Gulf- Regional Conservation Plan Working List of Projects - Phase I - o ct n s) Ec e io ( f j e e t r o ro iv iv za e P t ct t i tn e ai e a n r m a ti j rr d a a a re i ro a a rg P N A In P N Le O &

Acquisition of Remaining Undivided Interest in the Katy Prairie Warren Ranch (Warren The Katy Prairie Conservancy (KPC) seeks $10 million to acquire the remaining 28% interest in the 6,500 Acre Warren Conservancy (Katy

1 Ranch Buyout Program ) HBI Ranch. Prairie Partnership)

The "Armand Prairie" project will acquire, preserve and manage 1300 acres of high quality coastal tall grass prairie in the highly urbanized Armand Bayou watershed. The parcels are contiguous with existing Harris County protected land and riparian corridors proposed for acquisition and protection by HCFCD Some of the parcels likely contain remnant ABNC (ABWP, HCFCD , Armand Prairie Land populations of endangered Prairie Dawn Flower as well as numerous wetland features critical to maintaining the water Harris County Precint

2 Acquisition PCI quality of Armand Bayou. 2)

Bayou Greenways 2020 is the first phase of the multi-county plan to have 1,500 acres of new green space adjacent to 9

3 Bayou Greenways 2020 BGI of the major bayous and 150 miles of continuous hike and bike trails (Updated 9/8/2016) Houston Parks Board The Sims Bayou Greenway Acquisitions project is part of an overarching initiative called Bayou Greenways 2020, which aims to acquire, preserve, connect and restore riparian buffer corridors along the major waterways (bayous and creeks) running through the City of Houston. When complete, the project will provide 150 miles of connected trails and Bayou Greenways 2020 - transform approximately 3000 acres into publicly accessible greenspace. Sims Bayou Greenway The scope of the Sims Bayou Greenway Acquisitions project is to acquire approximately 43 acres, in fee, of riparian lands

4 Acquisition BGI along Sims Bayou Greenway in order to protect them in perpetuity. Houston Parks Board

Buffalo Bayou Partnership is seeking $5 million in RESTORE funds to expand its land acquisition and ecosystem services efforts. If funded, properties that would otherwise fall victim to development will be protected for open space, and enhanced with native trees, vegetation and wetlands. As a result of this restoration, the bayou’s water and air quality will be improved, habitat protected, quality of life enhanced, and eco-tourism and economic development opportunities created. Partnership already has a land acquisition program in place that identifies priority properties. Buffalo Bayou Land Thus, the funds requested in this application will be used for land acquisition and restoration projects that are “shovel Buffalo Bayou

5 Acquisition HBI ready.” With escalating property values, it is critical that property is acquired as soon as possible! Partnership

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Houston Parks Board, Bayou Greenways, This project would use funds to acquire, through fee simple acquisition and conservation easements, properties along Linda Shead, Harris Clear Creek between FM 528 and Interstate 45 in Harris County. Properties where possible, including the use of Harris County Flood Control Clear Creek Linear Park County Flood Control District Rights of Way and current conservation lands and parks, will be linked to Harris County's District,

6 Project BGI Challenger Park. The eventual goal would be to develop a nature trail. Estuary Program

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Houston Parks Board, Bayou Greenways, The Cypress Creek Greenway (CCG) will eventually connect a series of parks stretching from west of Hwy. 290 eastward Linda Shead, Harris to the Spring Creek Greenway (SCG) at Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center near Hwy. 59. As with the SCG, this County Flood Control Cypress Creek Greenway greenway will create natural floodplain buffer zones, contiguous trail connectivity, and linear wildlife habitat. The District, Galveston Bay

7 Project HBI current proposal covers the reach from the confluence with Spring Creek to SH 249. Estuary Program

The plan for Exploration Green is to transition the nearly 200 acres of the former Clear Lake Golf Course into a beautiful, multi-purpose green space that will benefit the surrounding community in a myriad of ways. The plan Exploration Green, will be broken down into five phases, ultimately creating detention ponds and wetlands, a nursery for native Clear Lake City Water trees, miles of hike/bike trails, areas of native trees, bushes and grasses and athletic fields. 8 Exploration Green Project HBI Authority

A 27.5 mile water trail is proposed on Greens Bayou. The strategic plan was developed in partnership with the National Park Service, Harris County Flood Control and other watershed stakeholders. There are 10 access locations proposed as well as two primitive camping facilities located within the 1500 acre Greens Thicket Nature Preserve (HCFCD property). Greens Bayou Water Trail A small amount of land acquisition will be required but most improvements will be made on land that is owned by public and Eco-Restoration partners. Improvements will allow safe access to the bayou for recreational users and for educational purposes as well Greens Bayou Corridor

9 Projects HBI as improve water quality through introduction of native species plants and erosion control features. Coalition

Page 1 of 30 Funded Projects Gulf-Houston Regional Conservation Plan Working List of Projects - Phase I - o ct n s) Ec e io ( f j e e t r o ro iv iv za e P t ct t i tn e ai e a n r m a ti j rr d a a a re i ro a a rg P N A In P N Le O &

The District is working hard to promote multi-use waterway corridors and storm water detention basin areas along the primary channels and major tributaries of Cypress Creek. T The District currently owns three floodplain storage and KPC & Harris County HCFCD & KPC - Cypress preservation sites totaling 600 acres and owns the right to flood an additional 2,480 acres through acquisition of Flood Control

10 Creek Overflow PCI flooding easements in the upper watershed in the area of overflow to the Addicks Reservoir system. Department

protect acreage along the riparian corridors, in a holistic approach, for each of four Galveston Bay sub watersheds (Cypress Creek, Spring Creek, Buffalo Bayou, and Clear Creek) and develop plans to improve habitat for birds migrating between the coast and inland areas - "This Proposal requests funding to begin the Initial Phase by providing funds to Headwaters to Baywaters identify priority riparian corridors and purchase small parcels of land along targeted bayous and related watersheds. This Initiative – A Planning & Proposal, once implemented, will have a tremendous impact on the riparian areas adjacent to these parcels and will Implementation Plan for serve as the foundation upon which hundreds more acres can be preserved and restored. the Acquisition & This Proposal provides for a planning and implementation regimen for maintaining and increasing healthy riparian Katy Prairie Restoration of Riparian ecosystems to: (1) improve water quality, (2) enhance habitat for migratory birds, (3) reduce flooding, (4) protect Conservancy (Katy corridors in the San Jacinto freshwater inflows to the bay, and (5) restore native riparian grasslands or woodlands on one or both sides of the water Prairie Partnership,

11 Watershed HBI bodies." GBF, HA, BLC & BBP)

The Katy Prairie Conservancy (KPC) is working to protect a sustainable portion of the Katy Prairie for the benefit of its wildlife and for the enjoyment of the public. KPC seeks $5,000,000 to expand its preserve system by protecting an Katy Prairie Acquisition and additional 2,000 acres. The project is part of KPC’s long-term goal to preserve at least 50,000 contiguous acres as the Katy Prairie Restoration Project - basis for an ecologically diverse and sustainable habitat. KPC owns 13,500 acres and holds conservation easements on Conservancy (Katy

