s-/EPA

Gulf of Mexico Division

Protecting and Preserving
the Gulf of Mexico

2023 Annual Report


-------
Our Mission

The EPA's Gulf of Mexico Division is focused on
the health, productivity and restoration of the
Gulf of Mexico and the communities that rely
on this national resource.


-------
Table of Contents

Message from the Director	4

Who We Are	5

What We Do	5

Active Investments	6

4 Performance Measures	7

Nutrient Reduction	8

Healthy and Resilient Gulf	12

Underserved Farmer to Farmer	14

Farmer to Farmer	16

Trash-Free Waters	18

Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource

Damage Assessment and Restoration	20

Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council	22

Research Program Participants	24

GMD Spotlight	25


-------
Message from the Director

I am pleased to present the FY 2023 Annual Report for the Gulf of Mexico Division (GMD), which
highlights our work and accomplishments from October 1, 2022, to September 30, 2023.

During FY 2023, we continued our emphasis on working with underserved communities by
conducting environmental justice virtual listening sessions along with in-person meetings
with stakeholders. Staff used this information to develop our $12.5 million Environmental
Justice Request for Applications (RFA). The projects under this RFA will improve water
quality and community resilience, restore habitats and provide education and outreach to
underserved areas in the coastal zone.

GMD staff continued its outstanding efforts working with partners to protect and restore
wetlands and coastal and ocean water resources by participating in the Deepwater Horizon
(DWH) Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) Trustee Implementation Groups (TIGs)
for Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Region-wide. As the designee for the Federal
Chair of the RESTORE Council, we worked to finalize the 2022 Comprehensive Plan Update
in June. We reviewed for approval State Expenditure Plan Amendments for Alabama, Florida,
Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas, along with a Funded Priorities List Amendments. We also
reviewed RESTORE's 2022 Annual Report to Congress for approval.

This report is dedicated to our previous director, Ben Scaggs, who passed away on
November 26, 2022. Ben started his work with the GMD in 2012 as director. Without
Ben's hard work and dedication, the GMD would not be where it is today. When Ben left
the GMD, he continued his passion for the Gulf and became the executive director of the
RESTORE Council. The GMD's knowledgeable and skillful staff and myself are devoted to
carrying on the effort and commitment made by Ben and the GMD's previous staff to protect
and improve the Gulf of Mexico and its watershed.

Sincerely,

Marc Wyatt	(s

Director, Gulf of Mexico Division


-------
Who We Are

The Gulf of Mexico Division (GMD) is one of the EPA's Great Water Body Programs whose geographic
focus is on the major environmental issues of the Gulf of Mexico region and its watershed.

The GMD is committed to voluntary, nonregulatory actions and solutions that are based on sound
scientific and technical information as substantiated by our work with partners and the public.

Our program consists of two branches of experienced staff:

Science Integration
and Analysis Branch

Promoting and implementing science
to benefit the Gulf of Mexico and its
communities, this branch assists Gulf of
Mexico stakeholders by participating in
activities such as collecting and testing
water samples in the watersheds that flow
into the Gulf to monitor water quality.

k*i<

Partnerships Branch

Encouraging positive behavioral practices and
promoting awareness of resources, technologies
and environmental practices or initiatives, this
branch works closely with Gulf partners to identify
environmental concerns and provides up-to-date
education on how shifts in behavior among Gulf
stakeholders and tourists can effect change.

What We Do

The Gulf of Mexico is recognized worldwide as a vast and productive body of water with
tremendous value in ecological, economic and social terms. The Gulf of Mexico Watershed is
made up of 33 major rivers draining from 31 U.S. states and a large portion of Mexico. The U.S.
Gulf of Mexico coastline is 1,630 miles long. Environmental challenges facing the Gulf of Mexico
include excess nutrients that can cause hypoxic conditions, marine debris and degradation of
natural features such as wetlands that provide vital ecosystems services.

The Science Integration and Analysis Branch and the Partnerships Branch work with Gulf of
Mexico stakeholders to explore methods to:

•	Support the assessment, development and
implementation of programs, projects and
tools that strengthen community resilience.

•	Protect, enhance and restore coastal
and upland habitats within the Gulf of
Mexico Watershed.

•	Promote and support environmental
education and outreach to inhabitants
of the Gulf of Mexico Watershed.

•	Restore and/or improve water and habitat
quality to meet water quality standards in
watersheds throughout the five Gulf states
and the Mississippi River Basin.

EPA Gulf of Mexico Division Annual Report 2023


-------
Active Investments

LOCATION	DOLLAR AMOUNT	AGREEMENTS

Mississippi



11 Grants, 8 Cooperatives

Louisiana



9 Grants, 9 Cooperatives

Iowa



2 Grants, 6 Cooperatives

Florida



11 Grants, 7 Cooperatives

Texas

^^^^^^^^^^¦$6,629,581

11 Grants, 4 Cooperatives

Alabama



7 Grants, 5 Cooperatives

Virginia

$5,499,680

3 Grants, 3 Cooperatives

Arkansas

50,000

2 Cooperatives

Wisconsin

^^^^^¦$4,025,124

4 Grants

District of
Columbia

^^^^^¦$3,853,866

1 Grant, 1 Cooperative

Maryland

^^^¦$2,600,000

2 Interagency Agreements

Oklahoma

¦ $932,516

2 Grants

Tennessee

¦ $830,064

1 Grant, 1 Interagency Agreement

Kansas

¦ $750,000

1 Grant

Missouri

¦ $499,757

1 Grant

Georgia

I $300,000

1 Cooperative

Total

More than $76 million



EPA Gulf of Mexico Division Annual Report 2023


-------
Performance Measures

I The GMD works with each of the five U.S. Gulf Coast states

and other stakeholders in the Gulf of Mexico Watershed
including the six Mexican Gulf Coast states on projects
that support the following priority areas:

Results

62,199 individuals
reached

Results

Improved indicators
in 98 water bodies

Target:

Reach 2.0,000
individuals

Target: Improve
20 water quality
health Indicators

Results

171 communities
reached

Target:

Reach 75
communities

Results

71,747 acres
restored

Restore 1,000

EPA Gulf of Mexico Division Annual Report 2023

Environmental Education
and Outreach

J Water Quality

The GMD continuously works with Gulf Coast states
to maximize efficiency and utility of water quality
monitoring efforts for local managers. The GMD
supports efforts to improve water and habitat quality
to meet water quality standards throughout the five
Guif states and Mississippi River Basin.

