. This research also provides insights into the broader implications of climate change on ecosystems and the services they provide, such as water purification, carbon sequestration, and nutrient cycling.
The findings from NSF-funded research on floodplains are essential for informing policymakers and stakeholders in implementing climate adaptation and mitigation measures. By understanding how floodplains will respond to future climate scenarios, decision-makers can develop strategies to protect vulnerable communities, preserve ecosystem services, and reduce the impacts of flooding.
While there may be valid concerns regarding the allocation of funding, it is crucial to recognize the valuable contribution of scientific research in addressing the complex challenges posed by climate change. The NSF’s focus on floodplains exemplifies the agency’s commitment to understanding and mitigating the impacts of climate change, which are critical for ensuring the resilience of our communities and ecosystems in the face of a changing climate.
As the debate over the American Rescue Plan unfolds, it is essential to separate the discussions on funding allocation from the significance of the research being conducted. Climate change poses a significant threat to our natural and built environments, and it is through research that we can develop the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate this complex and rapidly changing landscape.
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