Louisiana received $320 million for environmental restoration from British Petroleum last month, part of the $1 billion BP agreed to invest in ecological restoration to settle criminal charges against the company for the Deepwater Horizon disaster. The money will be used to restore four barrier islands significantly damaged by the oil spill. Before this announcement, BP had approved 10 projects amounting to only $70 million. An estimated 60% of injured and dead wildlife were found along Louisiana's shore line. Barrier islands provide an important habitat for a variety of marine and shore life. As well, the islands provide a barrier against storm surge. Prolonged degradation of the islands has eroded island beaches and destroyed marshes. The islands to be restored are Whiskey Island, Shell Island, Breton Island and Cheniere Ronquille in Barataria Bay. Breton Island national Wildlife Refuge [photo] provides some of the most important nesting sites for seabirds in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Thirteen species nest on the islands of the Refuge.
Friday, May 10, 2013
Gulf Restoration Begins in Earnest
Louisiana received $320 million for environmental restoration from British Petroleum last month, part of the $1 billion BP agreed to invest in ecological restoration to settle criminal charges against the company for the Deepwater Horizon disaster. The money will be used to restore four barrier islands significantly damaged by the oil spill. Before this announcement, BP had approved 10 projects amounting to only $70 million. An estimated 60% of injured and dead wildlife were found along Louisiana's shore line. Barrier islands provide an important habitat for a variety of marine and shore life. As well, the islands provide a barrier against storm surge. Prolonged degradation of the islands has eroded island beaches and destroyed marshes. The islands to be restored are Whiskey Island, Shell Island, Breton Island and Cheniere Ronquille in Barataria Bay. Breton Island national Wildlife Refuge [photo] provides some of the most important nesting sites for seabirds in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Thirteen species nest on the islands of the Refuge.