12 Phase1 & 2 PCI 3,000 acres. The remaining protected lands are in public ownership. Prairie Partnership)

The Katy Prairie Conservancy (KPC) is working to conserve and protect between 30,000 and 50,000 acres of the Katy Prairie, which is part of the coastal prairie ecosystem that once covered 9 million acres in Texas in . KPC has conserved 20,000 acres through fee acquisition, conservation easements, and public partnerships. The Katy Prairie serves as a refuge for more than 300 resident and migratory bird species; 110 species of mammals, amphibians, and reptiles; 500 species of wildflowers and grasses; and thousands of terrestrial insects and aquatic invertebrate species. Katy Prairie Project (Phase The prairie also accommodates human needs and interests in the form of working farms and ranches, trails, bike paths, Katy Prairie 3)/ Preserve System and outdoor recreation. In addition, the prairie offers collateral environmental benefits, including flood reduction and Conservancy (Katy

13 Acquisition Project PCI water quality improvement for the region. Prairie Partnership)

Clear Creek between Clear Lake and the City of Friendswood is in a natural state. Its bottom elevations are below sea level and subject to tidal influences. A number of natural and recreational parks have been developed along the creek, Lower Clear Creek lined with dense woodlands provide a naturalized habitat along Clear Creek up to the Galveston/Brazoria County line. Preservation, Restoration Flooding occurs frequently along various reaches of the main channel and its tributaries. Storm surge has also caused and Flood Hazard flooding within the watershed and has the potential to extend upstream to I-45. The 1000 acres will help to reduce the HCFCD, Harris County

14 Reduction HBI flooding in the Clear Lake and City of Friendswood Precinct 1 and GBF On April 18th, Harris County and surrounding areas sustained major losses due to the historic flood event of that day. Mercer Botanic Garden also sustained catastrophic damage with 3-7 feet of water and debris damaging acres of the cultivated gardens and arboretum. In a cruel twist of fate, Mother Nature was not yet finished, and the Gardens flooded once again during the heavy rains in late May and early June. Today the Gardens have opened once again while the massive clean- up effort and restoration work continues.Harris County Precinct 4 staff, along with many volunteers, are working tirelessly to clear away the silt from Cypress Creek that flowed onto the property and restore the countless plants and facilities damaged by the flood. Now, more than at any other time in the Garden’s history, we need your help. Most of the tree and rare plant specimens found in the Creek Side Ramble were destroyed along with many other areas and infrastructure that sustained similar massive losses. Today, we realize an urgent need to secure land on a higher elevation that will make Mercer permanently safe. A limited window of opportunity exists for us to acquire adjacent land to the Garden, located in a safer higher elevation secure Mercer Botanic Garden from the ravages of future flooding. This is our last chance to secure such property. Land Acquisition & Commissioner R. Jack Cagle of Harris County Precinct 4 supports our decision to expand to safer ground, and we are

15 Expansion HBI pleased to report that the Thelma & Charles Mercer Fund is committed to financially supporting this effort to purchase The Mercer Society

Riparian Land Acquisition Cypress Creek (Cypress Creek Greenway Greenway Project- CCGP) Jones & Harris County Precinct 4 staff, along with many volunteers, are working tirelessly to clear away the silt from Cypress Project,CCFCC,

16 Collins Tracts BGI Creek that flowed onto the property and restore the countless plants and facilities damaged by the flood. HCFCD BLC, Harris County Now, more than at any other time in the Garden’s history, we need your help. Most of the tree and rare plant specimens Precinct 4, and Spring Creek Greenway found in the Creek Side Ramble were destroyed along with many other areas and infrastructure that sustained similar Montgomery County

17 Project HBI massive losses. pct 3

Page 2 of 30 Funded Projects Gulf-Houston Regional Conservation Plan Working List of Projects - Phase I - o ct n s) Ec e io ( f j e e t r o ro iv iv za e P t ct t i tn e ai e a n r m a ti j rr d a a a re i ro a a rg P N A In P N Le O &

HCFCD (ABNC, Harris County Precint 2, The Conservation Trust/Texas, The Texas Upper Armand Bayou Today, we realize an urgent need to secure land on a higher elevation that will make Mercer permanently safe. A limited Forest Service, and Preservation, Restoration window of opportunity exists for us to acquire adjacent land to the Garden, located in a safer higher elevation secure The Texas

18 and Flood Hazard Reduction HBI from the ravages of future flooding. This is our last chance to secure such property. Conservation Core.)

Commissioner R. Jack Cagle of Harris County Precinct 4 supports our decision to expand to safer ground, and we are pleased to report that the Thelma & Charles Mercer Fund is committed to financially supporting this effort to purchase Katy Prairie Warren Ranch Preservation safe ground for future expansion. Even more thrilling, an anonymous donor has committed to matching every dollar we Conservancy (Katy

19 Project PCI raise toward the purchase of this new land. Prairie Partnership) The Nature This project will help establish the 1,656-acre San Bernard Woods Preserve. The Conservancy will manage the land and restore Conservancy river frontage, grasslands, bottomland forests and wetlands on both preserves. Ongoing wildlife surveys and water quality (Recipient) BHP San Bernard Woods monitoring in the San Bernard and Brazos rivers will measure how our work helps mitigate the impacts of encroaching Billition, TPWD and

20 Preserve PCI development. USFWS

Friends of Brazoria Wildlife Refuges, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Houston Endowment, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), National Fish & Wildlife Foundation Brazoria NWR Habitat (NFWF), Dow Chemical

21 Acquisition GBAE Your financial donation, whether it be $25, $50, $500 or more, will help us expand the gardens to safer levels. Company

Fort bend Green (City of Fulshear, City of Brazos Woods Preservation Simonton, Fort Bend Area Project ( Located north of SH 36 that area riparian and former prairie chicken habitat this land is undevelopable because of its Count, Katy Prairie Conservation/Recreation location primarily in Brazos River flood zones. Nature trails could be developed to provide educational experiences. Conservancy, Master Master Plan (Fort Bend Educational exhibits and/or guided tours could enhance the trails. Wetlands off er opportunities for outdoor nature Naturalist, Boy Scouts

22 County)) HBI study (botany, biology and hydrology). of America )

Acquisition of fourtracts totaling approx. 2,000 acres, adjacent to or inside the Justin Hurst Wildlife Management Area (WMA). The 15,612-acre WMA (formerly Peach Point WMA) is located between the San Bernard and Brazos Rivers in Coastal Prairie & Marsh Brazoria County and was acquired by Texas Parks & Wildlife Department for the conservation and management of Texas Parks & Wildlife

