Description
Grand Batture Island is a historic barrier island in the north Mississippi Sound that stretches from Mississippi over into Grand Bay in Alabama. It's one of many barrier islands that dot the Mississippi and Alabama coasts.
Over time, the island has eroded due to a lack of sediment replenishment, wave energy from boats or storms and other threats. In 1850, the island was five miles long. Today, the seaward side is about 1/5 that length. The Grand Batture Island Habitat Restoration Project is acting to preserve the land.
Mississippi and Alabama were able to secure around $63.6 million: $55 million from RESTORE Act funds (collected following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill), $6.7 million from the Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund and $1.95 million in savings from another project. The state of Mississippi will place material in front of and on the island to restore the island to its historic footprint.
The states hope to increase protection to the saltwater marsh habitat behind the island, which is critical nursery habitat for brown and white shrimp, blue crab and many other species critical to life and culture on the Gulf Coast.
Reporting by Margaret Kates
Read more at AL.com