2020 Annual Report to Congress Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council
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2020 Annual Report to Congress Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council 0 | Page 2020 Annual Report to Congress Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council Fiscal Year 2020 Submitted January 2021 1 | Page Table of Contents Contents Table of Contents ......................................................................................................................................... 2 1. Letter from the Executive Director ............................................................................................................ 4 2. Mission and Organization .......................................................................................................................... 6 3. Background on the RESTORE Act ............................................................................................................... 7 Comprehensive Plan Goals and Objectives ..................................................................................... 9 Fiscal Year 2020 Significant Council Actions .................................................................................. 11 4. Council-Selected Restoration Component Accomplishments ................................................................. 12 Background .................................................................................................................................... 12 Building on a Foundation of Collaboration .................................................................................... 13 Actions and Results from FPL 1 ...................................................................................................... 18 Actions and Results from FPL 3a .................................................................................................... 19 Process and Status for FPL 3b ........................................................................................................ 23 5. Spill Impact Component Accomplishments ............................................................................................. 29 Background .................................................................................................................................... 29 Approving State Expenditure Plans ............................................................................................... 29 6. Best Available Science and Data System Accomplishments .................................................................... 31 Background .................................................................................................................................... 31 Best Available Science Reviews ..................................................................................................... 31 Monitoring Progress, Success, & Performance .............................................................................. 31 Enhanced Access to Information through Data Systems ............................................................... 32 7. Cumulative Results of Bucket 2 and 3 ..................................................................................................... 33 8. Council Public Engagement and Tribal Relations Accomplishments ....................................................... 42 9. Administrative Accomplishments ............................................................................................................ 43 Financial Summary ......................................................................................................................... 43 Grant System Replacement and Upgrades .................................................................................... 47 Enterprise Risk Management ......................................................................................................... 48 Other Administrative Updates ....................................................................................................... 51 10. Centers of Excellence Accomplishments ............................................................................................ 52 Background ................................................................................................................................ 52 Alabama’s RESTORE Act Center of Excellence ........................................................................... 53 Florida’s RESTORE Act Centers of Excellence ............................................................................. 53 Louisiana’s RESTORE Act Centers of Excellence ......................................................................... 54 2 | Page Mississippi’s RESTORE Act Centers of Excellence ...................................................................... 55 Texas’ RESTORE Act Centers of Excellence ................................................................................ 56 Appendices....................................................................................................................................................... 58 Appendix A – FPL 1 Projects Funded During FY20 ..................................................................................... 58 Appendix B - SEP Projects Funded During FY20 ......................................................................................... 61 3 | Page 1. Letter from the Executive Director The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (Council) hereby submits its Fiscal Year 2020 (FY2020) Annual Report to Congress. The Council was created by the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act (RESTORE Act) in 2012 as an independent federal agency charged with administering a portion of the civil settlements associated with the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Consisting of the five Gulf Coast states and six federal agencies, the Council’s mission is to implement a comprehensive plan for the ecological and economic recovery of the Gulf Coast. The Council has oversight over the expenditure of 60% of the funds made available from the Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund established by the RESTORE Act (Trust Fund). Under the Council-Selected Restoration Component of the RESTORE Act, 30% of available funding is administered for Gulf-wide ecosystem restoration and protection according to the Comprehensive Plan developed by the Council through Funded Priorities Lists (FPLs). Another 30% is allocated to the States under the Spill Impact Component according to a formula established by the Council through a regulation, and spent according to individual State Expenditure Plans (SEPs) to contribute to the overall economic and ecological recovery of the Gulf. In fiscal year 2020 (FY20), the Council obligated $144.4 million through grants and interagency agreements) to carry out projects and programs under the RESTORE Act, bringing the total amount awarded to $398.75 million: $184.39 million from the Council-Selected Restoration Component, or “Bucket 2” and $214.37 million from the Spill Impact Component, or “Bucket 3.” The Council approves funding for Council-Selected Restoration Component projects and programs using “Funded Priorities Lists” (FPLs). The Council develops FPLs through collaboration among its members and with feedback from stakeholders across the Gulf. Two FPLs were previously approved by the Council in 2015 and 2018. The Council was initially planning on developing FPL 3 as a single action, consisting of a list of restoration projects and programs addressing ecosystem needs across the Gulf coast. As a result of the collaborative process, the Council decided to develop FPL 3 in two phases. On February 12, 2020, the Council approved the first phase, referred to as FPL 3a which included two components: River Reintroduction into Maurepas Swamp as a priority for potential future funding, and budgeting $130,000,000 in implementation funds for this project; and $26,880,000 in planning and implementation funds for the Perdido River Land Conservation and Habitat Enhancements project, which involves the acquisition, conservation, management, and restoration of approximately 10,000-12,000 acres of coastal habitat in Alabama. In March 2020, the Council solicited proposals for potential funding under Bucket 2 in the second phase of the Council’s Funded Priority List 3, referred to as FPL 3b. In developing FPL 3b, the Council is adhering to the FPL development processes committed to by the Council, particularly as they relate to the use of the best available science (BAS), public engagement and transparency, and the Council’s 2019 Planning Framework. The Council is considering proposals that address ecosystem needs in Texas, Mississippi, Florida, and Alabama, along with Gulfwide (covering two or more states) proposals. The Council has submitted proposed projects and programs (collectively referred to as ‘activities’; posted on the Council’s website) that would address land conservation, quality improvement, habitat conservation and restoration, and other ecosystem restoration activities across the Gulf coast. Many of these activities would continue to strategically leverage investments with other restoration efforts, including building upon successes of past FPL activities. It is anticipated that FPL 3b will be finalized during the Spring of 2021. The RESTORE Council 10-Year Commemorative Report was completed in April 2020, highlighting the 4 | Page accomplishments of the five state and six federal RESTORE Council members. The 10th year milestone serves as a time to reflect on the eleven lost lives lost during the Deepwater