The Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment 2021 Programmatic Review provides an in-depth look at restoration progress in the Gulf of Mexico through the end of 2020.
Federal and state agencies are restoring the Gulf after the largest oil spill in the United States. $2.4 billion in settlement funds were committed to habitat and resource restoration through 2020. Settlement payments will continue through 2031.
NOAA and partners have supported communities through restoration at two urban Superfund sites in Massachusetts and Washington. We’re increasing access to parks, and getting locals involved in habitat restoration through training and job opportunities.
Eleven projects aimed at restoring sea turtles, marine mammals, oysters, and birds are approved to move forward in all five Gulf states, and in Mexico.
North Carolina’s Cape Fear River and connected waterways were exposed to hazardous waste. Now NOAA and partners are finding ways to restore impacted areas by purchasing and preserving habitats—leading to increased community and climate resilience.
NOAA and partners built new rocky reef habitat that will provide healthy homes for fish and marine life. This is one of many Southern California projects restoring wetland, reef and other habitats polluted by DDT and PCBs.
Oil spill settlement-funded projects opened up a river and streams, and restored wetland habitat in two northeast states. Fish haven't been able to access some of these areas for hundreds of years.
Through strong community partnerships NOAA is able to do more restoration, helping California fish, kelp forests, seabirds and more recover after impacts from oil spills and hazardous waste.
The largest oil spill in U.S. history impacted coastal beaches and marshes, all the way to the deepest parts of the Gulf of Mexico, as well as the fish and wildlife that call those habitats home.
