Council hears update on Fort Wool restoration funding and the need to relocate protected birds before restoration work

Council members asked how they could help advance restoration of Fort Wool and associated historic resources. Ed Reed and city staff described the project as a multi‑year effort with sequencing constraints tied to wildlife mitigation and federal decisions.

As staff explained, "One of the challenges on this one is timing. Because state secretary of natural resources at the time decided to relocate the protected birds to this island from the bird island that was part of the project. And so to restore Fort Wool, you also, you've got to basically get the birds moved, otherwise any work you do on restoration can be damaged." City staff said Army Corps work to construct a replacement bird island and a record‑of‑decision are underway; the council has already approved a summer resolution supporting the Coalition for Fort Wool and staff will pursue a budget amendment to set aside design and engineering funds to accelerate restoration once the biological step is complete.