Galveston Island project one of five to receive oil spill restoration funds

A Galveston Island project is one of five in the state set to receive funds as part of an oil spill restoration effort.

The Texas-based projects, totaling about $18 million, have been approved to begin to compensate the state for lost human use of natural resources resulting from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The three artificial reef and two state park projects are part of the latest round of early restoration led by state and federal Natural Resource Damage Assessment trustees.

The five Texas projects are part of a broader suite of 44 projects totaling an estimated $627 million across the Gulf,

The Galveston Island State Park Beach Redevelopment in Galveston County will construct multi-use campsites, tent campsites, equestrian facilities, beach access via dune walk-over boardwalks and other recreational enhancements on the Gulf side of Galveston Island State Park. The purpose is to enhance recreational opportunities and to increase access to the Gulf. Early restoration funding for this project: $10.7 million.

Other projects are planned at Sea Rim State Park in Jefferson County, Ship Reef/Corpus Reef in Nueces County, Freeport Artificial Reef in Brazoria County and Matagorda Artificial Reef in Matagorda County.

In 2011, BP agreed to provide up to $1 billion to fund early restoration projects in the Gulf of Mexico to begin addressing injuries to natural resources caused by the spill. The purpose is to speed the start of restoration before the injury assessment process is completed.

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