23 Acquisitions GBAE coastal prairies and coastal marshes. The Gulf forms the southern boundary of the WMA. Department

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Columbia Bottomlands (Austin's Woods) Conservation Plan was developed to conserve the unique and internationally significant wetland forest ecosystem of the Columbia Bottomlands found along the Texas Mid-Coast in Brazoria, Fort Bend, Wharton and Matagorda counties. In the updated Land Protection Plan the Service has initiated the acquisition of an additional 40,000 acres of bottomland forest and associated coastal wetlands Columbia Bottomlands on the Gulf of . This will protect freshwater inflow to coastal wetlands and provide recreational, educational and Friends of Brazoria

24 (Friends of Brazoria) HBI research opportunities. Wildlife Refuges

Page 3 of 30 Funded Projects Gulf-Houston Regional Conservation Plan Working List of Projects - Phase I - o ct n s) Ec e io ( f j e e t r o ro iv iv za e P t ct t i tn e ai e a n r m a ti j rr d a a a re i ro a a rg P N A In P N Le O &

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Austin's Woods Conservation Plan was developed to conserve the unique and internationally significant wetland forest ecosystem of the Columbia Bottomlands found along the Texas Mid-Coast in Brazoria, Fort Bend, Wharton and Matagorda counties. In the overall conservation plan, the Service proposes to acquire up to 28,000 acres of bottomland forest in the floodplains of the Brazos, San Bernard, and Colorado Rivers near the Gulf Columbia Bottomlands of Mexico, contained within the San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge. The proposed pattern of land acquisition is a The Conservation Fund

25 (Conservation Fund) HBI mosaic of wetland forest blocks that together protect the ecosystem. / USFWS Tract 122a is a Bottomland Forest Wetland Tract on the . This is a key proposed addition to the San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge. It contains 3,200 acres of prime habitat for wetland dependent species. It is adjacent to three other recently acquired Columbia Bottomlands Tracts. This old growth forest habitat is within the Coastal Zone established under the Restore Act and includes approximately 2 miles of frontage on the San Bernard River which is an estuary which enters the gulf near Freeport, Texas. The purpose of the project is to conserve a unique coastal watershed and ecosystem. The project also protects associated coastal marshes and marine resources. The Columbia Bottomlands habitat supports a great diversity of wildlife. The bottomlands are home to large populations of both resident and migratory wildlife, including more than 400 different wildlife species. The refuge annually provides critical habitat for numerous Nearctic-Neotropical migrant birds which pass through the area during fall and spring migration. The Coastal estuaries and adjacent rivers flow Friends of Brazoria through the Columbia Bottomlands watersheds and include marshes, creeks, sloughs, bayous, the San Bernard, Brazos, Wildlife Refuges, Texas Columbia Bottomlands and Colorado Rivers. Oxbow lakes are scattered across the landscape. These coastal wetlands support native fisheries. Mid-Coast NWR

26 Tract 122a HBI The forests are diverse with localized populations of uncommon species. Complex (USFWS) Tract 152 is a Bottomland Forest Wetland Tract on the San Bernard River. This is a key proposed addition to the San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge. It contains 360 acres of prime habitat for wetland dependent species. It is adjacent to two other recently acquired Columbia Bottomlands Tracts. This wetland forest habitat is within the Coastal Zone established under the Restore Act and includes approximately 1/2 mile of frontage on the San Bernard River which is an estuary which enters the gulf near Freeport, Texas. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Columbia Bottomlands (Austin's Woods) Conservation Plan was developed to conserve the unique and internationally significant wetland forest ecosystem of the Columbia Bottomlands found along the Texas Mid-Coast in Brazoria, Fort Bend, Wharton and Friends of Brazoria Matagorda counties. In the updated Land Protection Plan the Service has initiated the acquisition of an additional 40,000 Wildlife Refuges, U.S. Columbia Bottomlands acres of bottomland forest and associated coastal wetlands on the . The Columbia Bottomlands are the Fish and Wildlife

27 Tract 152 HBI only significant expanse of forest adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico in Texas. Lands protected under this program will be Service (USFWS)

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, West Columbia, TX, Gulf Coast Bird Observatory, Houston The Damon Nash Prairie is the largest parcel of intact tall grass coastal prairie left in Texas and Louisiana. Nash Prairie is Wilderness, Houston a botanical treasure trove. More than 300 plant species have been documented on the site, Endowment, NRG including rare species, provides habitat for 120 species of birds, including grassland species which are in serious Texas, Texas General continental decline. Nash Prairie contributes to watershed functions of the Brazos River, minimizing runoff and reducing Land Office, North erosion. As it winds its way to the Gulf of Mexico, the Brazos benefits from intact natural systems like those at Nash American Wetland,

28 Damon/Nash Prairie Project PCI Prairie. Conservation Council

Texas A&M Sea Grant, Trust for Public Land, We are requesting funds to acquire and conserve 30000 Acres of the Damon/ Nash Prairie. This land acquisition will help The Nature to enchance the plant species native to that land and reduce the effects of weathering in that area. The Damon Nash Conservancy, Native Prairie is the largest parcel of intact tall grass coastal prairie left in Texas and Louisiana. Nash Prairie is a botanical Prairies Association of treasure trove. More than 300 plant species have been documented on the site, including rare species, provides habitat Texas, Coastal Prairie Damon/Nash Prairie Project for 120 species of birds, including grassland species which are in serious continental decline. Nash Prairie contributes to Partnership, Texas Agri- - Land acquisition of 35,000 watershed functions of the Brazos River, minimizing runoff and reducing erosion. As it winds its way to the Gulf of Life, Katy Prairie

29 acres PCI Mexico, the Brazos benefits from intact natural systems like those at Nash Prairie. Conservancy Foster-Harrison Ranching and Wetlands Preservation On the South of Upper Oyster Creek, north of Winner-Foster Road between Pirtle Road and Briscoe Road. This Area (Brazos River undeveloped site would be good for preservation of scenic anchland and riparian wetlands on the property which Conservation/Recreation borders Upper Oyster Creek. Nature trails could be developed to provide educational experiences. Educational exhibits Fort Bend Green( City Master Plan (Fort Bend and/or guided tours could enhance the trails. Wetlands off er opportunities for outdoor nature study (botany, biology of Fulshear and Fort

30 County)) HBI and hydrology). Bend County )

Page 4 of 30 Funded Projects Gulf-Houston Regional Conservation Plan Working List of Projects - Phase I - o ct n s) Ec e io ( f j e e t r o ro iv iv za e P t ct t i tn e ai e a n r m a ti j rr d a a a re i ro a a rg P N A In P N Le O & Justin Hurst WMA is a priority TPWD site for land expansion. Several tracts of land adjoining Justin Hurst WMA (JHWMA) have been identified for potential acquisition because of their high conservation value. The tracts of land total approximately 900 acres and contain significant habitats that include coastal hardwoods, coastal prairies, and wetlands. The acquisition of these tracts would protect important habitats for neo-tropical migratory birds, resident mottled ducks, white-tailed deer, and upland grassland birds.Protection of these biological and cultural resources is critical as they are located in a fairly urban area with a population greater than 80,000 people and near an industrialized zone with Justin Hurst WMA Land a growing shipping port. Justin Hurst WMA is also an important public outdoor recreational resource, as it is located Texas Parks and

