Restoring Living Shorelines and Reefs in Mississippi Estuaries
Implementing Organization
State of Mississippi
Overview
DWH Project Funding
$30,000,000
Known Leveraged Funding
$0
Funding Organization
Natural Resource Damage Assessment Trustees (NRDA)
Funding Program
Natural Resource Damage Assessment NRDA
Details
Project Category
Environmental
Project Actions
Habitat Restoration and Enhancement
Targeted Resources
Wetlands/Marshes/Estuaries
Project Description
The project restores secondary productivity through the placement of intertidal and subtidal reefs and the use of living shoreline techniques (including breakwaters) in Grand Bay, Graveline Bay, Back Bay of Biloxi and vicinity, and St. Louis Bay in Jackson, Harrison, and Hancock Counties, Mississippi. The project builds on recent collaborative projects implemented by the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and The Nature Conservancy. The project has constructed 1.5 miles of breakwaters, five acres of intertidal reef habitat, and 137 acres of subtidal reef habitat. Over time, the breakwaters, intertidal and subtidal restoration areas will develop into living reefs that support benthic secondary productivity, including, but not limited to oysters/bivalve mollusks, annelid worms, shrimp, and crabs. Breakwaters will reduce shoreline erosion as well as marsh loss. Monitoring and Adaptive Management plans were finalized in 2023.
Contact
Chris Wells(601) 961-5545
cwells@mdeq.ms.gov
Project Website
None
For official trustee information regarding the Deepwater Horizon NRDA, including information regarding the NRDA process and the status of projects, see https://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/