These efforts are cornerstones to environmental
stewardship. The GMD's goal is to heighten citizens
appreciation of the Gulf, which leads to positive
behavior practices. This can be accomplished by
developing hands-on environmental initiatives and
engaging residents in restoration programs/projects.

Habitat Restoration

Community Resilience

Through funding and partnerships, the GMD is restoring
habitat in the Gulf states, especially related to wetlands,
coastal prairies and stream banks corridors. This work
helps provide for protection from storm damage;
supports commercial and recreational fisheries; provides
nesting and foraging habitat for birds and other wildlife;
protects pollinators; and improves water quality for
recreational use and aquatic life.

Resilience is the capability to anticipate, prepare for, respond
to, and recover from significant multi-hazard threats with
minimum damage to social well-being, the economy and
the environment. The GMD supports community capacity
building through vulnerability assessments and development
of adaptive capacity or resilience plans to assist communities
in preparing for potential changes in the environment or
future, disruptive events.


-------
A



Nutrient Reduction

in 2023, the GMD awarded $14.5 million through
a Request for Applications (RFA) for 11 projects
geared toward innovative approaches or strategies
for the most effective and efficient ways to reduce
nutrient loading.

These projects addressed demonstrations of innovative technologies and/or
conservation projects that have the potential to reduce excess nutrient loads of
the following areas:

•	Improving habitat to reduce nutrient pollution: projects to enhance
or restore riparian and near-coastal areas in rural, urban and suburban
communities to reduce nutrients.

•	Managing urban runoff: projects to capture, store, filter and treat runoff
to reduce nutrient loads and improve water quality consistent with a broader
strategy for watershed protection or restoration

•	Farmer to Farmer: projects to reduce nutrient loads while enhancing
performance of working lands through conservation practices, and to
advance the adoption of nutrient management through farmer-led outreach
and education networks.

Addressing New Shore Pollution via In Situ Nutrient Sinks in Alabama

Recipient

Auburn University

Partners

•	Mobile Bay Oyster Gardening
Program

•	Commercial oyster farmers

Summary

Auburn University will demonstrate the ability of a restored oyster reef to serve as a nutrient
sink, thereby reducing wastewater pollution in Alabama's nearshore region. The goals of this
project will be to reduce nutrient loads from urban stormwater runoffs via the generation
of new, innovative technology and knowledge that can be implemented into existing and
future green infrastructure. The results will provide relationships between geotextile elements
(polymer type, pore structures, surface characteristics, synergistic effects of absorbent and
surface treatment) and the removal of contaminants from nonpoint source runoff.

Anticipated Results

Habitat Restoration: Identify and develop best management practices for the most
effective restoration elements to be applied in nearshore oyster reef restoration.

Building Soil Health and Resilient Conservation Champions with Collaboration and Data Sharing

Recipient

Sand County Foundation
Partners

•	Federation of Southern
Cooperatives

•	University of Missouri

Soil Health Assessment Center

Summary

Sand County Foundation will be helping farmers integrate soil sensors and collect soil health
metrics to enable them to make in-season management decisions based on real-time soil
moisture and temperature data The data collected on each farmer's field will be used to
demonstrate how soil health management influences infiltration, water holding capacity,
aggregate stability and other soil properties critical to climate resiliency and water quality.

Anticipated Results

Habitat Restoration: Enhance 1,500 acres of farmland through real-time monitoring.

Environmental Education: Directly work with 24 farmers and help educate over 200
farmers on the benefits of different sustainable practices.

8

EPA Gulf of Mexico Division Annual Report 2023


-------
Nutrient Reduction

Choctawhatchee Coastal Habitat Improvement Project (CCHIP)

Recipient

Northwest Florida State College
Partners

•	Florida Department of
Environmental Protection
Aquatic Preserve

•	Choctawhatchee Basin
Alliance

•	Freeport High School

•	Franklin's Promise

Summary

The Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance and its partners will improve water quality in the
Choctawhatchee Bay Watershed by demonstrating an innovative approach to stormwater
treatment. The Choctawhatchee Bay Watershed and Santa Rosa Sound systems are both
impaired for nutrients, so this project will provide direct benefits to reducing nutrient loads in
priority waters. The goals of this project are to improve coastal habitat, improve water quality,
increase coastal resilience, train high school students on seagrass propagation and coastal
restoration techniques, and establish an "Oyster Corps" team to provide opportunities for
Opportunity Youth in the Choctawhatchee Bay Watershed to learn valuable life skills and
support the coastal restoration efforts in the Choctawhatchee Bay Watershed.

Anticipated Results

O Environmental Education: Employ underserved youth; train/educate high school students
in environmental restoration.

Habitat Restoration: Remove invasive plant species; restore 8.1 acres of seagrass habitat;
achieve 30-60% reduction in water column turbidity, 20-40% reduction in total
nitrogen from the water column and 20-40% reduction in total phosphorus from the
water column.

Demonstrating the Nutrient Removal in Agricultural Watershed Using Floating Macrophytes

Recipient

University of Houston

Partners

•	Prairie View A&M University

•	Old Dominion University

Summary

Using floating aquatic plants (FAP) to sequester nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus
and heavy metals from stormwater in watersheds, researchers from three universities will
develop a system to move a raft containing grasses and rice plants in pots to the center of
the watershed and return to the shoreline when the raft is ready for harvest.

Anticipated Results

O Water Quality: Reduce 50-60% of nutrients using floating aquatic plants;
improve 1 to 3 watersheds

Environmental Education: Reach 500 people.