31 Acquisitions GBAE within 50 miles of Houston. The addition of these tracts of lands would increase access to outdoor recreational Wildlife Department

Aquire oak savannah in downtown Fulshear for use as a nature preserve. This land has a hill which is the highest point in Fulshear Nature Preserve Fulshear and you can see Katy from the top. There is a 70's home on the property which would be converted into a

32 on the Hill PCI vistor's and nature center after the land is aquired. City of Fulshear

Fulshear Red Bird Lane Wetland Area Land

33 Acquisition Project HBI City of Fulshear is working towards acquiring land along the Red Bird lane, that is a wetland area. City of Fulshear Acquire 200 acres of bottomland hardwood wetland habitat adjacent to the current 3,600 acre Nannie M. Stringfellow Wildlife Management Area in Brazoria County, Texas. Project will directly benefit up to 237 species of neotropical migratory birds, millions of which depend upon this habitat in their annual migrations, in addition to numerous native Land Acquisition at Nannie species of birds, herpetiles and mammals. Project will add valuable bottomland hardwood acreage to the existing M. Stringfellow WMA in mitigation land owned by the Texas Department of Transportation and managed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Texas Parks and

34 Brazoria County HBI Department Wildlife Department Katy Prairie Conservancy (KPC), Native Prairies Association of Texas, Prairie Conservation Houston Wilderness (HW), Katy Prairie Conservancy (KPC), Native Prairies Association of Texas (NPAT), the Trust for Coastal Prairie Initiative: Acquisition for Public Land (TPL), and Coastal Prairie Partnership (CPP) request a grant of $10 million to preserve and permanently Partnership (CPP), Katy Prairie and Damon protect 1,280, acres on the Katy Prairie - 960 in fee and 320 under conservation easements, and approximately 2,000 Houston Wilderness

35 Prairie Conservation PCI acres on the Damon Prairie through a combination of acquisition and easement protection (HW)

This project will acquire 590 acres of wetlands and upland prairie habitat contiguous to or in close proximity to Houston Audubon’s High Island Sanctuary Complex. Acquiring the targeted parcels will help protect this strategic conservation region from additional fragmentation. An additional 52 acre property is an outholding of the exceptionally productive complex of sand dune swales, mudflats, salt marsh, and transitional uplands known as the Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary. This ideal combination of habitats provides critical resting, feeding and breeding sites for hundreds of thousands of birds each year. The sanctuary includes salt marsh and wet coastal prairie that surrounds a shallow tidal lagoon. It is critical habitat for large numbers of shorebirds, waders, and ducks that use the habitat for breeding, wintering, and stopover. Species of conservation concern are common here and include Roseate Spoonbills, American Oystercatchers, Long-billed Curlews, Seaside Sparrows and Clapper Rails, among others. Horseshoe Marsh's productive wetlands also provide food for large numbers of fish and crab, including Redfish, Speckled Trout, Flounder and Blue Acquisition and Restoration Crabs. More than 20 species of shorebirds use the sanctuary during various seasons, including large numbers of Houston Audubon, of Gulf Coast Marshes, endangered Piping Plovers and threatened Snowy Plovers that use the area as a migratory stopover and wintering Galveston Bay Prairies, and Woodlots in location. The area is also heavily used by thousands of wintering shorebirds including American Avocets, Short-billed Foundation, Galveston

36 the Gulf Coast Chenier Plain GBOMB Dowitchers, Willets, Dunlin, Western Sandpipers, and American Oystercatchers. Bay Estuary Program

Angleton Prairie is a 160 acre, high quality, and globally rare Vertisol Coastal Prairie. This prairie type has less than 15 documented occurrences along the Texas coast. This community occurs on upland Vertisols of the Beaumont and Lissie formations in the Upper and Lower Coastal Prairie of Texas. A total of 112 plant species were recorded in this prairie in less than 2 hours of surveying during very early spring (March 2014) which indicates high plant diversity. Less than one percent of this type of prairie community remains, and nearly all remnants are altered. Angleton Prairie is highly intact with minimal invasive plants. Much of the suitable landscape of this prairie type has been converted to agriculture, and only a few examples, most in small hay meadows, remain. Threats from agriculture may be decreasing at present, but threats from rural residential development, exotic species invasion, and fire suppression are increasing. Galveston Bay

37 Angleton Prairie PCI Few examples currently receive formal protection. Foundation This project will acquire 200-300 acres of wetlands and upland prairie habitat contiguous to a 1, 845 acre ridge and swale wetland complex on Bolivar Peninsula. Acquiring the targeted parcels will help protect the larger complex from Bolivar Peninsula Habitat fragmentation. The targeted acquisitions will become part of an exceptionally productive complex of sand dune swales, Acquisition, Restoration mudflats, salt marsh, and transitional uplands known as the Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary and the adjacent

38 and Enhancement GBOMB Horseshoe Marsh Bird Sanctuary. Houston Audubon

Page 5 of 30 Funded Projects Gulf-Houston Regional Conservation Plan Working List of Projects - Phase I - o ct n s) Ec e io ( f j e e t r o ro iv iv za e P t ct t i tn e ai e a n r m a ti j rr d a a a re i ro a a rg P N A In P N Le O &

Bulanek Farms - Texas Texas Agricultural Farm & Ranch This Project will protect coastal natural resources with the acquisition of agricultural conservation easements Land Trust Conservation Program on 363 acres of P. Bulanek Farm Tract and 300 acres of P. Bulanek Farm Track 2. (Recipient), TGLO 39 GBAE

This project will help establish the 176 acre Brazos Woods Preserve. The Conservancy will manage the land and restore river frontage, grasslands, bottomland forests and wetlands on The Nature both preserves. Ongoing wildlife surveys and water quality monitoring in the San Bernard and Conservancy Brazos rivers will measure how our work helps mitigate the impacts of encroaching (Recipient) BHP development. Brazos Woods Preserve houses an open-air educational pavilion for surrounding Billition, TPWD and communities and visiting groups from Houston. 40 Brazos Woods Preserve PCI GalvestonUSFWS Bay Galveston Bay Foundation (GBF) wants to purchase more than 102 acres along Chocolate Bayou in Brazoria County, TX. Foundation The property will remain in an (Recipient)Galveston open and natural state forever due to GBF’s conservation efforts. Natural habitats found onsite include tidal marshes, Bay Estuary Program freshwater wetlands, and coastal tallgrass prairie. Permanently protecting this tract of land will ensure that critical (GBEP), resources will remain for waterfowl, wading birds, and neotropical migrants as well as provide essential habitat for Texas

41 Chocolate Bayou GBAE coastal fisheries including fish, crabs, and shrimp. General Land Office,

This property consists of ~3,600 acres along Bastrop Bayou, with about 4 miles of frontage along the bayou. The habitat is prairie with natural freshwater wetland components. Based upon aerial images, the landscape looks very similar to what it was in the 1940s, with just a few more woody shrubs than ideal. It is currently utilized for cattle grazing and has Galveston Bay

