At an Aug. 30 press conference, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced $800,000 in federal, state, and private funding for Living Shorelines, a program to manage shoreline erosion in Chesapeake Bay. The program focuses on using sand and plants, which also create shoreline habitat, as opposed to bulkheads and seawalls, which can increase erosion. To date, Living Shorelines has funded 68 projects, creating 8500 linear m (28,000 linear ft) and 7.3 ha (18 ac) of wetland habitat.