Introducing New Practices in Upper Bayou Lafourche, Louisiana

Recipient

Gulf of Mexico Alliance
Partners

•	Farmers/landowners

•	Morehouse Soil & Water
Conservation District

•	Louisiana Department of
Agriculture and Forestry

•	Louisiana Department of
Environmental Quality

•	USDANRCS

Summary

The Gulf of Mexico Alliance will work with landowners and partners to demonstrate needed
conservation practices on prioritized agricultural land in Bayou Lafourche, Upper Bayou Galion
and Bayou Coulee. Pre- and post-demonstration monitoring will be conducted to determine
the effectiveness of conservation practices to improve water quality and reduce downstream
nutrient loading, ultimately aiming to restore the FWP (fish and wildlife propagation)
designated use. Cost-sharing assistance will be provided to project participants. The educational
programming includes demonstration practices of reducing nonpoint source pollution for the
region and farmer engagement field days.

Anticipated Results

Water Quality: Improve 3 water bodies.

© Community Resilience: Engage 3 communities.

Habitat Restoration: Enhance, protect or restore 18,000 acres.

EPA Gulf of Mexico Division Annual Report 2023


-------
Nutrient Reduction

Modification of Disturbed Wetland for Nutrient Reduction of Urban Stormwater

Recipient

Louisiana State University
Agricultural Center

Partner

• LSU A&M Department
of Civil & Environmental
Engineering

Summary

This project will demonstrate how a modified abandoned borrow pit can serve as a detention
basin to reduce sediment and nutrient loads by improving urban stormwater quality. In
addition to demonstrating a two borrow pit system, this project will demonstrate how an
innovative earthen weir (plant species specific) and wood chip bioreactor technology can be
used to address water quality and habitat via reduction of urban stormwater nutrients, litter
and coarse and fine sediments in Gulf of Mexico watersheds. The goals of this project will be
to reduce nutrient loads, litter and coarse/fine sediments from urban stormwater runoffs via
the utilization of three proof of concepts.

Anticipated Results

Water Quality: Reduce nitrogen by 40% and phosphorus by 30%.

Negate the Nutrients: A Regional Collaborative Using Bioremediation to Reduce
Nutrient Pollution Throughout the Gulf of Mexico Region

Recipient

Groundworks New Orleans
Partners

•	Water is Alive, Center for
Watershed Protection,
University of South Alabama

•	Osprey Initiative

Summary

This project will demonstrate innovative bioremediation technologies that will reduce nonpoint
nutrients in urban runoff, resulting in restored habitat in the region and improved water quality
and resilience. Collaboration with underserved communities through education and outreach
programs will help improve water quality and the health of aquatic ecosystems. Through
volunteer-led science and training workshops, citizen scientists will be trained in sediment and
water testing. Additionally, an educational series summarizing the results of the three-year study
will be presented to each community. This project will help reduce and prevent sediment and
nutrient runoff, thereby preventing pollutants from entering the Gulf of Mexico.

Anticipated Results

O Water Quality: Reduce nitrogen and phosphorus loads in 3 different watersheds by
27,500 square miles

Environmental Education: Reach 1,000 individuals.

Non-Woven Hybrid Geotextiles for Urban Stormwater Nutrient Management

Recipient

University of South Alabama
Partners

•	Mobile Baykeepers

•	Wake Forest University

•	Auburn University

•	North Carolina State University

•	Karmanterra LLC

Summary

To reduce excess nutrient loading in Gulf of Mexico watersheds, this project will develop
a novel geotextile, embedded with nutrient-absorbing agents, and evaluate its efficacy in
removing nutrients from urban stormwater runoffs, as well as provide controlled phosphorus
recovery for reuse, in Mobile and Auburn, Alabama.

Anticipated Results

Water Quality: Use new technology and knowledge for future green infrastructure for the
reduction of nutrient loads from urban stormwater runoffs. Identify relationship between
geotextile elements and the removal of contaminants from nonpoint source runoff.

EPA Gulf of Mexico Division Annual Report 2023


-------
Nutrient Reduction

Nutrient Reduction Through Innovative Technology

Recipient

B.F. Smith Foundation

Partners

•	Delta F.A.R.M. member
farmers/landowners

•	Mississippi State University

Summary

B.F. Smith dba Delta F.A.R.M. (Farmers Advocating Resource Management) expects to
directly reduce nutrient and sediment loss from lands in agricultural production through
the demonstration of innovative agricultural conservation technologies and strategies while
documenting agronomic, economic, social and environmental benefits. Delta F.A.R.M. will
conduct on-farm demonstrations to evaluate these innovative technologies and strategies
that can be integrated into farming systems to directly address nutrient and sediment loading
into water bodies.

Anticipated Results

Water Quality: Improve 1 water quality indicator.

Habitat Restoration: Restore or enhance 12,000 acres.

Environmental Education: Reach 900 individuals.

Precision Agriculture Accelerates Nutrient Reductions

Recipient

Mississippi State University
Partners

•	National Black Growers
Council

•	Local farmers

•	Partners in Florida,

Texas and Mississippi

Summary

This project aims to leverage resources to identify and overcome barriers that restrain the
adoption of precision and regenerative agricultural technologies, approaches and strategies
that can reduce nutrient pollution. This goal will be attained by completing three objectives:
1) determine the socioeconomic and cultural factors influencing adoption of technologies,
approaches and strategies; 2) evaluate on-farm how precision and regenerative agricultural
technologies, approaches and strategies improve agronomic and economic viability; and
3) stimulate adoption of these techniques through traditional and innovative methods.

Anticipated Results

Environmental Education: Participate in 15 on-farm demonstration sites.

Water Quality: Monitor surface waters at 6 sites to measure nutrient loading.