42 Bastrop Bayou PCI never been farmed. Foundation

The Settegast Coastal Heritage Preserve project is envisioned as a conservation area on West Galveston Island adjacent to , which is part of the Galveston Bay system, an estuary of national significance. The project area includes one of the largest unfragmented, single-owner, undeveloped properties of its kind on Galveston Island. Located roughly midway along the length of Galveston Island, a 32-mile barrier island about three miles off the Texas mainland, the Artist Boat Settegast Coastal Heritage Preserve project is a critical piece in the West Bay Corridor Initiative. To date, 207 acres have (Recipient),USFWS, Coastal Heritage Preserve been secured, with acquisition of another 153 acres in progress. The next phase would protect the remaining 635 acres TGLO, TPWD, GBEP,

43 (Phase 4) GBAE from one owner, and 205 acres from an adjacent landowner, bringing the total preserve area to 1,200 acres. Marquette Coastal Heritage Preserve

44 (Phase 2) GBAE Artist Boat

The objective of this request is to provide support for land acquisition that would preserve the balance (approximately Coastal Heritage Preserve - 220 acres) of the proposed Anchor Bay development, by providing funds forleveraging the purchase price, for due

45 Anchor Bay Acquisition 2 GBAE diligence (yellow-book appraisal, survey, Phase 1 environmental), and for legal and transaction assistance. Artist Boat

The objective of this request is to provide support for land acquisition that would preserve the balance (approximately 340 acres) of the proposed Marquette development that is located between Stewart Road and FM 3005 and between 8- Coastal Heritage Preserve - Mile Road and 11-Mile Road, by providing funds for leveraging the purchase price, for due diligence (yellow-book

46 Marquette Tract Remainder GBAE appraisal, survey, Phase 1 environmental), and for legal and transaction assistance. Artist Boat

Colonial Waterbird Habitat This project proposes to create more rookery island nesting habitat at the Smith Oaks Sanctuary on High Island, an Creation and Tourism international bird watching destination during Spring Migration. Enhancements at High Specifically, this project will create approximately 3 additional acres of quality colonial waterbird nesting habitat, more Island (Smith Oaks Bird than tripling the available nesting habitat on High Island. In addition, boardwalks and interpretive signage will be placed

47 Sanctuary) GBOMB to enhance public access viewership of the newly createdPage 6 bird of 30 islands. Houston AudubonFunded Projects Gulf-Houston Regional Conservation Plan Working List of Projects - Phase I - o ct n s) Ec e io ( f j e e t r o ro iv iv za e P t ct t i tn e ai e a n r m a ti j rr d a a a re i ro a a rg P N A In P N Le O &

30 acre tract within the Delta region, adjacent to Cotton Bayou. Consists of hardwood forest and estuarine Galveston Bay

48 Cotton Bayou (Phase 2) GBAE marsh habitats. Foundation The Dickinson Bayou Conservation Corridor project focuses on protecting several contiguous tracts of undeveloped land along the tidal portions of Dickinson Bayou in Galveston County. These tracts contain over 1,300 acres of critical habitat within an impaired watershed of Galveston Bay. Preservation and enhancement of these tracts will help maintain and improve water quality and wildlife habitat, while providing scenic views to recreational boaters and fisherman that utilize the bayou. The initial phase of this project includes the fee simple purchase of 48 acres known as the Vickery Tract. The Vickery Tract, located near Dickinson, TX, contains roughly 35 acres of upland habitat and 13 acres of tidal, Dickinson Bayou estuarine wetland habitats along a ¾-mile frontage on Dickinson Bayou. Estuarine wetlands on site are dominated by Galveston Bay

49 Conservation Corridor HBI smooth cordgrass and saltmarsh bulrush, creating a natural nursery for juvenile fish, shrimp, crabs, and other fishery Foundation

Funding is sought to support the STSSN activities on the Texas gulf coast. Funding sources that have supported this work in the past has dwindled. Without support, data processing and entry is backlogged as much as 6 months and necropsy of stored dead turtles can take over a year due to funding limitations. To search for stranded sea turtles, STSSN members patrol approximately 370 miles of beachfront. Additionally, during cold weather, patrols must be increased to include inshore water bodies and shorelines, increasing the patrol areas nearly ten-fold. In recent years, STSSN members have interacted with as many as 2,310 turtles in a single year, at a huge cost in both supplies and time to Texas stranded sea turtle response and rehabilitation facilities. Timely processing of data is vital to maintaining the response function of USFWS, National Park Document stranded sea the STSSN. Funding these STSSN activities in Texas would result in improved detection of stranded turtles, better data Service, NOAA

50 turtles in Texas GBAE collection and faster locating and transporting turtles to rehabilitation centers, which would increase their survival. Fisheries

Evaluating the Status & Habitat Use of Sea Turtles Utilizing Texas Coastal In-water surveys must be conducted throughout this species’ range to provide data prerequisite to revising outdated (Turtle Island

51 Waters GBAE recovery plans and define distinct population segments for management purposes Sea turtle population; Restoration Network)

Expand Texas Sea Turtle Stranding Rescue and

52 Response Capabilities GBAE Ocean Conservancy Expansion and Continuation of Kemp's ridley sea turtle patrols on the Upper Texas Coast, an incubation faculty HEART (Help and a rehabilitation and Endangered Animals-

53 treatment facility GBAE Patrols to identify and protect sea turtle nesters, an incubation facility and rehabilitation clinic. Ridley Turtles)

The Flower Garden Bank National Marine Sanctuary in the Gulf of Mexico is expanding the furthest north coral reef. The sanctuary’s advisory council recommended expanding the sanctuary from 56.2 square miles to 280.3 square miles to include up to nine additional reefs and banks, which support essential habitat for commercial and recreational fish Flower Garden Banks species. Located 70 to 115 miles off the coasts of Texas and Louisiana, Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary National Marine Sanctuary- includes the northernmost coral reefs in the continental , deepwater reef communities and other essential Northern Coral Reef habitats for a variety of marine species. This project would increase the reef boundaries by 224 square miles or 143,360

54 Expansion (NOAA) GBOMB acres. NOAA

Acquire and conserve ~1,300 acres. of coastal barrier habitat (coastal prairie, palustrine and estuarine marsh, and beach and dune habitats) on Follett's Island through fee-title acquisition in perpetuity. Recognized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as nationally significant coastal barrier ecosystem, Follett's Island is situated within the Gulf Prairies and Marshes Follett's Island Land ecological region. This project will acquire and permanently conserve over 230 acres of pristine coastal dune and Acquistion and wetland landscape on Follets Island, a Texas barrier island southeast of the densely populated Galveston Island. Once Conservation Program - acquired, these three tracts will expand the existing 441- acre "Follets Island Conservation Initiative" tract, acquired by The Trust for Public Phase 1 (Follets Island Texas Parks and Wildlife in 2014. Additionally, protective measures will be taken to limit human vehicular activity Land (Recipient) -

