GULF

RESTORATION

NETWORK

PROTECTING OUR

WATER
UNITED FOR A HEALTHY GULF
The Gulf Restoration Network (GRN) works to build a unified voice for the protection and restoration of the Gulf of Mexico’s natural
resources. The GRN plays a pivotal role in providing our members with the technical assistance, Gulf-wide strategic collaboration,
and campaign support needed to successfully address environmental threats in their communities.

HEALTHY WATERS
Over 60% of all waterways in the U.S. emptying into the Gulf of
Mexico, we need everyone’s help to protect this vital national treasure.
GRN TAKES ACTION
GRN released our, “Clean Up Your Act: Gulf States Report Card,” which reviewed and graded each
gulf state on how they incorporate the Clean Water Act into their state regulations. The average
state grade was a “D+.” Using the report, GRN is advocating for states to improve their regula-
tions to protect Gulf waters for wildlife and our communities.

We are fighting a proposal by the Department of Energy to withdraw 50 million gallons a day
from the Pascagoula River in Mississippi in order to mine a salt dome for oil storage. This plan
could have serious consequences for the fish and wildlife that live in the Pascagoula River and its
coastal estuary.

GRN is working to stop phosphate strip mining that would destroy thousands of acres of wetlands in central and southwest Florida.
Places like Horse Creek, the Peace River, and Charlotte Harbor would all be degraded and ecologically harmed by a massive
proposed phosphate mine in the region. Florida’s coastal estuaries, fishing industry, tourism industry, and clean water are all at risk.

KEEPING OUR WATER FREE OF SEWAGE POLLUTION

Up to 3.5 million Americans get sick every year from sewage pollution.

GRN TAKES ACTION

The GRN released “Our Waters, Our Health: A Citizen’s Guide to Sewage Pollution,” a citizen’s guide
designed to give local communities tools to protect themselves from sewage threats. We are now
conducting workshops across the Gulf to help citizens become engaged in this important problem.

In Louisiana, the GRN defeated two sewage treatment plant proposals that would have polluted
the Tchefuncte River, a Scenic River that families use to boat and fish.

We successfully pressured the city of McComb, Mississippi to agree to build a new sewage
treatment plant after years of polluting a local stream.
REDUCING THE DEAD ZONE
Up to 210 million pounds of fertilizer runoff
makes its way to the Gulf every year
creating a lifeless, oxygen-starved Dead Zone
as large as 8000 square miles in size.

GRN TAKES ACTION

The GRN works in collaboration with organizations along the Mississippi River – from Minnesota to Louisiana – to push for the
reduction of Dead Zone-causing pollution from agricultural runoff, factory farms, sewage treatment plants, and industrial
facilities.

As part of our efforts, we petitioned the Environmental Protection Agency to establish limits on nitrogen and phosphorus
pollution that causes the Dead Zone and to clean up the Mississippi River and Gulf.

PROTECT WETLANDS – PROTECT OURSELVES

The Gulf States have lost almost 50% of their historic wetlands that help protect our
communities and provide clean water. Those remaining face increasing threats.
GRN TAKES ACTION
The GRN and its allies defeated the Yazoo Pumps project that would have created one of the world’s largest pumping
systems in order to drain 200,000 acres of wetlands in Mississippi. This project has been considered by many to be among
the most destructive proposals in modern times.

The GRN co-founded the "Save Our Cypress" Coalition to ensure that trees from cypress wetlands don't end up as mulch in
plastic bags at Wal-Mart, Lowes, and Home Depot. In response to our campaign, all three
companies made changes that have saved thousands of acres of forests in coastal
Louisiana. We're continuing the fight to pressure retailers to stop selling unsustainable
cypress mulch no matter where it is logged.

A football field of wetlands is lost every 45 minutes in Louisiana alone. To address this
problem, we organized over 40,000 emails to Congress calling for the restoration of
Louisiana’s coastal wetlands and coastal communities. GRN supporters across the country
have hosted over 200 movie screenings to raise awareness about Louisiana’s coastal crisis
and continue our fight to pressure Congress to act before it is too late.

GRN is a leader in protecting Florida’s Nature Coast, one of the longest pristine coastal
areas left anywhere in America. GRN is working to stop the Tarmac Mine proposal and the
Sunwest Harbourtowne development along the Nature Coast. Both of these projects
would threaten coastal ecosystems and habitat for Florida Black Bears.

United for a Healthy Gulf

Gulf Restoration Network
P.O. Box 2245, New Orleaans, LA 70176
504.525.1528
www.healthygulf.org

The Gulf Restoration Network is a 501(c)3 organization.

Federal Tax I.D. # 72-1447742