Zombie to Living Community Ponds by Novel Bio-Infiltration

Recipient

University of South Florida
Partners

•	University Area CDC

•	Hillsborough County
Engineering and Operations
Department

•	Oldcastle Infrastructure

•	Sunshine Organics and
Compost

Summary

This project will install novel bio-infiltration systems containing biochar-amended media
around Aaran's Pond in Tampa's University Area Community to reduce nutrient discharge
into the local river, thereby improving water quality. The project will also investigate whether
collaborative participation in pond co-design and outreach activities changes residents'
perceptions of the value of stormwater infrastructures in their community.

Anticipated Results

Habitat Restoration: Protect, enhance and restore 22 acres of habitat.

EPA Gulf of Mexico Division Annual Report 2023


-------
A

Healthy

and Resilient

Gulf

Incentivizing and Empowering Communities to Reduce Litter

Recipient

Mississippi State University
Partners

•	St. Martin High School

•	Pass Christian High School

•	Jackson County Parks

•	Pass Christian Library

•	Pascagoula River Audubon Center

•	Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI)

•	Ocean Springs High School

•	Crosby Arboretum

•	CREC Homeschool	_ . „ ljt

Cumulative Results

Water Quality: 8 water bodies Improved.

Environmental Education: 3,007 individuals reached.
© Community Resilience: 5 communities engaged.

Village De L'Est Environmental Resilience with Green Infrastructure

Recipient	Partners

Song Community Development	. VEGG Farmers Cooperative

Corporation

• Village De L'Est Neighborhood
improvement Association

Summary

Song CDC aims to expand and further develop its stormvvater management,
green infrastructure and environmental education programs. The project
will incorporate developing green infrastructure—including riparian buffers,
bioswales and floating wetlands—to mitigate nonpoint source pollution, with
quantitative data collection and analysis, community member participation
and input, education and demonstration, and community implementation.

Anticipated Results

© Habitat Restoration: Enhance, protect or restore 2 acres of habitat,
through 3 green infrastructure projects

© Community Resilience' Engage in 5 community meetings.

O Water Quality: Reduce nutrient runoff and other pollutants by
100,000 gallons per year

Summary

Litter, especially plastic, is overwhelmingly
present in our society. Many communities
are eager to combat this "plastic
pandemic" but are unsure or unaware of
the readily available alternatives to replace
their current single-use plastic items. This
project aims to promote sustainable swaps
and litter prevention education to coastal
Mississippians through hands-on, bimonthly
workshops targeting high school students,
their invited families and members of the general public. Themed workshops will survey
habit changes, instill prevention measures, promote sustainable materials, reduce litter at
its source and provide participating schools with tools to reduce waste.

EPA Gulf of Mexico Division Annual Report 2023


-------
Healthy and Resilient Gulf

Improving Community Health Through Microbial Source Tracking

Recipient	Partners

University of South Florida	* °f Tampa

•	Environmental Protection Commission
of Hillsborough County

•	Hillsborough County Stormwater

•	St. Petersburg Water Resources

Summary

The University of South Florida (USF) is utilizing novel MST (microbial source
tracking) approaches and high-throughput quantitative polymerase chain
reaction (qPCR) to assess relationships among FIB (fecal indicator bacteria)
and MST markers and pathogens, and to quantify human health risk. USF is
developing an MST guide for government partners to improve decision-making
on water quality issues throughout the Gulf of Mexico region and will hold a
webinar to disseminate results of the project.

Cumulative Results

Water Quality: 5 water bodies improved.

Nora using the Van Dorn sampler to collect water
at one of our Hamilton Creek sites.

Green Infrastructure for Texas High School Intern Program

Cohort 2 Green Star Wetland Farm field trip.
Jeyry, Ahn, Cathlin, Kate and Christina are
planting sprigs of Ruppia maritima into rockwool
trays for a restoration project.

Recipient	Partners

Texas A&M AgriLife	• Galveston Bay Foundation

Extension Service	. £teai Qeek |SD middle and high school programs

Summary

Taking an innovative approach focused on student internships, Texas A&M
University AgriLife Extension Service reduces and prevents water pollution through
the development of green infrastructure (Gl) projects. Interns will work with their
mentors to create and implement their own Gl projects in their communities or on
their campuses as part of a capstone project. By the time the project concludes,
anticipated results include 30-36 site scale stormwater Gl projects, 3-5 high school
campuses participating in Gl work readiness programs, 30+ scholarship awards
presented to students in the environmental science field, 36,000 native wetland
plants propagated between two nursery locations, and 36 student presentations to
raise awareness of Gl projects and practices.

Anticipated Results

Environmental Education: Train 30 students and implement Gl projects.

© Community Resilience: Engage in 13 local communities.

Habitat Restoration: Create 10 acres of enhanced habitat through
raingardens, bioswales or plant-retrofitted stormwater detention areas.

Q. Water Quality: Improve 9 subwatersheds In the lower Galveston Bay Watershed.

EPA Gulf of Mexico Division Annual Report 2023 1 3


-------
Underserved Farmer to Farmer

Supporting Projects to Improve Water Quality, Habitat and Environmental Education
Through Farmer-Led or Farm-Focused Organizations in the Gulf of Mexico Watershed

Summary

The NASDA Foundation was awarded $3 million
in cooperative agreement funding to collaborate
with underserved farmers on projects within the
Gulf of Mexico Watershed to support the Gulf
of Mexico Farmer to Farmer objectives The 14
partners listed are the selected subawardees that
will provide technical assistance to underserved
farmers to protect and improve water quality and
habitat and to implement programs to prevent
or reduce nonpoint source pollution, Including
nutrients and plastic pollution.

Anticipated Results

Habitat Restoration: Habitat improvement;
protect sustainable forests.

O Water Quality: Nutrient reduction; farmers
or farming communities will adopt
sustainability/resiliency practices and
practices that lead to reduced nutrient
losses and improved water quality.