55 Conservation Initiative) GBAE from negatively impacting the critical habitat. TPWD

This project will increase the amount of reef materials in a currently permitted artificial reef site (Outer Continental Shelf Block Brazos BA-336), the George Vancouver (Liberty Ship) Artificial Reef, located within Texas state waters in the Gulf of Mexico, approximately 6 miles from Freeport, Texas. The current reef site is permitted for 160 acres, but only has Freeport Artificial Reef materials in 40 acres. The project will place predesigned concrete pyramids in the remaining portions of the 160-acre Texas Parks and

56 Project GBOMB permitted area onto sandy substrate at a water depth of 55 feet. Wildlife Department

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This project will restore 40 acres of degraded oyster reef habitat in the upper portion of Galveston Bay using high vertical relief structures and segmented reef complexes. Recent hurricanes devastated these critical oyster grounds which are vital to the Galveston Bay ecosystem. Additionally, this project will create one of the largest oyster sanctuaries (The Nature in coastal Texas. The 15 acres restricted to harvest will be used to maximize the export of oyster larvae to the nearby 25 Conservancy)Galvest Galveston Bay Sustainable acres of commercial reefs created by this investment. The commercially harvestable acres will be restricted from harvest on Bay Foundation,

57 Oyster Reef Restoration GBOMB for the first two years after construction to ensure the establishment of a sustainable stock TPWD This project proposes the conservation/protection of coastal areas, including wetlands, in the West Galveston Bay watershed. Under this project, the Galveston Bay Foundation in partnership with the TCEQ Galveston Bay Estuary Galveston Bay Watershed Program, will place approximately 500 acres of coastal wetlands and other important habitats critical to water quality Wetland and Habitat and habitat protection, under long-term conservation via conservation easements, purchase of development rights, or

58 Protection GBAE fee title. GBF, GBEP

Galveston Bay/ The Nature

59 Oyster Reef restoration GBOMB Galveston Bay/Trinity Bay Oyster Reef - restore 160 acres of oyster reef in Trinity Bay Conservancy

Funding of the Gordy Marsh Land Acquisition Project will permanently protect approximately 1,936 acres of valuable coastal, estuarine wetlands with associated uplands, freshwater ponds and wetlands, located within the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Chenier Plain of Texas, and adjacent to Trinity Bay in the Galveston Bay system, an estuary of national Gordy Marsh Land significance. Under this proposal, grant funds will be used to implement the Gordy Marsh Project through title fee Galveston Bay

60 Acquisition Project GBAE acquisition by the Galveston Bay Foundation. Foundation

Scenic Galveston, Galveston Bay Estuary Hitchcock Prairie/ West Program, Galveston Galveston Bay Conservation Coastal prairie and estuarine marsh habitats adjacent to Green's Lake, near Hitchcock. Currently has cattle grazing and Bay Foundation, Texas Corridor Habitat hunting which will likely cease once the conservation easement is purchased. The easement won't allow public access Parks & Wildlife

61 Preservation GBAE and Scenic Galveston will manage the property and restore the prairie. Department

This project is to acquire 13.6 acres of wetlands to expand the protected areas locater with in Houston Audubon’s Horseshoe Marsh Bird Sanctuary. The additional acreage will build on to existing protected lands in the surrounding areas of productive coastal marsh and wetlands. The property this tract sits on is a preferred roosting and nesting area for thousands of waterbirds every year; the additional acres will help to increase the ecological riches and value to the Horseshoe Marsh Bird surrounding area, as well as meet the demand of this quality habitat. This property will also be acquired from a private

62 Sanctuary Land Acquisition GBOMB land owner and when purchase is complete will allow for public access for ecotourism. Houston Audubon

This project would help restore the population of Kemp's Ridley sea turtles. Kemp's Ridley is the most endangered sea turtle species in the world and currently appears to be the sea turtle species most affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The Kemp's Ridley life cycle is tied more closely to the Gulf of Mexico than is any other sea turtle species. Gulf of Mexico waters provide important foraging and migratory habitat for this species. Some Kemp's Ridley turtles likely never leave the Gulf of Mexico. Most adults occur in the Gulf of Mexico and virtually all reproduction occurs on Gulf beaches. This project would help protect Kemp's Ridley sea turtles at nesting beaches and in the marine environment in the Gulf of Mexico, and address high priorities in the Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle Recovery Plan. Finding and protecting nests will help increase turtle numbers and restore the species. Kemp's Ridleys are the smallest and lightest of the sea turtles and leave only a faint track, which complicates nest detection and protection. Support would be provided for efforts to find and protect nesting Kemp's Ridley turtles and their nests at Padre Island National Seashore (Kleberg & Kenedy Counties), the most important Kemp's Ridley nesting beach in the U.S. as well as along the upper Texas coast Texas Parks and from Sargent Beach to Bolivar Peninsula (Brazoria & Galveston Counties). A bi-national, multi-agency program has been Wildlife Department on-going at Padre Island since 1978 to form a secondary nesting colony for this native species at this protected beach in (TPWD), U.S. National the U.S., as a safeguard against extinction. In 2009, 117 Kemp's Ridley nests were found at Padre Island National Parks Service, U.S. Fish Seashore. Another 13 nests were detected along the upper Texas coast in 2009. Included would be: support of nest and Wildlife Service Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle detection and protection activities and construction of two base camps to improve nest detection and protection in the (USFWS), Texas A&M

63 Restoration (TX, MS, FL) GBAE remote southern end of Padre Island National Seashore. University Galveston The conservation easement area contains unique and significant conservation values that are important for Galveston Bay many wintering and migratory avian species as well as resident wildlife species in the form of nearly 1,100 Foundation(Reciepien acres of riparian forest, agricultural lands, and wetlands within the Austin Bayou watershed. Primary habitats t), Galveston Bay include bottomland hardwood forest, native pasture, rice production/agriculture, and managed wetlands. The Estuary Program (GBEP), Easement Area contains approximately 720 acres of rotational rice / row crop / fallow fields that are managed Texas not only to provide quality farm practices with notable crop yields, but also provide essential wildlife resources. General Land Office, The area contains a 21 acre reservoir primarily utilized for agricultural irrigation, and secondarily for wildlife, US Fish and Wildlife 64 Lone Pine Farm GBAE

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Protect Coastal Marshlands on Bolivar Partnership The proposed acquisition wetlands total 2,614 acres which represent the largest remaining undeveloped tract on the (Cade Ranch)/ Anahuac storm-prone Bolivar Peninsula. This area contains approximately 600 acres of developable beachfront and upland The Conservation National Wildlife Refuge habitat and 2,014 acres of wetlands that provide habitat for a vast number of shorebirds, wading birds, waterfowl and Fund (Recipient)/

