Latest Updates

Below are updates to Natural Resource Damage Assessment, RESTORE Act and National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund restoration activities in Florida.

Florida Trustees Holding Public Meeting Webinar December 15

The Florida Trustee Implementation Group will hold its annual public meeting via webinar on December 15, 2022, at 5:00 p.m. ET. During the meeting we will present an update on Florida Restoration Area plans, projects, and activities. After the presentation, we will provide an opportunity for attendees to give verbal public comments. The webinar is open to everyone and we encourage your attendance and participation. 

• Date: December 15, 2022 
• Time: 5:00 p.m. ET 

Registration: Please register for the webinar at:  

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3210855854760253711 

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with information on how to join the webinar. We recommend doing a GoToWebinar system check, and reviewing the attendee guide before joining the webinar. 

The registration page also includes a question asking whether you would like to give a verbal public comment during the meeting. If you answer yes, you will receive a follow up email with additional instructions. If you are not sure when you register, you will have another opportunity during the webinar to sign up to speak.   

Please contact webinars@dwhtig.org by December 9, if you need special assistance due to a hearing or visual impairment. 

If you are unable to attend the public meeting, we will update the Florida Restoration Area page with materials from the webinar and we will send a follow-up email with this information when it is available. 

DEP Announces Draft List of Projects for Funding Under RESTORE Funded Priorities List 3b

The draft list of projects recommend for funding under RESTORE Funded Priorities List (FPL) 3b Florida programs is now available on Florida’s Deepwater Horizon RESTORE FPL 3b website.

The state of Florida received approximately $30 million in approved (Category 1) funds plus an additional $39 million (Category 2) that has been identified for funding future projects. These awards will fund Florida-based Gulf of Mexico restoration projects that meet the goals of the FPL 3b Florida programs. Project ideas were solicited between June 9 and July 11, 2022, and project proponents submitted proposals via the Florida Deepwater Horizon’s web portal.

Project proposals were screened using selection criteria, and 12 projects were selected for the following RESTORE FPL3b Florida programs: Gulf Coast Resiliency Program (4); Gulf Coast Tributaries Hydrologic Restoration Program (3); and Water Quality Improvement Program (5).

DEP has posted a draft list of the selected projects, associated funding amounts, and brief project descriptions for public review and comment.

The public comment period is open through December 16, 2022. You may submit comments using the following options.

• DeepwaterHorizon@FloridaDEP.gov
• Florida Department of Environmental Protection
  3900 Commonwealth Blvd. MS 240
  Tallahassee, FL 32399-3000

The final project list and associated project workplans will be submitted to the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (RESTORE Council) for approval.

Submit Project Ideas for Florida’s Third Restoration Plan

The Florida Trustee Implementation Group invites you to submit project ideas for restoration in Florida. 

For our upcoming third post-settlement restoration plan, we would like your project ideas regarding restoration of water quality.  

Addressing water quality can use a range of approaches to enhance ecosystem services and recreational use along the Florida Gulf coast by reducing pollutants, nutrients, and pathogens discharged to coastal watersheds and improving hydrology. These restoration approaches might include: reducing pollution and hydrologic degradation; reducing nutrient loads; creating, restoring, and enhancing coastal wetlands; and protecting and conserving marine, coastal, estuarine, and riparian habitats. (For additional information, see the Trustee Council Programmatic Restoration Plan Sections 5.5.5, 5.D.1.1, 5.D.1.7, 5.D.2)  

We will use a portion of the settlement funds from the Florida TIG’s Water Quality Restoration Type allocation for these types of restoration projects.  

Please submit your project ideas to: Trustee Council's Portal or the Deepwater Horizon Florida portal. We will accept project ideas submitted or updated to the portals between November 7 and December 22, 2022. If you previously submitted a project idea, you will need to update it for consideration under this solicitation. 

If you have questions or need assistance please contact deepwaterhorizon@dep.state.fl.us.  

Florida Trustee Implementation Group Approves Plan to Enhance Public Access to Coastal Habitats at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge

The Florida Trustee Implementation Group has approved the Phase V.4 Florida Coastal Access Project Plan for the acquisition of the Dickerson Bay parcel. This 114-acre coastal parcel will become part of the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will conduct minor restoration activities and implement recreational improvements. The public will have access to hiking and wildlife viewing around unique shrub-scrub and longleaf pine uplands. The estimated cost of the project is $685,000.  

We released a draft plan for public comment on April 18, 2022. To help the public become familiar with our proposal and take public comment, we held a webinar on May 10 and a public meeting on May 12.   

The Florida Coastal Access Project enhances public access to surrounding natural resources and increases recreational opportunities through the acquisition and/or enhancement of coastal land in the Florida Panhandle helping to restore impacts to recreational use due to the spill.  

The first phase of the Florida Coastal Access Project, described in the Phase V Early Restoration Plan, and the second phase, described in the Phase V.2 Restoration Plan, included acquisition and/or enhancement of recreational amenities at five coastal parcels in the Florida Panhandle. The Phase V.3 Restoration Plan included acquisition of a sixth coastal parcel. As of December 2021, the Florida Trustee Implementation Group has 38 different recreational use projects completed or underway. 

The materials prepared for the public meeting and more information about the work of the Florida Trustee Implementation Group can be found at the Florida Restoration Area web page. 

Read the Plan 

Final Phase V.4 Florida Coastal Access Project: Restoration Plan and Supplemental Environmental Assessment (PDF, 66 pages) 

Final Phase V.4 Florida Coastal Access Project, Dickerson Bay Addition Factsheet (PDF, 1 page)