Recipient

National Association of State Departments of Agriculture Research Foundation
Partners

•	Cherokee Historical State Resort Park of Aurora (KY)

•	Cowan Community Action Group (KY)

•	Kentucky Agriculture Development Advocacy (KY)

•	Simpson County Conservation District (KY)

•	Pasa Sustainable Agriculture (PA/WV)

•	Cumberland River Compact (TN)

•	Sullivan County Soil and Water Conservation District (TN)

•	University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture (TN)

•	Holston River Soil and Water Conservation District (VA)

•	Appalachian Sustainable Development (VA)

•	Clinch Valley Soil and Water Conservation District (VA)

•	Evergreen Soil and Water Conservation District (VA)

•	School of Animal Sciences, Virginia Tech (VA)

•	West Virginia Conservation Agency (WV)

I 4 EPA Gulf of Mexico Division Annua! Report 2023


-------
Underserved Farmer to Farmer

EPA/NACD Gulf of Mexico Historically Underserved Farmer to Farmer Grants Program

Recipient

National Association of
Conservation Districts

Partners

•	Local farmers

•	Communities

Summary

NACD will work in underserved communities and with underserved farmers to reduce
nutrients in the Gulf of Mexico and reduce flooding in historically underserved farm
communities. NACD is awarding subgrantees and working in the region to reach more
eligible entities.

Anticipated Results

© Habitat Restoration: Enhance, protect or restore at least 100,000 acres.

Iowa's Underserved Missouri River Region Subaward Program

Summary

Nine subawardees have been selected with the potential to add three additional subawardees
to help improve water quality. These projects will span at least nine watersheds, working directly
with historically underserved farmers/communities. These subawardees will address nutrient
loading and flood issues within the region.

Anticipated Results

Water Quality: Attain 41% reduction in nitrate loads and 29% reduction in
phosphorus loads. Subawardees should target practices and measures that treat
water quality volume (WQv) of 1.25-inch rains for individual practices and reduce
subwatershed-wide runoff coefficients below 50% for "large" storms (6 inches over
24 hours) where possible.

Recipient

Iowa Department of Natural
Resources

Partners

•	IDALS

•	Local farmers

•	Communities

Strengthening the Support Ecosystem for Underserved Farmers

Recipient

Winrock International

Partners

•	Dream of Wild Health

•	Alliance of Sustainable Farms

•	A Red Circle

•	Potlikker Capital

•	Lower Sioux Indian Community

•	Hmong American Farmer
Association

•	Ho-Chunk Nation

•	Song Community Development
Corporation

•	Milestone Cooperative Association

•	Holmes County Food Hub

Summary

This project has selected 10 subawardees to complete phase two (the technical assistance
phase), which is to build the capacity of these organizations. Subawardees who successfully
complete phase two will move forward in collaborating with underserved farmers in the
Upper and Lower Mississippi River basins on water quality, habitat resilience and forestry
improvements, thus reducing phosphorus and nitrogen loss and reducing nutrient loads in Gulf
of Mexico Watershed ecosystems.

Anticipated Results

Environmental Education: Provide a competitive subaward program to directly support at
least 10 organizations and 100 farmers

© Habitat Restoration: Improve 7,500 acres with a mix of agriculture, habitat and forestry
management practices.

Water Quality: Achieve 1,400 pounds reduction in phosphorus loss or 19,000 pounds
reduction in nitrogen loss in the Mississippi River region.

EPA Gulf of Mexico Division Annual Report 2023


-------
fmm Farmer to Farmer

Strengthening Farmer Networks to Improve Water Quality and
Wildlife Habitat in the On-Demand World

Recipient

Practical Farmers of Iowa
Partners

•	Iowa Department of Natural Resources

•	Iowa Soybean Association

•	Independent farmers

Summary

The Practical Farmers of Iowa will leverage
the membership base in a Farmer to Farmer
network and develop an educational
outreach program in order to expand
the number of acres, on which cover
cropping and/or small grain production
are incorporated into crop rotation plans.
The incorporation of cover crops and small
grains will reduce surface runoff of nitrogen
and phosphorus into rivers and streams
within the Gulf of Mexico Watershed.

Anticipated Results

Habitat Restoration: Enhance, restore and protect
570,214 habitat acres

Environmental Education: Reach 10,231 individuals.

Sensible Agronomics and Shrewd Conversations Support the Adoption of
Environmentally Sustainable and Economically Sound Production Systems

Recipient	Partners

Mississippi State University • Local farmers

• Communities

Summary

This project established crop cover demonstrations at five field locations
Outreach events were conducted, with presentations made at multiple
field days. Water samples were collected and analyzed.

Cumulative Results

Environmental Education: 56,708 individuals reached.

© Community Resilience: 1 community reached

Water Quality: 3 water bodies improved.

Edge-of-fie!d surface water quality monitoring equipment
installed adjacent to a field in Bolivar County, Mississippi,
planted with fall cover crops.

EPA Gulf of Mexico Division Annual Report 2023


-------
Farmer to Farmer

Innovative Nutrient and Sediment Reduction Practices

Summary

This project's focus is exclusively on oxbow restorations, alternative
r.iie intakes and nitrogen-removing wetlands/ponds. In addition to
improving water quality, the selected practices provide flood storage,
which watershed residents have identified as a high priority. To
maximize the number of watershed residents who interact with
the demonstration sites, we have chosen strategic rural locations
near highways and paved county trails, and a 160-acre, peri-urban
location on the outskirts of Iowa City, Iowa.

Cumulative Results

Habitat Restoration: 177 acres enhanced, protected or restored.

Environmental Education: 455 individuals reached.

© Community Resilience: 5 communities engaged.

O Water Quality: 22 water bodies improved.

Recipient

University of Iowa

Partners

•	Local farmers

•	Communities

Employing Agroforestry to Improve Water Quality in the Gulf of Mexico

Recipient

The Savanna Institute

Partners

•	Wisconsin River Alliance

•	Liberty Prairie Foundation

•	Delta Institute

•	Land Conservancy of McHenry County

•	Independent farmers and private landowners

Summary

The Savanna Institute will develop a Farmer to Farmer education program
to inform and train the participants in how to incorporate agroforestry into
their respective nutrient management plans. The inclusion of agroforestry
will result in a reduction in the quantities of nitrogen and phosphorus
entering the Mississippi River Basin and the Gulf of Mexico Watershed.

