Mississippi to Spend $19.5 Million on Birds and Nutrients
Published Date: 6/29/2026
Notice
Summary
The Mississippi Trustee Group is planning to spend about $19.5 million to help fix damage from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill by reducing harmful nutrients in the water and protecting birds. This plan affects local wildlife and communities and is open for public comments until July 29, 2026. A fun, easy-to-watch webinar will explain the plan soon, so everyone can join in and share their thoughts!
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
$19.5M Mississippi Restoration Package
The Mississippi Trustee Implementation Group proposes spending approximately $19,500,000 to implement three preferred restoration alternatives to address injuries from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The funds would come from DWH Natural Resource Damage Assessment restoration type allocations and are split between Nutrient Reduction and Birds projects.
Moss Point Stormwater Park Project
One preferred nutrient reduction alternative would fund hydrologic and stormwater system enhancements in Moss Point, Mississippi, including construction of a nature-based stormwater park and urban reforestation to address nutrient loading. The MS TIG proposes to allocate part of the Nutrient Reduction funding (from its $6,000,000 allocation) toward these actions.
USDA Conservation Practices for Watershed
A non-preferred nutrient reduction alternative would implement a suite of U.S. Department of Agriculture conservation practices aimed at reducing nutrient loads in the Big Cedar Creek–West Pascagoula River watershed. This alternative is included in the Draft RP5/EA analyses.
Wetland Habitat Enhancements for Birds
One preferred Birds alternative would maximize and enhance shallow-water habitat in wetland management units in the Lower Mississippi River Valley to benefit multiple species of migratory birds affected by the oil spill. This action is included among the preferred alternatives analyzed in the Draft RP5/EA.
Cat Island Beach/Dune Habitat Creation
A second preferred Birds alternative would create beach and dune habitat on Cat Island to provide nesting and foraging opportunities for Mississippi's shorebird population; $13,500,000 is identified for MS TIG Birds restoration in the Draft RP5/EA funding split.
Predator Management for Mainland Beaches
A non-preferred Birds restoration alternative analyzed in the Draft RP5/EA would protect nesting bird habitat on mainland beaches using predator management techniques. This alternative was analyzed but not selected as preferred.
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