The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded the Gulf of Mexico Alliance (GOMA) a grant in the amount of $297,816 to improve coastal resilience in the Northern Gulf of Mexico with new pilot projects in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas.
“Investment in the Gulf of Mexico Alliance allows EPA to engage a broad network of partners and coastal stakeholders to improve coastal resilience and management through better planning of restoration and protection projects,” said EPA Region 4 Administrator Mary S. Walker.
According to EPA, the goal of this project is to increase coastal community resilience by improving stakeholder access to information on regional sediment resources that can be used to create and restore habitat.
Expand the Louisiana Sand Availability and Allocation Program into a regional Northern Gulf Sand Availability and Allocation Program with new pilot projects in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas.
“Habitat creation and restoration projects are important tools for reducing risk and vulnerability, however, sustainable ecosystem restoration and improved coastal resilience require more effective use of limited sediment resources,” EPA said.
“GOMA works to provide data and tools to Gulf stakeholders to improve the efficient implementation of restoration actions to improve coastal resilience. GOMA believes that regional sediment management is best accomplished when stakeholders can readily access information on sediment resources and effectively apply those to restoration projects.”