Federal agencies are currently reviewing the permit application for the SunWest-Harbourtowne channel project and are being asked to sign off on a dredging operation that would cause unprecedented destruction to Florida's Gulf Coast natural resources. The nearly five-mile-long, 85-foot-wide channel would cut through the seagrass of Fillman Bayou and invite traffic from hundreds of boats every day.

Fillman Bayou is one of the largest intact coastal ecosystems left in Florida. It supports seagrass beds that provide vital nursery and feeding habitat to many Gulf species, including Florida manatees and game fish. And there's no evidence the channel is needed: the newly reopened Hernando Beach channel is wider, deeper and shorter than this proposal -- saving time and fuel for boaters.

Take action now to tell the Army Corps of Engineers and other decision-makers that this unnecessary project is not in the public interest: deny the permit.

We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to restore America's magnificent Gulf Coast. Now is the time to make sure that the fines from BP and others responsible for the horrific spill in the gulf go back to the birds, wildlife and communities along the coast that need it the most. The Gulf Coast supports migratory birds from all across America, and its natural resources support millions of jobs throughout the nation. Your support for Gulf Coast restoration is critical to rebuilding a healthy ecosystem and economy!



Billions of birds--including dozens of colorful songbird species found in backyards and forests, waterfowl from the Prairie Pothole Region, shorebirds from high in the Arctic, raptors, iconic colonial wading birds of the South, and endangered Whooping Cranes and Piping Plovers--depend on Gulf Coast habitats each year. If we are going to succeed, your elected leaders need to hear that Gulf Coast restoration matters to you and your state.