In September 2018, the RESTORE Council began providing webinars as an opportunity for Gulf stakeholders to learn more about our activities as part of a new initiative, RESTORE Education Opportunities Series (REOS). REOS is a collection of webinars aimed to, not only provide education related to the path towards the next Funded Priorities List, but also to return to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill to explain how the RESTORE Council and similar restoration efforts are working to restore the Gulf. In the RESTORE Comprehensive Plan Update 2016, the RESTORE Council committed to providing ongoing educational opportunities for Gulf stakeholders who live, work, and play in the Gulf Coast region. Below is a collection of webinars recorded to explain our activities, additional webinars will be added to this series in the future. We will also host live webinars in the future and record them to post here.
If you are interested in receiving notification of upcoming webinars, subscribe to our eBlasts for automatic updates by checking the “Public Meeting/Public Comment Period” category. If you have questions or comments about these webinars or your community needs additional information, please contact Keala. J. Hughes at keala.hughes@restorethegulf.gov or (504) 717-7235.
Draft 2022 Comprehensive Plan Update- Public Comment Period (April 21, 2022–June 6, 2022)
On April 21, 2022, the RESTORE Council staff began a 46-day public review and comment period on the draft 2022 Comprehensive Plan Update concluding at 11:59 MT on January 6, 2022. The RESTORE Council hosted two live public webinars on April 21, 2022. During each live webinar, Council staff presented an overview of the draft 2022 Comprehensive Plan Update and were available to respond to clarifying questions from webinar participants. The webinar was recorded and is provided below in English, Vietnamese and Spanish, along with the translated documents:
Draft 2022 Comprehensive Plan Update and Factsheet
Vietnamese translation: Draft 2022 Comprehensive Plan Update and Factsheet
Spanish translation: Draft 2022 Comprehensive Plan Update and Factsheet
Resource Links
On September 14, 2022, the Council voted to approve the 2022 Comprehensive Plan Update.
Draft Funded Priorities List 3b- Public Comment Period (November 16, 2020–January 5, 2021)
On November 16, 2020, the RESTORE Council staff began a 50-day public review and comment period on the draft Funded Priorities List (FPL) 3b concluding at 11:59 MT on January 5, 2021. The RESTORE Council hosted two live public webinars on November 16, 2020. During each live webinar, Council staff presented an overview of the Draft Funded Priorities List (FPL) 3b and were available to respond to clarifying questions from webinar participants. All questions and responses from the webinars are represented in the Draft Funded Priorities List (FPL)-Public Comments Q & A.
Resource Links
Linking Comprehensive Plan, Planning Framework, and Proposed FPL 3b Activities (November 13, 2020)
In connection with the draft FPL 3b public comment period, this presentation provides a guide to interpreting diagrams developed by the RESTORE Council. These diagrams show the relationship between high-level goals and objectives found in its Comprehensive Plan, the priority approaches and techniques found in its 2019 Planning Framework, and the projects and programs for funding in Funded Priorities List 3b.
Please note: This webinar in conjunction with the "FPL 3b- Public Comment Period" webinar above will provide the foundation for viewing any of our regionally focused webinars.
Draft Funded Priorities List 3b Regionally Focused Webinars
As part of the draft FPL 3b public comment period, below is a collection of webinars that provide information on proposed activities submitted for each state. These webinars have been edited to reflect only the presentation and do not include the verbal comments from the public. All comments and responses to those comments from each webinar are available in the Response to Comments (Vietnamese translation) document and are reflected in the final FPL 3b.
Please note: Viewing both the "FPL 3b- Public Comment Period" and the "Linking Comprehensive Plan, Planning Framework, and Proposed FPL 3b Activities" webinars above will provide the foundation for viewing any of our regionally focused webinars below.
Draft Funded Priorities List 3b- Mississippi (November 30, 2020)
Draft Funded Priorities List 3b- Florida (December 1, 2020)
Draft Funded Priorities List 3b- Texas (December 3, 2020)
Draft Funded Priorities List 3b- Louisiana (December 7, 2020)
Draft Funded Priorities List 3b- Alabama (December 8, 2020)
Gulf of Mexico Restoration via Conservation Corps Partnerships- Proposed FPL Amendment
The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (Council) sought public review and comment on a proposed amendment of its 2015 Initial Funded Priorities List (2015 FPL) to approve additional time and funding for the Gulf Coast Conservation Corps (GCCC) Program. This funding would provide 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 the first day of the public review and comment period, January 15, 2020, the Council hosted a live public webinar to present an overview of the GCCC Program Proposed Amendment and responded to one question from webinar participants. The public review and comment period concluded at 11:59 pm February 14, 2020.
Resource Links
Draft Funded Priorities List 3a- Public Comment Period (December 9, 2019)
On December 9, 2019, the RESTORE Council staff began a 32-day public review and comment period on the Draft Funded Priorities List (FPL) 3a concluding at 11:59 MST on January 10, 2020. The RESTORE Council hosted two live public webinars on December 9, 2019. During each live webinar, Council staff presented an overview of the Planning Framework draft and were available to respond to questions from webinar participants. There were no questions by the participants of these webinars.
