GOMA pilot projects for coastal states

ATLANTA - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded the Gulf of Mexico Alliance (GOMA) a $297,816 grant to improve coastal resilience in the Northern Gulf of Mexico with new pilot projects in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. The goal of the project is to increase coastal community resilience by improving stakeholder access to information on regional sediment resources that can be used to create and restore habitats. The objectives are to expand the Louisiana Sand Availability and Allocation Program into a regional Northern Gulf Sand Availability and Allocation Program with new pilot projects in all four states; host training events for natural resource managers and stakeholders explaining use of the tool and encouraging its use; habitat creation and restoration projects for reducing risk and vulnerability, and sustainable ecosystem restoration; and improved and more effective coastal resilience use of limited sediment resources. GOMA works to provide data and tools to GoM stakeholders to improve the efficient implementation of restoration actions and coastal resilience. GOMA is a Regional Ocean Partnership working to sustain the resources of the Gulf of Mexico. Led by the five Gulf States (includes Florida), the broad partner network includes federal agencies, academic organizations, businesses, and other non-profit organizations in the region. It is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. (Source: EPA 07/22/19)