More Than $24 Million In Restoration Projects Announced

The Alabama Trustee Implementation Group (TIG) of the Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment program has approved the Final Restoration Plan IV and Environmental Assessment: Wetlands, Coastal and Nearshore Habitats; Nutrient Reduction; Birds; Oysters; and Provide and Enhance Recreational Opportunities report describing projects that address damages to Alabama’s natural resources caused by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010. The final plan includes 11 potential coastal restoration projects. The TIG selected seven of the projects, for which $24.1 million in restoration funding has been allocated, for implementation. The projects are “Lower Perdido Islands Habitat Restoration – Phase II” ($9,452,000), “Puppy Creek – Juniper Creek-Big Creek Watersheds Nutrient Reduction” ($1,520,900), “Stewardship of Coastal Alabama Beach Nesting Bird Habitat” ($4,740,456), “Improving Resilience for Oysters by Linking Brood Reefs and Sink Reefs” ($2,800,000), “Oyster Grow-Out and Restoration Reef Placement” ($1,369,827) and two “Recreational Use” projects. The projects included in the final plan were chosen for their potential to provide restoration benefits to Coastal Alabama if continued or expanded upon. During the public comment period, more than 3,500 comments in support of the projects in the plan were submitted.