Taylor Supports Bill to Help Wetlands

While not everyone in Washington loves the Water Restoration and Development Act (WRDA) of 2000, Mississippi would benefit greatly from a provision to help restore wetlands. The WRDA would send the Mississippi Gulf Coast $10 million to begin using dredging spoils to restore wetlands.

In some cases, such use of dredging spoils will actually be cheaper than current disposal methods, doubling the benefit. "When the Corps of Engineers does maintenance dredging of our ports and harbors, this dredged material is normally disposed of offshore or at upland locations," said Representative Gene Taylor (D-MS), a longtime supporter of smarter uses of dredging spoils.

"Instead of wasting these dredged materials, they can now be used to create more coastal marshes. Marshes are not only critical habitat, but coastal wetlands also serve as natural filters for pollutants found in storm water runoff."