On April 20, 2010, the Deepwater Horizon exploded and the lives of eleven people were lost. Nine days later oil began to hit the wetlands of coastal Louisiana. Between April 22 and July 15, 2010, it is estimated that 250 million gallons of crude oil were discharged from the Deepwater Horizon well and 1.84 million gallons of Corexit 9500 and 9527, toxic oil dispersant products, were applied, making the largest percentage of the oil unrecoverable, with unknown long-term environmental impacts.
Over a year later, our environment and our communities continue to see impacts on a daily basis. Across the Gulf Coast oil continues to wash ashore along beaches and wetlands. Local and state economies and household budgets are still suffering, and health impacts, potentially from exposure to the mixture of crude oil and toxic dispersant, are being reported.
Save Our Gulf is a coalition of Waterkeepers brought together in the wake of the BP oil disaster to lead the fight to restore and protect local watersheds, coastal communities and the Gulf of Mexico. We hold polluters and decision makers accountable and promote the sustainability of our communities. Our vision is for all communities to have waterways that are swimmable, drinkable and fishable.