65 Coastal Marsh Acquisition GBAE neotropical migrants. USFWS, TPWD

This acquisition project is envisioned as a conservation area of approximately 360 acres of land on West Galveston Island adjacent to West Bay, which is part of the Galveston Bay system, an estuary of national significance. The project area is one of the largest fragmented, single-owner, undeveloped properties of its kind on Galveston Island. Located roughly midway along the length of Galveston Island, a 32-mile barrier island about three miles off the Texas mainland, the Marquette Acquisition project is a critical piece in the West Bay Corridor Initiative, a multi-agency program to protect and restore critical habitats around West Bay. These efforts have included land acquisition projects and restoration Marquette Acquisition projects on the bayside of Galveston Island, stretching from Sweetwater Lake to near , on the mainland Texas General Land

66 Project GBAE from Virginia Point to Chocolate Bay, and including islands in West Bay. Office

The objective of the project is to protect and enhance coastal natural resources and, in the context of a larger multi- partner effort, to maintain the physical and biological integrity of Galveston Island. The acquisition and public protection McAllis Point Phase 2 Land of the McAllis Point parcel will conserve 2.97acres of estuarine emergent marsh, 4.17 acres of palustrine emergent Texas General Land

67 Acquisition GBAE marsh, and 59.84 acres of coastal prairie. Office

This Mid-Upper Texas Coast Artificial Reef – Ship Reef Project (Ship Reef Project) will create a new artificial reef site (Outer Continental Shelf Block High Island HI-A-424) in deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico, about 67 miles south- Mid-Upper Texas Coast southeast of Galveston, Texas. The project will create an artificial reef by sinking a ship that is at least 200 feet long Texas Parks and

68 Artificial Reef GBOMB within the 80-acre permitted reef site, in waters that are approximately 135 feet deep. Wildlife Department Project will add thirty acres of suitable cultch material to a planned 130 acre reef restoration project at Middle Reef, Pepper Grove and Hanna’s Reef to provide settling substrate for oyster larvae and promote reef growth. The project includes postconstruction monitoring to evaluate the success of the project. Leveraged funds include $2 million from the Oyster Reef Restoration in Coastal Impact assistance Program and $500,000 from the Coastal Conservation Association. This project is located in Coastal Conservation

69 GBOMB the East Bay of the Galveston Bay Estuary. Association of Texas

The restoration and protection 3 rookery islands in Galvestobn Bay ( Island II, Rollover Bay Island, Smith Texas Rookery Islands Point Island) and one island in (Dressing Point Island) are included in the Texas Rookery Islands Project. (Dickinson Bay Island II, Dickinson Bay Island II is to be constructed and create 4 island acres. Rollover Bay Island is to construct 10 acres on Rollover Bay Island, Smith submerged land that is currently owned by the State of Texas. Smith Point Island is to construct 6 island acres on

70 Point Island) GBOMB partially submerged land. TPWD

This project will protect nearly 10,000 feet of fragile shoreline and restore nearly 25 acres of marsh within the 3,000- acre Scenic Galveston Coastal Preserve, one of the largest privately owned contiguous nature preserves on the upper Texas coast. Virginia Point, important coastal bay habitat along the northern shore of West Galveston Bay, has been Scenic Galveston Virginia Point Shoreline eroding at an estimated rate of 7 to 10 feet per year since the 1960s. The investment will protect this fragile shoreline by (Recipient),USFWS, Protection and Estuarine installing rock breakwaters to protect the fragmented shoreline, and restoring 25 acres of marsh, including planting of TGLO, TPWD, TCEQ,

71 Restoration GBAE native material and increased accretion of sediment behind the breakwaters NOAA This 610-acre project consists of three separate parcels located on the west end of Galveston Island. These parcels were originally included in the Pointe West development and intended to be developed into residential housing. Parts of the target property are heavily utilized by the general public for recreation, specifically the tract of land located along the Gulf of Mexico and San Luis Pass.The property is comprised completely of native coastal habitats that include coastal prairie grasslands, freshwater wetlands, estuarine wetlands, beach and dunes, and other associated coastal habitats. These habitats are considered critical for resident and migratory wildlife that depend on the Texas gulf coast. San Luis Pass Land Additionally, these habitats provide a nursery for a wide variety of commercially and recreationally targeted fishery Galveston Bay

72 Acqusition GBAE species. Foundation

Page 9 of 30 Funded Projects Gulf-Houston Regional Conservation Plan Working List of Projects - Phase I - o ct n s) Ec e io ( f j e e t r o ro iv iv za e P t ct t i tn e ai e a n r m a ti j rr d a a a re i ro a a rg P N A In P N Le O & The proposed Sea Turtle Early Restoration Project would help restore sea turtles by addressing threats on their nesting beaches and in the marine environment. The three sea turtle species that would be addressed by this project—Kemp’s ridley, green, and loggerhead— are all protected by the Endangered Species Act. This project would be implemented by the Department of the Interior (DOI), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the Texas Trustees over a 10-year period. This project suggests using the recovery actions suggested by the second revision of the Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle plan to:

1) Actively conserve at least ten known nesting sites, and the waters adjacent by finding nests, supporting law enforcement, developing monitoring programs and promoting coordination among agencies and citizens; 2) Protect key nesting sites/habitat by acquiring two properties, especially in the lower Texas coast; 3) Help eliminate mortality from incidental catch in commercial shrimping by purchasing and distributing Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDS) to achieve full compliance with the regulations requiring TED; and 4) Develop a comprehensive educational curriculum and program that out reaches different audiences in the need of conserving this species and their reproductive habitat in Texas.

These actions will help attain a population of at least 10,000 females nesting in a season (in 2003, 7,000 females where Sea Turtle Early Restoration counted along the Gulf). The project would also fund the rehabilitation and care of injured sea turtles found at the ten The Nature Project (Sea turtle project sites. It will also benefit a number of natural resources impacted by the oil spill, such as near shore fauna, aquatic Conservancy-

73 conservation in Texas GBAE vegetation, and human uses and education. Galveston

South Deer Island is an 81-acre island located in West Bay that supports 40 acres of salt marsh and a central ridge of South Deer Island elevated shrub habitat for nesting waterbirds. This site, along with adjacent North Deer and West Bay Bird Island

74 Acquisition and Restoration GBOMB (located in San Luis Pass) are the only remaining natural islands in the . . Audubon Texas

The Sweetwater Preserve Expansion project focuses on the purchase of a 275-acre tract of land situated immediately west of Galveston Bay Foundation’s (GBF) Sweetwater Preserve and adjacent to Sweetwater Lake, West Galveston Bay, and 8 mile road. This tract has been identified by GBF as a high priority acquisition target for its ecological significance and connectivity with existing GBF conservation lands. This property has been maintained as a sanctuary for the native plants and animals that inhabit coastal barrier islands in Texas. Significant habitat features include expansive coastal prairie dominated by native grasses and forbs, estuarine and freshwater marshes and wetlands, salt barrens, sand flats, and sub-tidal habitats such as oyster reefs. Key attributes to the subject property include coastal grasslands, brackish and estuarine wetlands, frontage along West Galveston Bay and Sweetwater Lake, and extensive salt barrens and sand flats. Conservation of these sensitive natural communities is a high priority for local natural resource agencies, and many regional planning documents have identified coastal wetlands and adjacent uplands as high priority for conservation efforts in the Galveston Bay watershed. Sweetwater Preserve Preservation of Galveston Island’s marshes, wetlands, and associated habitats promotes clean water and healthy Galveston Bay

