Bethany Carl Kraft and Amy Hunter , 2020. “An overview of Deepwater Horizon restoration progress in Alabama”, Shore & Beach 88(1), 122-126. http://doi.org/10.34237/10088114
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http://doi.org/10.34237/10088114
An overview of Deepwater Horizon restoration progress in Alabama
Bethany Carl Kraft (1) and Amy Hunter, Ph.D. (2)
1) Volkert Inc. ,1110 Montlimar Drive, Suite 1050, Mobile, AL 36609
Phone: 251.342.1070 email: Bethany.kraft@volkert.com
2) Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, 30945 Five Rivers Boulevard, Spanish Fort, AL 36527
Phone: 251.625.0814 email: Amy.Hunter@dcnr.alabama.gov
The 2010 Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill caused extensive damage to the northern Gulf of Mexico ecosystem, and resulted in numerous fines and penalties that will be available in the coming years for environmental restoration and economic recovery. These funds are jump-starting recovery and restoration efforts across the Gulf region, including in Alabama where more than $720 million has been approved for projects to date. The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) oversees many aspects of this restoration effort in the state, leveraging existing planning and stakeholder investments to maximize efficiencies and take advantage of local expertise. This paper provides an overview of a selection of planning tools Alabama utilizes to support DWH restoration efforts and highlights several of the ongoing restoration projects that will benefit coastal habitats and wildlife.