Coastal Stream Habitat Initiative

The $2.6 million Coastal Stream Habitat Initiative project was awarded in November 2013 by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund. Through a partnership with Audubon and The Nature Conservancy (TNC), strategies and restoration designs for nine coastal streams from the three coastal counties in Mississippi were developed. These streams included: Watts Bayou and Magnolia Bayou in Hancock County; Turkey Creek, Brickyard Bayou, Bear Point Bayou, Oyster Bayou, and Coffee Creek in Harrison County; and Rhodes Bayou and Bayou Chicot in Jackson County.

TNC worked together to engage the public during the planning and execution of this project. Public meetings were held for each of the streams to support the development of the Coastal Streams and Habitat Initiative Conservation Action Plan. Additionally, this project involved Rapid Stream Assessments (RSAs), as well as invasive species identification and watershed sampling. The Conservation Action Plan was completed in October 2016.