Anticipated Results

Water Quality: Convert 3,747 acres of cropland to agroforestry,
resulting in the elimination of 60,686 pounds of nitrogen and 4,950
pounds of phosphorus from the Mississippi River Basin.

EPA Gulf of Mexico Division Annual Report 2023


-------
Trash-Free Waters

Plastics and Trash Pollution Reduction and Prevention

Recipient	Partner

American Bird Conservancy	• Gulf Coast Bird Observatory

Summary

The American Bird Conservancy (ABC) recently wrapped up its three-year
effort to improve water quality on the upper Texas coastline by reducing
trash accumulating on coastal beaches. ABC conducted an extensive
education and outreach campaign that engaged local communities,
stakeholders and natural resource managers impacted by trash and
plastic pollution.

Cumulative Results

Habitat Restoration: 95 coastal cleanups; 781 acres improved.

©Community Resilience: 5 new trash prevention plans with
5 different municipalities developed

Environmental Education' 11,941 people educated.

©Trash Removal: 31,946 pounds removed, 2,612 volunteers

assisted in cleanups.

Keep Lignumvitae Lovely: A Marine Debris Program

Recipient	Partners

Florida Department of	• Local businesses

Environmental Protection	• NGOs

• Governmental agencies

Summary

Florida Department of Environmental Protection will perform weekly
and monthly marine debris cleanups with volunteers, provide outreach
to the community and visitors, work with the communication team on
developing a marine debris-focused web page, and continue to develop
partnerships with businesses and NGOs on marine debris education and
reducing plastics.

Cumulative Results
§ Habitat Restoration: 2 habitats restored.

Environmental Education: 1,081 individuals reached.
© Community Resilience: 2 communities engaged.

Water Quality: 17 watersheds improved.

0 Trash Removal: 14,245 pounds of marine debris removed.

EPA Gulf of Mexico Division Annua! Report 2023


-------
Trash-Free Waters

Geauxing Green: Sustainable Festival Planning

Summary

The French Quarter Festival in New Orleans, Louisiana, has over
825,000 attendees, 1,500 community volunteers, 1,700 local
musicians and over 60 local restaurants participate yearly. The
Rougarou Fest. in Houma, Louisiana, is one of Louisiana's newest and
fastest growing festivals. Located on the banks of Bayou Terrebonne,
it currently has over 20,000 participants. The two festivals combined
will reach close to 1 million attendees per year.

This project helps improve water quality through the reduction
of waste by prevention and improving community resilience
through education. These festivals were single-use-plastic free
and provided reusable, recyclable or compostable products. The
festivals' restaurants and vendors were required to use sustainable
alternatives to plastic. Restaurants and vendors only served food on
biodegradable and compostable materials.

The festivals prevented waste by supplying specialized reusable
sorting stations. This ensured the waste was sorted correctly between
recycling, composting and landfill destinations. Volunteers were
present at each of the stations to educate festivalgoers and help
prevent contamination.

Cumulative Results

©Trash Removal: Over 155,000 pounds of waste diverted from
landfills; over 9,000 pounds of glass recycled.

100% compostable food packaging

100% recyclable or reusable beverage packaging

City of Mobile Environmental Litter Prevention Program

Summary

The city of Mobile is improving water quality through a three-pronged
approach of prevention, removal and outreach/education to address the goal
of achieving Trash-Free Waters in the Gulf of Mexico Watershed. The city
worked with partners to install trash capture devices in the Three Mile Creek
Watershed both in creeks and at storm drains. An electronic trash tracking
system was developed that allows staff to upload and download maintenance
data for the devices while utilizing the EPA's Escaped Trash Assessment Protocol
(ETAP). The education and outreach campaign also includes public service
announcements and working with area schools to encourage stewardship and
prevent littering.

Cumulative Results

Trash Removal: 3,960 pounds of trash removed from the environment.
Environmental Education 1,145 individuals reached.

•	Mobile Baykeeper

•	Osprey Initiative

•	Local schools and community groups

Recipient

Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium
Partners

•	Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program

•	French Quarter Festivals, Inc.

•	South Louisiana Wetlands Discovery Center

Recipient

City of Mobile

Partners

EPA Gulf of Mexico Division Annual Report 2023


-------
* Deepwater Horizo Natural
Resource Damage Assessment
and Restoration

The April 2010 explosion of the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) drilling rig resulted
in the largest marine oil spill in U.S. history, causing the loss of 11 lives and
extensive natural resource injuries. The oil spread from the deep ocean to
the surface and nearshore environment from Texas to Florida, prompting
an extensive response and Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA).
In 2016, the historic BP settlement required the company to pay up to
$8.8 billion over 15 years—the largest ever for natural resource injuries.

As a member of the DWH NRDA Trustee Council, the EPA supports eight
Trustee Implementation Groups (TIGs). GMD staff serve as primary and
alternate EPA Trustee representatives on the TIGs for Alabama, Florida and
Mississippi, as well as the Region-wide TIG. Supporting the Office of Water
lead for NRDA, GMD staff also provide technical expertise to the five Gulf
states related to monitoring and adaptive management, and approaches
to restore oysters and sturgeon injured by the oil spill. As a result of the
NRDA restoration efforts, measurable results-oriented projects are being
implemented to restore the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem and the natural
resources injured by the DWH oil spill by restoring and conserving habitat,
restoring water quality, replenishing and protecting injured coastal and marine
species, and providing and enhancing recreational opportunities.

