Rv Campg E1748449539869 — The Gulf State Park campground (Alabama State Parks)

More than $45 million have been made available for several state and local projects across Coastal Alabama, thanks to funding from the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 (GOMESA).

The projects focus on a variety of improvements set to be made along the Gulf Coast including:

Environmental education and outreach
Boating access
Water quality improvements
Recreational access improvements

Gov. Kay Ivey announced the funding during the Southern States Energy Board Conference earlier this week in Point Clear.

“Working closely with Commissioner Blankenship and his team at the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, we will share more than $45 million with cities, towns, counties and the University of South Alabama to fund these worthy projects that will provide great benefit to the citizens of Coastal Alabama. With this announcement, more than $260 million in GOMESA projects have been awarded during my Administration.”
Gov. Kay Ivey

Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act

GOMESA provides funding for the four Gulf Producing States (CPS) and their eligible coastal political subdivisions to share 37.5 percent of the qualified revenues from Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) oil and gas leases issued since December 20, 2006.

Those eligible to receive funds include:

Projects and activities for the purposes of coastal protection, including conservation, coastal restoration, hurricane protection, and infrastructure directly affected by coastal wetland losses
Mitigation of damage to fish, wildlife, or natural resources
Implementation of a federally approved marine, coastal, or comprehensive conservation management plan
Mitigation of the impact of Outer Continental Shelf activities through the funding of onshore infrastructure projects
Planning assistance and the administrative costs of complying with GOMESA

With approval from the Governor’s Office, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) administers the funds. Mobile and Baldwin counties receive separate GOMESA disbursements directly from the federal government.

“The GOMESA projects announced today will go a long way to continuing to improve the environment and quality of life in Coastal Alabama… The environmental education enhancements, water quality improvements and public access expansion projects announced today will have a long-term positive impact. Coupled with the previous projects, GOMESA funding is making generational improvements in our coastal counties.”
ADCNR Commissioner Chris Blankenship

The 23 projects selected for this round of funding include:

Citronelle Youth Field Lighting Enhancement – $1,280,000
Creola Public Safety Building – $2,000,000
Creola Wetlands Acquisition – $350,000
Silverhill Oscar Johnson Park Improvements – $1,500,000
Foley Nature Parks Expansion – $1,500,000
Satsuma Gunnison Creek Kayak Boat Launch and Boardwalk Improvements – $2,013,473
Magnolia Springs Restoration Project – $878,346
Dauphin Island Multi-Park Access Improvements – $1,400,000
Loxley Youth Soccer Complex – $1,000,000
University of South Alabama’s Delta and Coastal Alabama Wildlife, Fisheries, and Carbon Flux Observatory – $1,500,000
Baldwin County Perdido Bay Boardwalk and ADA Improvements – $2,530,000
Lillian Sustainable Stormwater and Parking Lot Improvements – $396,340
Mobile County River Delta Marina and Campground – $2,000,000
Chickasaw Stormwater Rehabilitation Project Phase 2 – $2,000,000
Baldwin County Solid Waste Disposal Authority Orange Beach Recycling Convenience Center – $1,500,224
Gulf Shores Waterway Village Pedestrian Park – $3,606,465
Renovation of the Daphne Recreation Center – $4,000,000
City of Mobile Brookley by the Bay: Southern Activation Zone – $3,500,000
Bay Minette Nature Park Master Plan and Engineering Design – $1,000,000
Mobile Riverfront Phase I Amendment – $4,000,000
Gulf State Park Campground – $5,000,000
Argosy Large Artificial Reef – $2,500,000
Administration of GOMESA – $398,599