Alabama will receive $87 million for coastal restoration projects as part of more than $403 million approved across Gulf Coast states through the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council’s latest funding plan.

Restoration Projects

The funding will support several major projects designed to strengthen Alabama’s coastline, improve water quality and protect natural resources impacted by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Among the largest investments is $38 million for the Dauphin Island West End Renourishment and Resilience Project, which will restore beach and dune habitats while helping protect sensitive ecosystems throughout the Mississippi Sound.

Another $24 million will go toward creating wetlands in Upper Mobile Bay. State leaders say the project will use dredged material from the Port of Mobile to restore critical marsh habitat and improve the long-term health of the bay. Additional funding includes $9.5 million for the Coastal Alabama Water Quality Program, which will support stormwater improvements, wastewater upgrades and septic-to-sewer conversion projects over the next decade.

The restoration package also includes nearly $12 million for the Grand Batture Island Restoration Project, a first-of-its-kind partnership between Alabama and Mississippi to restore coastal wetlands across state lines. Smaller investments will support trash reduction efforts in local waterways, conservation programs for private landowners and workforce opportunities for Native American youth.

According to Governor Kay Ivey, the projects will help preserve Alabama’s coast while supporting jobs, tourism and outdoor recreation for future generations.

Original reporting: The Tuscaloosa Thread — read the source article.