EPA Gulf of Mexico Division Annual Report 2023


-------
Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration

Examples of specific DWH NRDA work being supported by GMD staff

Florida TIG

in November 2022, the Florida TIG invited the public
to submit water quality restoration project ideas for
consideration in the TIG's third restoration plan and
environmental assessment (RP/EA). The Florida TIG screened
the restoration project ideas received and in August 2023
began writing the Draft RP/EA to further evaluate the
projects under OPA and NEPA The TIG expects to release the
Draft RP/EA for public review and comment in early 2024.

Louisiana TIG

The Louisiana TIG approved seven Monitoring and Adaptive
Management (MAM) activities in June 2023 to support
assessment of overall program effectiveness The selected
activities would support the MAM Strategy developed
in 2021, which outlined an approach to prioritize MAM
activities in Louisiana for effective and efficient evaluation of
the restoration of resources injured by the DWH oil spill

Mississippi TIG

On August 31, 2023, the Mississippi TIG Trustees released
for public review and comment the "Mississippi TIG Draft
Restoration Plan 4/Environmental Assessment: Restoration
of Wetlands, Coastal and Nearshore Habitats; Nutrient
Reduction (Nonpoint Source); and Provide and Enhance
Recreational Opportunities." The Mississippi TIG proposed
seven long-term restoration projects valued at S26.4 million.
The comment period closed on October 13, 2023.

GMD staff continued a fifth year of water quality sampling
for the Upper Pascagoula Water Quality Enhancement
Project (nutrient reduction). This approved Mississippi TIG
restoration project helps restore injuries to water quality
by developing and implementing conservation plans and
practices to reduce nutrient and sediment runoff Into coastal
waters from the Chunky-Okatibbee watersheds.

EPA Gulf of Mexico Division Annual Report 2023


-------
Gulf Coast Ecosystem
Restoration Council

Installing gabion reef units along Sabine National Wildlife Refuge.

Credit: The Nature Conservancy

Following the catastrophic 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, Congress passed
the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived
Economies of the Gulf Coast Act of 2012 (RESTORE Act). The RESTORE Act
established the Guif Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (the Council) and the
Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund. The Council membership includes the governors
of the states of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas, as well as the
secretaries of the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Army, Commerce, Homeland
Security and the Interior, and the Administrator for the EPA. The EPA currently
serves as the chair of the Council. If you are interested in reading more about the
RESTORE Act or the Council, please visit: www.RestoreTheGulf.gov

During FY 2023, the EPA Chair approved the following significant actions, coordinated
through GMD staff:

•	Initial FPL Amendments: Money Bayou Wetlands Restoration and Bahia Grande
Wetland System Restoration

•	FPL3b Amendment: for City of Fairhope Sanitary Sewer Overflow Mitigation Project

•	FPL3a Amendment: River Reintroduction into Maurepas Swamp Project

•	2022 Mississippi SEP

•	Florida SEP Amendment 5

EPA Gulf of Mexico Division Annual Report 2023


-------
Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council

Conservation Enhancement Grant Program

Awarded $2.5 million in 2021 with an additional $1.8 million in required match

This project will enhance public-private partnerships that support land protection and conservation
across the Gulf Coast region via funding for the following projects:

•	Atlanta Botanical Garden: This project studies various
vegetation removal and restoration techniques in coastal
wetlands to determine impacts to ground layer vegetation,
hydrology, amphibians, water quality and soil quality.

•	Galveston Bay Foundation: This project funds
management, restoration and enhancement activities
on 800 acres of habitat within GBF-owned lands, due
diligence projects for future conservation acquisitions
and one economic benefits report.

•	Partnership for Gulf Coast Land Conservation: This
project funds due diligence for over 17 subawards for
future permanent land acquisition with a goal of conserving
over 20,000 acres. Two permanent acquisitions with over
$6 million in value are complete.

•	The Nature Conservancy: This project funded
restoration of over 2,100 linear feet of oyster reef
habitat along rapidly eroding shorelines in Calcasieu
Lake along Sabine National Wildlife Refuge, a priority
landscape on the Gulf of Mexico. Monitoring of oyster
reef sustainability is ongoing.

•	Woodlands Conservancy: This project funds invasive
species removal from 840 acres of forested wetlands within
two properties, replanting of native vegetation, vegetation
surveys via UAV, and bird banding and surveys.

Mobile Bay National Estuary
Program (MBNEP)

Awarded $1.65 million in 2020

This project:

•	Restored approximately 1,800 linear feet of stream on
the headwaters of Twelve Mile Creek, a tributary of
Three Mile Creek.

•	Implements an extensive Invasive Species Control Plan
in priority areas identified in the Three Mile Creek
Watershed.

•	Addresses stressors affecting water quality and habitat
in the Three Mile Creek Watershed.

Pensacola & Perdido Bays
Estuary Program (PPBEP)

Awarded $2 million in 2018

This project:

•	Established the PPBEP Management Conference
made up of the Policy Board, the Technical Advisory
Committee, the Education and Outreach Committee
and the Business Advisory Committee.

•	Developed the Comprehensive Conservation
Management Plan (CCMP), which was approved by its
Policy Board in October 2022.

•	Created five permanent positions that are filled.

Tampa Bay Estuary Program (TBEP)

Awarded $1.46 million in 2018

The TBEP implemented five water quality and habitat improve

•	Biosolids to Energy (City of St. Petersburg):

Commissioning and performance monitoring of the newly
constructed Biogas Upgrade System.

•	Copeland Park Stormwater Enhancements (City of
Tampa): Enhancement of drainage and water quality by
shoreline restoration and littoral shelf development at
Copeland Park Pond and shoreline native revegetation.

•	Coastal Invasive Plant Removal/Cockroach Bay Aquatic
Preserve (Hillsborough County): Removal of high priority
invasive plants to reduce spread throughout the Tampa Bay
ecosystem, and native revegetation.

: projects throughout the Tampa Bay watersheds:

•	Robinson Preserve Water Quality and Habitat
Restoration (Manatee County): Establishment of
14.8 acres of high-quality coastal uplands habitat and
vegetation monitoring.

