Millions for Local Restoration Projects Approved

The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council approved $302 million in funding for restoration activities across the Gulf Coast, WKRG reported. The Deepwater Horizon oil spill money will benefit Alabama by funding projects totaling more than $81 million. In Mobile and Baldwin counties, they include $35 million for the Coastal Alabama Regional Water Quality Program, $1 million for Enhancing Hydrologic Connectivity in Justin’s Bay (Mobile Bay), $10 million for Enhancing Gulf Waters Through Forested Watershed Restoration (including Mobile Bay), $3.4 million for Ecological Flow Decision-Support for Mobile River and Perdido River Basins, $2 million for the Gulf of Mexico GulfCorps Program and $225,000 for the wide-reaching Tribal Youth Coastal Restoration Program. This investment in restoration brings the value of projects funded in Alabama by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill above $850 million.