Four Gulf states are getting an additional $280 million in restoration grants from the BP oil spill of 2010. Louisiana is getting $161.4 million to restore two barrier islands and a headland in the Terrebonne Basin. The work will restore Timbalier and Trinity islands, which "are currently at a critical minimum width in some areas," and the West Bell Headland.
"Additionally, this proposal includes funding to enhance plans for the long-term sustainability of the entire length of Louisiana barrier islands," the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation said Monday.
Florida is receiving $53 million for seven projects, including $16 million to protect coastal forest and wetlands along the Lower Suwanee River and Big Bend coast, the foundation said in a news release.
Nearly $49 million will go to eight Alabama projects, including $22.5 million to create and restore artificial reefs. Texas will get $19 million for five projects, including $6 million to protect 575 acres of coastal habitat in Cameron County, next to the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge's Bahia Grande Unit. The foundation is getting $2.5 billion over five years for restoration projects.
The money's coming from criminal damages paid by BP PLC and drilling company Transocean Deepwater Inc. Monday's grants are the sixth round and bring the total so far to $1.3 billion.
The spill was off Louisiana, which suffered the worst damage and has received more than $625 million for 13 projects. Alabama has received more than $195 million for 32 projects; Florida more than $160 million for 33 projects, and Texas more than $150 million for 47 projects.
Foundation spokesman Rob Blumenthal said Mississippi, which has received nearly $140 million for 18 projects, did not have any new projects considered for this round of grants.
The smallest grant awarded Monday was $100,000 to remove invasive species and debris from Hurricane Harvey and then plant native vegetation at the Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center within the Port Aransas Nature Preserve.
"Hurricane Harvey destroyed two miles of boardwalk and uprooted significant stands of wetland vegetation in the preserve that settled as debris, smothering existing wetland vegetation and causing significant degradation of coastal marsh habitat," a news release said. "The debris has prevented the regrowth of marsh vegetation and limited the flow of freshwater to the area."