Marsh at bon secour
Marsh at Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge
Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Restoration for the Regionwide Restoration Area is replenishing and protecting marine mammals, sea turtles, birds, and oysters. These resources affected by the spill often live and migrate across the Gulf of Mexico —so Regionwide Restoration Area projects are being implemented across these jurisdictional boundaries.

The Regionwide Restoration Area is made up of trustees from each Gulf state and all the respective federal trustees. The Regionwide Restoration Area is responsible for planning and implementing restoration activities for resources that range throughout the Gulf of Mexico. It is also promoting collaboration and coordination between the individual federal and state trustees. This will ensure that restoration is performed effectively for the entire ecosystem.

Together, we are restoring natural resources—and the services they provide—that were injured by the spill. As part of the restoration planning process, we are accepting restoration project ideas from the public. We are developing restoration plans that are consistent with the programmatic restoration plan (see chart below).  The public also has the opportunity to review and comment on any proposed restoration plans for the Regionwide Restoration Area. Once a plan is approved, we will implement and monitor the selected projects.