MAGNOLIA SPRINGS, Ala. — The Baldwin County Commission’s Magnolia Springs Restoration Project will receive a first place Gulf Guardian Award for 2009 in the Government Category, according to the Gulf of Mexico Program.

The 2009 Gulf Guardians hold a special significance this year as they will be awarded on the 10th Anniversary of the Gulf of Mexico Program’s Gulf Guardian Awards Program. The ceremony will be Oct. 29, at 6 p.m in the Magnolia Ballroom at the Beau Rivage Resort in Biloxi, Miss.

The awards ceremony is being held in conjunction with the Oceans 2009 International Conference.

The Magnolia Springs Restoration Project restored a cultural, ecological, and sociological landmark. The objective was to stabilize an existing site from degradation from on-site erosion and storm water infiltration and restore the wetland, riparian, and stream habitat to its natural state.

Prior to the project, previous flood events severely damaged the site to the point that local officials deemed it necessary to conduct a full-scale construction project in order to stabilize the existing landscape.

That project involved installing retaining walls, a cobblestone paved stream bank, and concrete walkways. After another extreme flood event in April 2005 that damaged the site, county staffers began seeking funds to restore the site to its original state.

This involved removing all the hardened structures and stabilizing the slope with native plants and vegetation. The project was funded by an EPA 5 Star Restoration Grant, the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program and the Baldwin County Commission. Additional partners were the Town of Magnolia Springs, the Magnolia Springs Garden Club and Volkert & Associates Inc.

The Gulf of Mexico Program initiated the Gulf Guardian awards in 2000 to recognize and honor the businesses, community groups, individuals, and agencies that are taking positive steps to keep the Gulf healthy, beautiful and productive.

A first-, second-, and third-place award are given each year in seven categories — individual, business, youth and education, nonprofit organizations, government, partnership and bi-national efforts.

A. Stanley Meiburg, Acting Regional Administrator of U.S. EPA Region 4 said, "The Gulf of Mexico is a priceless treasure. As a unique habitat, a place which gives pleasure to countless Americans, and a source of some of our most valuable resources, it has no equal. These Gulf Guardians who labor to protect and enhance this magnificent sea deserve our highest praise and thanks."

The Gulf of Mexico Program began in 1988 to protect, restore, and maintain the health and productivity of the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem in economically sustainable ways. The Gulf of Mexico Program is underwritten by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and is a non-regulatory, inclusive consortium of state and federal government agencies and representatives of the business and agricultural community, fishing industry, scientists, environmentalists, and community leaders from all five Gulf States.

The Gulf Program seeks to improve the environmental health of the Gulf in concert with economic development.

For a list of all the Gulf Guardian Award winners for 2009, visit the Gulf of Mexico Program Web site at epa.gov/gmpo, and click on the Gulf Guardian Award button.