New Orleans, LA – Earlier this week, the Gulf Ecosystem Restoration Council (RESTORE Council) announced new restoration priorities for consideration, which included large-scale ecosystem restoration projects, such as the River Reintroduction into the Maurepas Swamp in Louisiana and conservation of critical coastal habitat in the Perdido watershed in Alabama.

A coalition of national conservation organizations committed to Gulf restoration and recovery, including Environmental Defense Fund, the National Wildlife Federation, National Audubon Society, Ocean Conservancy and The Nature Conservancy– issued the following statement in response:

“With its latest Funded Priorities List, the RESTORE Council is addressing urgent ecosystem needs in the Gulf. In dividing its next Funded Priorities List and by working collaboratively, the RESTORE Council has allowed vital projects to advance more quickly and ensure other critical areas receive funding in the future.

“This is exactly the type of strategic, collaborative decision-making that Congress envisioned in crafting the RESTORE Act. The Council is advancing critical, large-scale projects to address environmental stressors while engaging in thorough planning. The two projects selected in this current list--River Reintroduction into the Maurepas Swamp and conservation of habitat in the Perdido watershed in Alabama— squarely fit the mission of the RESTORE Council to help the Gulf and its ecosystems recover.

“We look forward to reviewing the detailed proposals for the two projects submitted by Alabama and Louisiana. We also appreciate that, as it reviews these proposals, the Council will continue to follow its project selection process, upholding the best available science and public engagement and transparency.”