Alabama coast gets millions of dollars for beach and wetland projects
Several coastal project are getting money in the latest round of RESTORE funding related to the Deepwater Horizon disaster.
Mason Reed 
The Alabama coastline is set for a major environmental boost. In the latest round of funding tied to the Deepwater Horizon disaster, coastal projects across the state have been awarded $87 million to bolster resiliency, improve water quality, and restore critical habitats.
Restoring the Coast
The allocation comes via the RESTORE Act of 2012, which funnels fines from the 2010 oil spill into recovery efforts. On Wednesday, the RESTORE Council greenlit a multi-state list of projects totaling $403 million. Alabama officials, including Governor Kay Ivey and Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Commissioner Chris Blankenship, celebrated the influx of resources.
Governor Ivey emphasized the state's duty to protect its natural assets, noting that these investments will support local jobs, tourism, and outdoor recreation. Commissioner Blankenship added that the funding is the result of deep collaboration between federal and state agencies, with Alabama’s Deepwater Horizon Restoration Coordinator Amy Hunter prepared to launch the projects immediately.
Major Projects on the Horizon
The largest portion of Alabama's share, $38 million, is dedicated to Dauphin Island. The project aims to restore roughly 200 acres of barrier island habitat, including rebuilding 3.5 miles of dunes. This five-year initiative targets the island's west end, helping shield vulnerable coastal communities and estuarine habitats like oyster beds and salt marshes from storm damage and flooding.
Other key projects include:
- Mobile Bay Wetlands: $24 million allocated to use dredge spoil to create new wetlands in upper Mobile Bay, a plan that received strong backing during its development phase.
- Grand Batture Island: $11.95 million for a joint Alabama-Mississippi project to restore barrier island remnants near the state line.
- Water Quality Initiatives: $9.5 million to continue improving water quality in the Mobile Bay area, supporting ongoing infrastructure and conservation work along the Eastern Shore.
- Additional Conservation: Smaller allocations include $1.8 million for the EPA’s Trash Free Waters program, $1.5 million for the USDA Gulf Coast Conservation Reserve, and $290,000 for the Tribal Youth Conservation Corps.
For more details on the projects and the full 2026 Funded Priorities List, visit www.restorethegulf.gov.
