AUGUST 14, 2015--On August 4, 2015, Kevin Kirsch of OR&R’s Assessment and Restoration Division and Sean Meehan of NOAA’s Restoration Center provided a boat tour for staff of the House Appropriations Committee of the recently completed restoration for impacts resulting from 2004 release of acidic process water released from the Mosaic Fertilizer, LLC storage containment system during Hurricane Frances near Tampa, Florida.

The tour included inspecting the improvement to 85 acres of mangrove forest through the widening of tidal creeks to allow increased water flow as well as pointing out areas where 3,500 square feet of oyster reef has been built. Discussions during the tour highlighted the partnerships necessary to achieve these types of restorations and the process by which the scale of restoration is determined. Also discussed was the extent of active assessment and restoration work for the Damage Assessment, Restoration, and Remediation Program (DARRP) nationwide, and the casework pending based on available resources.

For further information, contact Kevin.Kirsch@noaa.gov.

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