New Estuary Program will Benefit Birds and Communities

Mississippi Sound is a major ecological lynchpin for the Gulf of Mexico that supports hundreds of bird and wildlife species, as well as a unique coastal culture and strong economy. Fed by several rivers and streams, the estuary includes barrier islands, wetlands, and maritime forests, and stretches beyond Mississippi’s borders to support healthy coastal ecosystems in Louisiana and Alabama.

The newly launched Mississippi Sound Estuary Program will bring together diverse stakeholders around a common goal of conserving the watershed, its natural resources, culture, and the communities it touches. Audubon Delta has been a strong advocate for the program’s formation as a valuable tool to create a comprehensive, science-based plan that can guide coastal management, restoration, and conservation efforts in order to maximize benefits to birds and people. 

The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality selected Mississippi State University’s Coastal Research and Extension Center to establish the program as part of 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil disaster recovery efforts. 

Audubon Delta staff will be joining community leaders and members, business and industry representatives, natural resource agencies, academia, nonprofits, and many others in this exciting effort to ensure a vibrant estuary for generations to come.