WXXV-TV Gulfport
Funding and land acquired to help conservation
By WXXV Staff
The Gulf Coast is finally getting the relief they need to help restore critical ecosystems that were destroyed in the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill.
In Jackson County more than 1,500 acres of essential coastal wildlife habitat in reserves and sanctuaries in Grand Bay will be managed by the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources.
In addition to partially restoring injuries to birds and the wetlands, this acreage will also provide expanded access for hunting, fishing, paddling, wildlife watching, and other coastal tourism opportunities.
This acquisition also increased the protected landscape to 25,000 acres across Mississippi and Alabama.
Senator Roger Wicker, Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith and U.S. Representative Steven Palazzo have supported long-term restoration and conservation on the Mississippi Gulf Coast in response to the historic Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill.
Rep. Palazzo says in part: “Victories such as this are the exact reason we worked so hard to get the Restore Act passed and to ensure natural resource damage assessment funds are spent appropriately. On the Mississippi Gulf Coast, we’ve seen and felt the long-term impacts of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and this NRDA funding should be used in the devastated areas to sustain and contribute to our state’s natural attractions.”