14much often polluted freshwater running into the estuaries has damaged the natural resources in those estuaries as in the case of Lake Okeechobee 29ushing into the Caloosahatchee River in southwest F ID: 899506
Download Pdf The PPT/PDF document "THE NATURE CONSERVANCYOur Future Gulf 20" is the property of its rightful owner. Permission is granted to download and print the materials on this web site for personal, non-commercial use only, and to display it on your personal computer provided you do not modify the materials and that you retain all copyright notices contained in the materials. By downloading content from our website, you accept the terms of this agreement.
1 14 THE NATURE CONSERVANCYOur Future Gu
14 THE NATURE CONSERVANCYOur Future Gulf 2.0 much (often polluted) freshwater running into the estuaries has damaged the natural resources in those es
2 tuaries, as in the case of Lake Okeechob
tuaries, as in the case of Lake Okeechobee ushing into the Caloosahatchee River in southwest Florida. In other cases, water withdrawal has a ecte
3 d the hydrology of tidal and nontidal st
d the hydrology of tidal and nontidal streams and groundwater owing into the Gulf. This has changed salinity regimes, increased turbidity, and severe
4 d aquatic habitat connectivity, as in th
d aquatic habitat connectivity, as in the case of the rivers of Texas that are tributary to the Gulf.ing, dune removal, and the destruction of coastal hab
5 itats, including oyster and coral reefs,
itats, including oyster and coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds, and coastal marshes, have damaged or fragmented these and other critical habitats. Such
6 changes have reduced the ability of the
changes have reduced the ability of the coastlines to recover from further harm or to protect the land from storms. The cumulative impacts of previous en
7 ergy exploration and development practic
ergy exploration and development practices have negatively a ected some coastal and o shore habitats and species. Over shing, bycatch mortalit
8 y, and habitat damage associated with un
y, and habitat damage associated with unsustainable shing practices continue to reduce sh and shell sh stocks and impact protected species.T
9 HE DEEPWATER HORIZON SETTLEMENT AGREEMEN
HE DEEPWATER HORIZON SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT IS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO CCELERATE GULF RESTORATIONThe Deepwater Horizon settlement agreement, which was acce
10 pted by the Federal District Court in 20
pted by the Federal District Court in 2016, continues to be an unprecedented opportunity to address the problems of the Gulf. Substantial on-the-ground re
11 storation and conservation progress has
storation and conservation progress has already been made using this money. Overall, the primary Deepwater Horizon funding mechanisms are doing a good job
12 of investing in sound restoration proje
of investing in sound restoration projects; federal, state, and local governments should be commended for their work on the Gulf. During the next 12 year
13 s, these programs will make an additiona
s, these programs will make an additional $12 billion available for Gulf restoration. While this is not enough money to x all that is wrong, it is en
14 ough, if invested well, to develop scien
ough, if invested well, to develop science-based and publicly supported conservation and restoration plans, to accelerate restoration activities, to lever
15 age other funds, and to create a solid f
age other funds, and to create a solid foundation and direction for long-term progress. An explanation of the allocation of Deepwater Horizon funding is f
16 ound in Appendix I to this document.Ther
ound in Appendix I to this document.There is potential to leverage the Deepwater Horizon funds with other state and federal funding to support projects of
17 greater scale and impact. Examples of s
greater scale and impact. Examples of such other funding include the recently expanded Land and Water Conservation Fund, Gulf of Mexico Energy Security A
18 ct, the new Federal Emergency Management
ct, the new Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Building Resilient Infrastructure Communities Program, Community Development Block Grants resulting
19 from disasters, other National Fish and
from disasters, other National Fish and Wildlife Foundation funds, and several programs administered by the Natural A brown pelican covered in oil rests
20 on a rock in Barataria Bay, south of Ne
on a rock in Barataria Bay, south of New Orleans . PHOTOS BY BRIDGET BESAW South Padre PHOTO BY KENNY BRAUN The Nature Conservancy is working close
21 ly with the city of Punta Gorda and regi
ly with the city of Punta Gorda and regional partners, developing projects estoration and protection of mangrove habit . PHOTO BY CARLTON WARD JR.
22 22 THE NATURE CONSERVANCYOur Fu
22 THE NATURE CONSERVANCYOur Future Gulf 2.0 23 THE NATURE CONSERANCY’S PROPOSEDOVERALL GOF MEXICOORATIONWE PROPOSE THT AN OVERALL GOAL FO
23 R GULF OF MEXICO RESTORTo restore and s
R GULF OF MEXICO RESTORTo restore and sustain the natural systems within the Gulf of Mexico and that a ect the Gulf to enable those systems to provid
24 e habitat for the full range of native p
e habitat for the full range of native plant and animal species in Gulf lands and waters; ensure that people who depend on the Gulf bene t economicall
25 y, ecologically, and socially from Gulf
y, ecologically, and socially from Gulf restoration; and make human and natural help nature take back this island from the sea. PHOTO BY MATTHEW BOROWICK