Mississippi Trustee Implementation Group Releases Second Draft Restoration Plan

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The Mississippi Trustee Implementation Group has released its second draft restoration plan for public review and comment through May 22, 2020.  The Plan addresses some of the injuries to various coastal habitats and oysters from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Mississippi Restoration Area.  

The Draft Restoration Plan II and Environmental Assessment: Wetlands, Coastal, and Nearshore Habitats and Oysters (PDF, 211 pages) proposes four projects for implementation.

Two Wetlands, Coastal, and Nearshore Habitats Restoration Type projects:

  • Wolf River Coastal Preserve Habitat Management - Dupont and Bell’s Ferry Tracts
  • Hancock County Coastal Preserve Habitat Management – Wachovia Tract

Two Oysters Restoration Type projects:

  • Oyster Spawning Reefs in Mississippi
  • Mississippi Oyster Gardening Program

The proposed funding for the draft restoration plan and projects is $15 million.  Habitat restoration and management activities for the Wetlands, Coastal, and Nearshore Habitats projects would include prescribed fire and invasive species management, hydrologic restoration, and prescribed grazing.  Proposed projects for Oysters include cultch deployment and the implementation of an oyster gardening program. The draft restoration plan is consistent with the Trustees’ Programmatic Restoration Plan.

Public Engagement and Comment

This restoration planning effort began on June 11, 2018, with a  Notice of Solicitation calling for project ideas. On October 10, 2018, we published a Notice of Initiation of Restoration Planning in Mississippi. Now we’re asking for public review and comment on the draft restoration plan. Comments may be submitted:  

  • By mail to:

    U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

    P.O. Box 29649

    Atlanta, GA 30345

The Mississippi Trustee Implementation Group will host a public webinar on May 13, at 2:00 p.m. CT. The public may register for the webinar at  https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/548768858601614861.

After registering, participants will receive a confirmation email with instructions for joining the webinar. A GoToWebinar system check is recommended before attending.

Public comments will be accepted through May 22, 2020. After the public comment period ends, we will review, consider, and address the comments before releasing a final restoration plan and environmental assessment.

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