•	Ft. De Soto Recirculation and Seagrass Recovery
(Pinellas County): Improvement to water quality by
hydrologic flow restoration between backwater bays,
native revegetation, establishment of 200 acres of seagrass
beds, and creation of a hydrodynamic model of circulation,
over a two-year period.

EPA Gulf of Mexico Division Annual Report 2023


-------
Research Program Participants

Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) Participants

The Internship and Research Participation Programs at the EPA are managed by the Oak Ridge institute for Science and
Education (ORISE) under an interagency agreement between the EPA and the U.S. Department of Energy. The ORISE
Internship and Research Participation Programs at the EPA are STEM-related educational and training programs designed
to provide students, recent graduates and university faculty opportunities to participate in project-specific EPA research and
developmental activities.

Amanda Free

Since starting her ORISE position with the EPA/GMD in February 2023, Amanda has
collaborated with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians of Atmore, Alabama, processed water
samples using qPCR analysis and helped with the EPA/USM STEM Summer Academic Cruise.

Amanda was invited to visit the Poarch Band of Creek Indian Reservation and assist with
their monthly water sampling, and provide feedback on their collection process to increase
efficiency and improve potential results. She processes samples by extracting DNA and
running qPCR analyses. For now, she is focusing on the human HF183 marker but will soon
start exploring other markers such as a ruminant and/or feral hog. These analyses will help
the reservation better understand their watersheds and why some of their E. coli counts have
been high. She keeps in contact with the reservation's environmental protection specialist to
inform her of the sampling results.

Amanda also helped coordinate and attended the EPA/USM STEM Summer Academic Cruise.

She assisted GMD staff in showcasing field and lab techniques in the marine biology field to
a group of USM students.

Jenny Paul

This has been a productive year for Jenny with the GMD and the EPA ORD Gulf Ecosystem
Measurement and Modeling Division Although the transition from freshwater ecology to marine
systems was a challenge, she met several professional goals and has positioned herself for success
in this field.

Jenny was a co-author on an article in Marine Pollution Bulletin titled "Evaluating the effectiveness
of M-AMBI with other biotic indexes in a temperate estuary" and was invited to present her
work at the 2023 National Monitoring Conference in a special session focused on coastal waters.
She has another first-authored paper in review, looking at the M-AMBI index, and was invited
to present this work at the 2023 Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation meeting, with a
third paper in preparation that will be presented at the Gulf of Mexico Alliance meeting in 2024.
Cumulatively, this work provides important information regarding marine benthic indices in the
northern Gulf of Mexico that will be used by the Pensacola & Perdido Bays Estuary Program and
the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

Additionally, Jenny has started two field projects related to rapid benthic assessment tools. The
first is called sediment surface imaging (SSI), in collaboration with researchers at the EPA Atlantic
Coastal Environmental Sciences Division. It uses GoPro cameras to take images of the sea floor,
which are then scored for habitat condition. The second project uses molecular taxonomy via eDNA and bulk tissue metabarcoding to
identify organisms more quickly than traditional microscopic techniques and to aid in developing an index of biological integrity for use
in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Both of these tools will be useful to monitoring programs at local and large scales.

However, for Jenny, the most impactful experience this year was serving as an instructor for two live-aboard marine science courses in
collaboration with the GMD and the University of Mississippi during winter and summer breaks. In addition to the wealth of knowledge
gained from the other instructors, she felt it validated her studies of marine ecosystems during her postdoc, as teaching others can be a
test of one's own understanding, and it cemented her commitment to pursue a career in marine science.

24 EPA Gulf of Mexico Division Annua! Report 2023


-------


GMD Spotlight

Gulf of Mexico Division Virtual Listening Sessions

The COVID-19 pandemic caused many changes to the way we live and work,
shifting our way of life. Change can be unsettling, but it also can present
opportunities—in the GMD's case, a chance to reset some of our operations.

The GMD's work is centered around engaging stakeholders and understanding their resonance with the environment. Our
abiiity to have face-to-face conversations to better understand stakeholders' concerns was deeply missed during the pandemic.
We pondered how we could continue this engagement with stakeholders, ensure their input was heard and acted upon, and
cultivate and maintain relationships. We found a solution with virtual listening sessions.

The GMD developed and hosted virtual listening sessions with the intent of gathering input on activities or programs aiding
Gulf of Mexico preservation and strengthening environmental protection in communities. We found that a byproduct of
these sessions was the ability to network—to build on existing relationships and cultivate new ones The sessions also created
a pathway for the GMD to learn new ways to support communities, and provided a platform for sharing updates on our
operations and discussing the governing authority that guides our work plans and achievements.

The first session was held on July 28, 2022, and 93 partners attended. Topics ranged from understanding the essence of the
GMD to conversations around creating green workforce development opportunities. The session was a success, showing that
intentional engagement can happen in person or virtually. The key is the intentionaiity, creating space for synergy, frank dialogue
and action.

Following each virtual listening session, the GMD analyzes stakeholder input and categorizes it by how effective certain ideas
may be. Ideas from the sessions were directly integrated into recent RFAs such as the Environmental Justice RFA that focuses on
community needs relative to the Clean Water Act In addition, through stakeholder input, the GMD was able to enhance the
upcoming Bipartisan Infrastructure Law RFA that will focus on habitat restoration, water quality, environmental education and
outreach, and community resilience

Attendees of the virtual listening sessions represent diverse backgrounds. To date, the GMD has hosted over 500
community stakeholders to gain input. It is our goal to continue building on and strengthening relationships with our
partners by actively listening, collecting input and incorporating the feedback from stakeholders into future RFAs.

EPA Gulf of Mexico Division Annual Report 2023

25


-------
August USM/STEM Cruise

Date: August 6-11, 2023
Location: Gulf of Mexico
Ship: Point Sur


-------

-------
Gulf of Mexico Division

2510 14™ Street, Suite 1212 • Gulf port, MS 39501
(P) 228-679-5915 (F) 228-679-5921

Protecting Human Health
and the Environment

Publication Number: 904 R24 001


-------