Resource Links
Perdido River Land Conservation & Habitat Enhancement, Alabama (Vietnamese Translation)
River Reintroduction into Maurepas Swamp, Louisiana (Vietnamese Translation)
Planning Framework Draft- Public Comment Period (April 29, 2019)
On April 26, 2019, the RESTORE Council staff began a 45-day public review and comment period on the Planning Framework draft. The RESTORE Council provided a 7-day extension for the 45-day public review and comment period, extending the deadline for submitting public comments on the Planning Framework draft to 11:59 MDT on June 19, 2019. The RESTORE Council hosted and recorded two live public webinars on April 29, 2019. During each live webinar, Council staff presented an overview of the Planning Framework draft, and responded, in real time, to selected questions from webinar participants. All questions and responses from the webinars are represented in the Planning Framework Draft- Public Comments Q&A.
Resource Links
Please note: The public comment date extension is not reflected on the fact sheets below.
Priority Approaches
- Create, restore, and enhance coastal wetlands, islands, shorelines, and headlands
- Protect and conserve coastal, estuarine, and riparian habitats
- Restore hydrology and natural processes
- Reduce excess nutrients and other pollutants to watersheds
- Restore oyster habit
During the 52-day public review and comment period, the Council accepted written comments via mail, email and through the Planning, Environment and Public Comment website. The Council has released the RESTORE Council Planning Framework: Responses to Comments which includes a summary of the 446 unique public comments received from 2,932 stakeholders and the responses to those comments. The Council has incorporated public input into the draft version to result in finalizing the Planning Framework.
Funded Priorities List 3 - A Look Ahead (September 26, 2018)
The RESTORE Council began the process to develop the next Funded Priorities List (FPL) targeted to be finalized in mid-2020. The FPL is a vehicle through which funds from the Council- Selected Restoration Component, commonly referred to as “Bucket 2”, are approved for specific ecosystem restoration activities in the Gulf Coast region. On September 26, 2018, the RESTORE Council hosted two public webinars to provide Gulf stakeholders with an overview of the path forward to the next Funded Priorities List. During the webinars, random questions from the participants were selected for response by RESTORE Council Staff. All questions from participants and answers to those questions are represented in the Funded Priorities List 3- A Look Ahead Q&A.
Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: Ecosystem Restoration Opportunities (September 24, 2018)
This webinar takes a look back at April 20, 2010, the date of the historic Deepwater Horizon oil spill and the relevant laws and restoration funding, at a glance. This webinar provides an overview of the three restoration efforts, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund, Deepwater Horizon Natural Resources Damage Assessment Trustees and the Resources and Ecosystem Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act (RESTORE Act) which created the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (RESTORE Council). You will hear more about who the RESTORE Council is and our efforts since the RESTORE Act as signed into law on July 6, 2012.
Resource Links
Public Comment Period- Draft 2017 CPS FPL (July 13, 2017)
On July 13, 2017, the draft 2017 CPS FPL was announced and available for a 30-day public review and comment period ending August 14, 2017. During this period, the Council accepted public comments online, via email and US mail. Two informational webinars were conducted to explain the Draft 2017 CPS FPL:
Webinar 1 of 2: Draft 2017 Funded Priorities List: Comprehensive Commitment and Planning Support Webinar from RESTORE Video Resources.
Webinar 2 of 2: Draft 2017 Funded Priorities List: Comprehensive Commitment and Planning Support Webinar from RESTORE Video Resources.
Comprehensive Plan Update Vote: December 16, 2016
On August 23, 2016 the RESTORE Council release the Draft 2016 Comprehensive Plan Update: Restoring the Gulf Coast’s Ecosystem and Economy (Draft 2016 Comp Plan Update), the proposed update to its 2013 Comprehensive Plan: Restoring the Gulf Coast’s Ecosystem and Economy (Initial Comp Plan). The RESTORE Council hosted a series of public meetings across the Gulf Coast and two public webinars to discuss the Draft 2016 Comp Plan Update.
On December 16, 2016, the RESTORE Council voted to approve the 2016 Comprehensive Plan Update: Restoring the Gulf Coast's Ecosystem and Economy, during a public meeting in New Orleans, LA. The meeting agenda (Vietnamese Translation) is available and the recorded webinar of that meeting is below:
Please note: Audio stream starts around the 1:00 minute mark.
Initial Funded Priorities List (FPL): Lessons Learned and Path Forward Webinars (April 12, 2016)
The RESTORE Council hosted a series of three webinars to review the process used to develop its Initial Funded Priorities List (FPL) as part of the Council-Selected Restoration Component. During the webinars, the RESTORE Council considered the overall process and solicited feedback from webinar attendees. The goal of these webinars was to identify what worked well and what the RESTORE Council could improve on to further the cause of comprehensive Gulf restoration. A summary report of the input received and the slides from the webinar are available.