“The Alabama Gulf Coast is one of our greatest natural treasures, and we are committed to restoring and strengthening our coast from the impact of the oil spill. As part of our continued commitment to the people of south Alabama, restoration of our natural resources remains a top priority. These pilot projects, identified as priorities in the Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan (CCMP), which was coordinated by the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program with broad-based community participation, will be part of a larger effort designed to establish the long-term restoration of our water quality, natural habitat, and our economy. I want to thank all of our local, state and federal partners who are working with us in this long-term recovery effort.”

-Alabama Governor Robert Bentley

Staff Representative

Michael Sharp
Director, Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund (AL, FL, MS)

Gulf News

1/24/2014
Deadline Extended to 2/12/14: Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund 2014 Request for Qualifications
11/14/2013
NFWF Announces More Than $100 Million for Restoration Projects on the Gulf Coast
6/6/2013
NFWF Executive Director Delivers Senate Testimony on Gulf Restoration
5/13/2013
NFWF Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund Announced
4/22/2013
NFWF Announces Gulf Coast Appointments

Bayou LaBatre, Alabama | Credit: Alabama Department of Tourism

Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund in Alabama

Alabama Projects

Following consultation with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and federal resource agencies, NFWF has announced its intent to obligate $12.6 million from the Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund for three restoration projects in the state of Alabama.

The Alabama projects address high priority conservation needs. They represent important efforts to protect and enhance natural and living resources, as well as significant planning efforts to develop future projects for consideration under the Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund.

Click on the project title for more information:

Restoration & Enhancement of Oyster Reefs in Alabama

D’Olive Watershed Restoration

Fowl River Watershed Restoration

Read the State of Alabama's press release.

About the Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund

NFWF’s Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund was established in early 2013 as a result of two plea agreements resolving the criminal cases against BP and Transocean after the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The agreements direct a total of $2.544 billion to NFWF over a five-year period. The funds are to be used to support projects that remedy harm to natural resources that were affected by the spill.

Learn more about NFWF’s Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund.

The Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund in Alabama

Under the allocation formula and other provisions contained in the plea agreements, the Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund will receive $356 million over a five-year period for project expenditures in the state of Alabama. These funds will be used to support projects that remedy harm to natural resources (habitats, species) where there has been injury to, or destruction of, loss of, or loss of use of those resources resulting from the oil spill. Projects are expected to occur within reasonable proximity to where the impacts occurred, as appropriate.

The Oil Spill in Alabama

As a result of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon incident, Alabama suffered serious, direct environmental and economic injury. Impacts of the spill were widespread and extensive, and included significant oiling of beaches and littoral areas, tidal marshes, and estuarine environments. Natural resources affected by the spill include ecologically, recreationally, and commercially important species and their habitats.

Restoration and improvement efforts will focus on the overall health of coastal bays and estuaries and their associate tributaries, marine and coastal habitat improvements, coastal shoreline protection and targeted species-specific habitat restoration.

Alabama is working to develop a holistic approach to restoration efforts that maximizes the benefit of current and future funding with the overall goal of achieving long-lasting and sustainable environmental benefit for the state and region. Learn more at www.AlabamaCoastalRestoration.org