RESTORE Act Background: The Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act (RESTORE Act) was signed into law on July 6, 2012, after the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The Alabama Gulf Coast Recovery Council (AGCRC) was established through the RESTORE Act to guide how Direct Component (Bucket 1) and Spill Impact Component (Bucket 3) RESTORE Funding is prioritized and used for coastal recovery in Alabama. The AGCRC has 10 members: the Governor of Alabama, the Director of the Alabama Port Authority, the President of the Mobile County Commission, the Chair of the Baldwin County Commission, and the Mayors of Bayou La Batre, Dauphin Island, Mobile, Fairhope, Gulf Shores, and Orange Beach.
The AGCRC supports the development and approval of Multiyear Implementation Plans for Bucket 1 and State Expenditure Plans for Bucket 3. In doing so the AGCRC considers eligible restoration and economy recovery activities and helps ensure selected projects align with RESTORE Act goals for restoring ecosystems, strengthening coastal communities, and supporting long-term recovery from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
To date the AGCRC has funded 46 projects valued at over $435 million.
Project Suggestions Requested: The Alabama Gulf Coast Recovery Council (AGCRC) is seeking project suggestions for RESTORE Act Direct Component (Bucket 1) and Spill Impact Component (Bucket 3) funding. The deadline for project submissions is October 1, 2026.
Eligible Project Criteria: To qualify for Bucket 1 or Bucket 3 funding, project suggestions must address at least one of the following priorities:
- Restore and protect natural resources, ecosystems, fisheries, marine and wildlife habitats, beaches, and coastal wetlands.
- Mitigate damage to fish, wildlife, and natural resources.
- Implement federally approved marine, coastal, or comprehensive conservation management plans, including fisheries monitoring.
- Support workforce development and job creation.
- Improve state parks in coastal areas affected by the Deepwater Horizon spill.
- Develop infrastructure projects that benefit the economy or ecological resources, including port infrastructure.
- Strengthen coastal flood protection and related infrastructure.
- Promote Gulf Coast tourism, including recreational fishing.
- Promotion of seafood consumption from Gulf Coast harvests.
- Planning assistance.
How to Submit: To ensure your project suggestion is considered, please submit it through the Project Submission Portal by October 1, 2026.
Further Instruction: To watch a webinar that provides more information on project submittal, CLICK HERE.
Previously Submitted Suggestions: If you submitted a project suggestion to this portal before August 1, 2026, please resubmit it with updated information, including current cost estimates.
For more information about Alabama Coastal Restoration Programs, CLICK HERE.
The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources promotes wise stewardship, management and enjoyment of Alabama’s natural resources through four divisions: Marine Resources, State Lands, State Parks, and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. Learn more at outdooralabama.com.
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