The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (Council), through its Initial Funded Priorities List (FPL) approved December 9, 2015, is using funds from the settlement with Transocean Deepwater Inc. to provide near-term, on-the-ground ecosystem benefits, while also conducting planning activities designed to build a foundation for future success as additional funds become available from other parties. The Errata Sheet for the Initial FPL was approved by the Council on April 7, 2016. As part of finalizing the Initial (2015) Funded Priorities List, the Council considered all public comments and developed the Response to Comments document.
Amendment: DOI Funding Reallocation- September 25, 2024
The Council amended its 2015 Funded Priorities List (Initial FPL) to approve the reallocation of $37,660 in previously-approved FPL 1 funding from the Plug Abandoned Oil and Gas Well project in Texas to the Jean Lafitte Canal Backfelling project in Louisiana.
Resource: FPL Amendment Summary
Amendment: Bahia Grande Wetland System Restoration Project (Implementation)- March 29, 2023
The Council amended its 2015 Funded Priorities List (Initial FPL) to approve $968,863 in implementation funding for the Bahia Grande Wetland System Restoration project in Cameron County, Texas. In addition, any previously approved RESTORE planning funds not necessary to complete final planning activities would also be available for use during restoration implementation.
Resource: FPL Amendment Summary, Bahia Grande Amended FPL Appendix, and Environmental Compliance Documentation
Amendment: Money Bayou Wetlands Restoration Project (Implementation)- January 4, 2023
The Council amended its 2015 Funded Priorities List (Initial FPL) to approve $852,653 in implementation funding for the Money Bayou Wetlands Restoration (Implementation) project located in Gulf County, Florida. In addition, any previously approved RESTORE planning funds not necessary to complete final planning activities would also be available for use during restoration implementation.
Resource: Money Bayou Amendment Summary, Money Bayou Amended FPL Appendix, Record of Decision and other Environmental Compliance Documentation, and NOAA's Restoration Center 2015 PEIS
Amendment: Deer Island Beneficial Use Site and Marsh Restoration in Fish River and Oyster Bay- August 18, 2021
- Deer Island Beneficial Use Site
- Marsh Restoration in Fish River and Oyster Bay
The Council amended its 2015 Initial Funded Priorities List (Initial FPL) to approve $2,250,089 in planning and implementation funding for Marsh Restoration in Fish River and Oyster Bay located in Alabama and modifications to the location, size, and sponsor for the previously approved $3,000,000 in implementation funding for the Deer Island Beneficial Use Site located in Mississippi.
Resource: Deer Island and Marsh Restoration in Fish River and Oyster Bay Amendment Summary
Amendment: Alabama Comprehensive Living Shoreline Monitoring Program (Implementation)- May 12, 2020
The Council amended its 2015 Funded Priorities List (Initial FPL) to approve implementation funding for the Alabama Comprehensive Living Shoreline Monitoring (AL CLSM) program, sponsored by the state of Alabama. The Council approved $3,975,000 to implement a 5-year living shoreline monitoring program to monitor and evaluate the success of living shoreline restoration sites in Mobile and Baldwin counties.
Resource: AL CLSM Amendment and AL CLSM Environmental Compliance
Amendment: Gulf of Mexico Habitat Restoration via Conservation Corps Partnerships- March 4, 2020
The Council amended its 2015 Initial Funded Priorities List (2015 FPL) to approve additional time and funding for the Gulf Coast Conservation Corps (GCCC) Program. The funding provides for a short-term extension of the GCCC Program while the Council considers longer-term funding through inclusion in its next FPL, known as FPL 3b. This program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Commerce/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (DOC/NOAA) and the U.S. Department of the Interior/Bureau of Indian Affairs (DOI/BIA). On February 14, 2020. Council Staff recorded the Gulf Conservation Corps Partnership Webinar which contains additional details on this amendment. Comments were accepted via email and U.S. mail and are captured in the Response to Public Comments.
Resource: GCCC Amendment, GCCC Background and Environmental Compliance
Amendment: Gulf of Mexico Conservation Enhancement Grant Program - December 23, 2019 - 11:59pm (CST) January 20, 2020
The Council amended its 2015 Initial FPL to approve implementation funding for the Gulf of Mexico Conservation Enhancement Grant Program (GMCEGP), which is sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Specifically, the Council approved $2.5M to support implementation of eight ecosystem conservation and enhancement projects identified by EPA as eligible for funding under the GMCEGP.
