Register Today: Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group Public Annual Meeting Webinar September 8

The Deepwater Horizon Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group will hold its annual public meeting on September 8, 2022 at 2:30 p.m. CT via webinar, immediately following the Louisiana Draft 7.1 Restoration Plan presentation, which will begin at 2:00 p.m. CT. Both public engagement opportunities can be accessed via the same registration link below.  

During the annual meeting, we will present updates on the progress made in the last year by the Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group. After the webinar presentations, attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions and provide comments to the

Register Today: Louisiana Draft Phase 2 Restoration Plan/Environmental Assessment #7.1 to Restore Terrebonne HNC Island

The Deepwater Horizon Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group is proposing the Terrebonne Houma Navigation Canal (HNC) Island Restoration project to restore birds injured by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The project is included in a draft restoration plan, which is now open for public comment through September 26, 2022.  

The Trustees will hold a public webinar on the plan on September 8 at 2:00 p.m. CT, followed by the Louisiana Trustees’ Annual Public Meeting at 2:30 p.m. CT. 

The plan, Draft Phase 2 Restoration Plan/Environmental Assessment #7.1: Terrebonne HNC Island Restoration

Designing Excluder Devices to Reduce Juvenile Sea Turtle Bycatch

A project to develop a new type of turtle excluder device (TED) in collaboration with the Gulf of Mexico shrimp fishery recently wrapped up its first round of prototype testing, and early results show promise to dramatically reduce the number of small turtles caught in shrimp trawl nets. 

This NOAA-led bycatch reduction project was approved by the Open Ocean Trustee Implementation Group as part of its second restoration plan (PDF, 493 pages), and will help restore sea turtle species injured by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.   

A goal of this project is to work with shrimpers to identify

Alabama Trustees Release Final Supplemental Environmental Assessment for Swift Tract Living Shoreline

The Alabama Trustee Implementation Group (TIG) has approved a final supplemental environmental assessment to the 2014 Final Phase III Early Restoration Plan. The Alabama Swift Tract Living Shoreline Project: Supplemental Environmental Assessment (PDF, 30 pages) approves a corrective action for the Swift Tract Living Shoreline project, which was originally selected for implementation in the 2014 plan. Under the corrective action, a contractor will relocate rock material from the bay bottom adjacent to the breakwater and place it on a nearby breakwater structure maintained by The Nature

Open Ocean Trustees Release Plan for At-Sea Surveys of Gulf Seabirds and Marine Mammals

The 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill impacted marine mammals and seabirds across their geographic range throughout the Gulf of Mexico. Because these species use a wide range of geographic areas, current information about their abundance and distribution is critical to help us target restoration projects and evaluate project results.  

To help provide this information, the Open Ocean Trustees developed the monitoring and adaptive management activity, Vessel Surveys for Abundance and Distribution of Marine Mammals and Seabirds (PDF, 20 pages). This activity is estimated to cost approximately $2

Louisiana Trustees Approve Plan to Restore Wetlands, Coastal, and Nearshore Habitats

The Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group has released its latest plan to restore wetlands, coastal, and nearshore habitats to address injuries caused by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.  

The plan, Final Restoration Plan/Environmental Assessment #8: Restoration of Wetlands, Coastal, and Nearshore Habitats (PDF, 529 pages), selects four projects for implementation with an estimated total cost of almost $75 million:

  • Two projects are selected for engineering and design: 
    • New Orleans East Landbridge Restoration will provide engineering and design for a project intended to create and

Texas Trustees Approve $39 Million, 13 Project Restoration Plan

The Texas Trustee Implementation Group has approved its Final Restoration Plan/Environmental Assessment #2 (PDF, 394 pages). The projects in this plan compensate for the injury to natural resources caused by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. 

The 13 projects, with an estimated cost of $39 million, are intended to restore and conserve wetlands, coastal and nearshore habitat; water quality (through nutrient reduction); sea turtles; oysters; and birds injured as a result of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.  

  • Wetlands, Coastal, and Nearshore Habitat 
    • Bird Island Cove Habitat Restoration

Alabama Trustee Implementation Group Proposes Increased Funding for Mobile Street Boardwalk Project - Draft Supplemental Plan Available for Review and Comment

The Alabama Trustee Implementation Group has released the Draft Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge Recreation Enhancements: Supplemental Restoration Plan (PDF, 21 pages). We invite you to comment on the draft supplemental plan through August 18, 2022.  

The Alabama Trustee Implementation Group Restoration Plan III/Environmental Assessment analyzed two recreational enhancement projects at Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge – the Mobile Street Boardwalk and Centennial Trail Boardwalk projects. The Mobile Street Boardwalk project was selected for implementation at a cost of $1,189,899. This

Florida Trustee Implementation Group Approves Plan to Enhance Public Access to Coastal Habitats at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge

The Florida Trustee Implementation Group has approved the Phase V.4 Florida Coastal Access Project Plan for the acquisition of the Dickerson Bay parcel. This 114-acre coastal parcel will become part of the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will conduct minor restoration activities and implement recreational improvements. The public will have access to hiking and wildlife viewing around unique shrub-scrub and longleaf pine uplands. The estimated cost of the project is $685,000.  

We released a draft plan for public comment on April 18, 2022. To help the

Information from 2022 Trustee Council Annual Meeting Webinar Now Available

Outreach materials are now available from the June 16 Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Trustee Council’s annual meeting webinar. This virtual event, the Trustees’ seventh annual public meeting, provided an update on our work since our last meeting in June 2021. It also included a 30-minute Open House during which Trustee Implementation Group members were available to discuss projects and answer questions. 

You can view all the materials presented at the meeting—including the presentations and fact sheets—below. 

The Trustees and representatives of the seven Trustee Implementation Groups