Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council Updates Comprehensive Plan

The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council released a proposed update to its 2013 Comprehensive Plan. The draft provides important, additional strategic guidance for the council to follow as it makes decisions on funding projects and activities aimed at restoring the Gulf of Mexico.

The draft Comprehensive Plan Update is intended to improve Council decisions by:

• Reinforcing the council's goals and objectives;
• Setting forth an initial Ten-Year Funding Strategy;
• Establishing the council's vision for Gulf restoration;
• Increasing collaboration among council members and partner restoration programs;
• Providing for advancement of large-scale projects and programs;
• Refining the process for ensuring that the council's decisions are informed by the best available science; and
• Improving the efficiency, effectiveness and transparency of council actions.

The council is updating its Initial Comprehensive Plan in order to take into account recent developments in Gulf restoration, such as the resolution of civil claims against BP for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, a source of future funding for the council’s projects.

The update also captures important public input and lessons learned from the process of developing and approving its initial Funded Priorities List—its first slate of restoration activities to be funded through the RESTORE Act—and positions the council to make the most effective use of future funds as they become available in 2017.

"The council is pleased to present this draft Comprehensive Plan Update to the public and we look forward to your comments," said Justin R. Ehrenwerth, executive director for the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council. "We want to hear your thoughts on how the council can best move forward with comprehensive restoration across the coast."

Public comments on the draft Comprehensive Plan Update will be accepted until Oct. 7, 2016. The draft can be found at www.restorethegulf.gov. The public can provide comments in person at the public meeting, via webinar, online here, by email or by mail.

Mail to:
Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council
Attention: Draft Comprehensive Plan Update Comments
Hale Boggs Federal Building
500 Poydras St., Suite 1117
New Orleans, LA 70130

Email to:
[email protected]

The schedule of upcoming public meetings to discuss the draft Comprehensive Plan Update and seek public input is as follows:

• Sept. 8 – 5 p.m. CST 
  Webinar (register to attend the webinar here)
• Sept. 12 – Open house 5 p.m., meeting 6 p.m. CST
  

  Gulf Coast State College
  Language & Literature Building,
  Room 38, 5230 West US Hwy. 98
  Panama City, FL 32401

• Sept. 19 – Open house 5 p.m., meeting 6 p.m. CST
  

  University of New Orleans
  Homer L. Hitt Alumni Center
  2000 Lakeshore Drive
  New Orleans, LA 70148

• Sept. 20 – Open house 5 p.m., meeting 6 p.m. CST
  

  5 Rivers Delta Resource Center
  30945 Five Rivers Blvd.
  Spanish Fort, AL 36527

• Sept. 22 – Open house 5 p.m., meeting 6 p.m. CST
  

  Morgan City Municipal Auditorium
  728 Myrtle St.
  Morgan City, LA 70381

• Sept. 26 – Open house 5 p.m., meeting 6 p.m. CST
  

  University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast
  Fleming Education Center Auditorium
  730 East Beach Blvd.
  Long Beach, MS 39560

• Sept. 29 – Open house 5 p.m., meeting 6 p.m. CST
  

  Sea Scout Base
  7509 Broadway
  Galveston, TX 77554

• Oct. 4 – 2 p.m. CST
  

  Webinar (register to attend the webinar here)

Source: Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council