GMCEGP Background with public comments
Amendment: Upper Mobile Bay Beneficial Use Marsh Creation Site - May 22, 2019
The Council amended its Initial FPL to make the State of Alabama the sponsor and direct recipient of the full funding amount previously approved for the Upper Mobile Bay Beneficial Use Marsh Creation Site. As approved in December 2015, the Upper Mobile Bay Beneficial Use Marsh Creation Site project provided $2,500,000 in planning funds to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Council is now providing the full amount of approved funding to the State of Alabama to implement this planning project as described in the Initial FPL.
Amendment: Robinson Preserve Wetlands Restoration - January 24, 2018
The Council amended the Initial FPL by approving $1,790,546 in implementation funding for the Robinson Preserve Wetlands Restoration project sponsored by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. These funds will be used to restore 118.2 acres of coastal habitat and restore more natural hydrology, along with related activities in Tampa Bay, Florida.
Amended FPL Appendix
Record of Decision
Amendment: Texas Beneficial Use/Marsh Restoration (Planning) - July 26, 2017
The Council amended the Initial FPL to modify the geographic area for beneficial use planning for potential future marsh restoration activities. The Council will utilize Initial FPL funding to support planning in the Greens Lake area, Pierce Marsh, and Salt Bayou. Planning in the Nelda Stark location will instead be performed utilizing Natural Resource Damage Assessment funds. This modification is covered by the existing National Environmental Policy Act documentation used for this FPL activity.
Amendment: Tampa Bay Estuary Program- June 14, 2017
The Council amended the Initial Funded Priorities List (FPL) to approve implementation funding for support of the Tampa Bay Estuary Program (TBEP) restoration project elements sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Council approved $1,444,960 in implementation funding for the TBEP project elements and reallocated $100,000 from planning to implementation. The total amount available for implementation of the TBEP project elements is $1,544,960. These funds will be used to implement five coastal restoration elements within the TBEP’s watershed boundary. Below please find the link to the amended FPL Appendix, which describes the implementation activities associated with this amendment.
Amended Appendix
Environmental Compliance Document
Amendment: Palm River Restoration Project Phase II, East McKay Bay Project I - April 19, 2017
The Council amended the Initial FPL to move the implementation phase of the project from FPL Category 2 (further Council consideration) to Category 1 (Council approval) and to reallocate $87,750 from the Palm River planning activity (already in Category 1) to implementation. $856,430 is now available for Palm River implementation. These funds will be used for construction of three stormwater ponds, exotic vegetation removal, native planting, monitoring, management of exotic species and maintenance of culverts and stormwater ponds along the river at the mouth of McKay Bay. Below please find links to the Council’s Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) and the amended FPL Appendix, which describes the implementation activities associated with this amendment.
Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)
Amended Appendix
Amendment: Lowermost Mississippi River Management (Planning) - April 19, 2017
The Council amended the Initial FPL to allocate the full $9,300,000 in approved funding for the Lowermost Mississippi River Management project to the State of Louisiana. The Initial FPL had provided that LMRM funding was to be equally allocated between the State of Louisiana and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Amended Appendix
Amendment: Strategic Land Protection, Conservation, and Enhancement of Priority Gulf Coast Landscapes in MS (Planning & Implementation) - March 8, 2017
The Council amended the Initial FPL to modify the description of the potential acquisition and conservation area associated with the De Soto National Forest to include the upper reaches of the Biloxi River. This modification is covered by the existing National Environmental Policy Act documentation used for this FPL activity.
Amended Appendix
Amendment: GOMA Coordination - Nov. 16, 2016
The Council amended the Initial FPL to switch the sponsor of the FPL activity entitled “GOMA Coordination” from the State of Alabama to the Department of Commerce. The Department of Commerce is a co-sponsor of a closely related FPL activity entitled “Council Monitoring & Assessment Program Development." This proposed amendment increases administrative efficiency and facilitates project implementation and tracking. Amended Appendix
Amendment: Apalachicola Bay Oyster Restoration Project - Aug. 24, 2016
The Council amended the Initial FPL to approve $4,680,000 in implementation funding for the Apalachicola Bay Oyster Restoration project in Florida. This Project will restore approximately 251 acres of oyster beds in Apalachicola Bay.
Below please find links to the Council’s Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) and the amended FPL Appendix, which describes the implementation activities associated with this amendment.
Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)
Amended Appendix