75 Expansion GBAE Wefisheries are asking and preserves for $200 themillion. scenic (Yes, beauty you ofread the that area. correctly) to acquire approximately 100,000 acres along the Texas Foundation coast. This would be from willing sellers. Most of the land is in agriculture and grazing. And also hunting. We would reinvest the rents back into the land to build wetland projects, restore prairie, spray exotic and other conservation related objectives. I would estimate that much property could generate up to $5 million per year in rent so that is a lot of cash that would go back into making the property better for wildlife. No other conservation group or agency can do Texas Coastal Wildlife something like this which makes it so unique and forward thinking. Conservation easements would be attached to the

76 Habitat Acquisition GBAE land after purchase. Texas RICE

TPWD would like to acquire 50 acres in addtion to the 1700 acres of bottomland hardwood they currently have in Davis

77 Davis Hill HBI Hill to add connections with lower forest areas TPWD

Keep Montgomery The objective of this project is to preserve about (evaluating) acres of Lake Creek and adjacent West Fork of the San County Beautiful, The Jacinto River bottomlands to provide protection from polluted runoff and downstream flooding while adding East1488 Community recreational and education opportunities along 20 miles of Lake Creek and West Fork of the San Jacinto River. Association, The Lake Lake Creek Greenway Specifics related to land acquisition funding needs are still evolving through discussions with area land owners, the City Creek Greenway

78 Project HBI of Conroe and area developers and will be added as they are available. Partnership

Page 10 of 30 Funded Projects Gulf-Houston Regional Conservation Plan Working List of Projects - Phase II

ve ti & a a n e r o r ar ti -A N a o t iz Ec c n ) f je a s ve o rg r( o ct i r e e e t P O n m j ia d t a ro it a ar N P In Le P

Buffalo Bayou Partnership plans to transform the Northside Sewage Treatment Facility site into an aquaponic synergistic system that will grow vegetables and fish in large quantity for commercial distribution and wildlife remediation. We plan to engage the entire site using the 8 million gallons of existing water and infrastructure to grow and distribute vegetables and fish, for consumption and the enhancement of the Galveston Bay Estuary and those tributaries feeding it. We plan to develop strong community access and educational outreach centered upon sustainable food and energy Aquaponics and production, clean water systems, biodiversity and generally promote urban wilderness. Agriculture Facility

1 along Buffalo Bayou HBI Buffalo Bayou Partnership The objective of the “Ecosystem Services in the Cypress Creek Watershed & Lake Houston Project” is to develop local knowledge about the value of natural and built environmental features as they relate to water quality and flooding. The most significant deliverable will be a GIS-based decision support Collaborative On- system capable of evaluating land use decisions based on the value of benefits lost or gained as land Site Ecosystem surface is converted from one state to another. Similar methodology used in the above-referenced Services Studies for Demonstration Study being done on Katy Prairie will also be used to study the ecosystem services Cypress Creek benefits in the locations targeted in this proposal. Watershed and Lake

2 Houston HBI Houston Wilderness This proposal request funds from the RESTORE Act to: 1.) Create a regional roving conservation and restoration crew that will serve the Gulf- Houston area in the implementation of on-site and technical conservation projects; 2) Hire a full time staff member to connect and communicate with RCP partners to ensure the fulfillment and completion of RCP Projects. Not only will this proposal aid in the continuous need to meet labor needs for restoration and conservation activities in our region, it Conservation will also provide a new generation of well trained and experienced conservation professionals. SCA & Crews & Gulf- Houston Regional HW will work together to coordinate multiple crew teams with projects funded under the Gulf- Conservation Plan Houston RCP Working List. Since 2014, over $75 million in environmental projects in the RCP Working Management Full List have been funded and millions more in environmental acquisition and restoration is expected to Proposal - A be funded over the next 5-10 years. The need for well trained crews, hired from local communities is Roving Restoration critical to the success of the restoration efforts. The need for a Gulf-Houston RCP Implementation Crew Model for the Manager is also critical for coordination between employed SCA crews and the myriad of RCP Student Conservation Working List Projects that will be taking place between now and the next 10 years. The goals Association, Houston Region 3 PCI associated with this Proposal include a scalable crew team approach, with at least two trained SCA Wilderness Bat roosts will be created in rare forest areas such as along riparian cooridors and bayous and in Creation of Bat bottomland forests. TPWD would be interested in doing collaborative grants to fund this project. Roosts for Rare Forest (Bottomland/

4 Riparian) HBI TPWD

The benifits of the restoration and preservation of riparian corridors has been identified as a priority in all of the watershed protection plans (WPPs) and TMDL Implementation Plans that have been developed throughout the H-GAC region. The use of riparian buffers is useful in addressing water quality impairments and concerns for nutrients. sediments, Dissolved Oxygen and Bacteria, In order Development of A to optimize success, a regional approach that evaluates stream segments and identifies priority Riparian Buffer Tool riparian areas for preservation or restoration should be taken. The following action items should be implemented to pursue a regional approach.

5 HBI H-GAC

Page 1 Funded Projects Gulf-Houston Regional Conservation Plan Working List of Projects - Phase II

ve ti & a a n e r o r ar ti -A N a o t iz Ec c n ) f je a s ve o rg r( o ct i r e e e t P O n m j ia d t a ro it a ar N P In Le P The Management Plan was completed in April 2016, and was approved by City Council in June 2016. Implementation of this plan is in the early stages and just getting off the ground. However, the Management Plan is already becoming a success. One of the goals from the plan was to construct a Monarch Waystation within the boundaries of the Nature Center. This task was completed with the opening of the Monarch Waystation in June 2016. The next task that is currently underway is the Nature Center Wetland Enhancement Project along Clear Creek. Work will include repair of a washed out culvert that was damaged during Hurricane Ike. The culvert would reconnect the lagoon to Clear Dr. Ned & Fay Creek. The lagoon is an environmentally sensitive area that provides a home to numerous types of Dudney Clear Creek bird and plant species. The project will also enhance the shoreline for additional protection from City of League City Parks, Nature Center future erosion. Texas Master Naturalist,

6 Management Plan HBI TPWD, USFWS Bayou Greenways wants to collaborate with various partners in Houston to preform Enhancements to restoration/enhancement and water quality improvements along its bayou ways to improve the Houston Parks Board, the Environmental Bayou Greenways. Houston Audubon, Katy Quality of Already Prairie Conservancy,

7 Acquired Land BGI Houston Wilderness The plan for Exploration Green is to transition the nearly 200 acres of the former Clear Lake Exploration Green, Clear Golf Course into a beautiful, multi-purpose green space that will benefit the surrounding Lake City Water community in a myriad of ways. The plan will be broken down into five phases, ultimately Authority, GBF, Trees for creating detention ponds and wetlands, a nursery for native trees, miles of hike/bike trails, Houston, Texas Coastal areas of native trees, bushes and grasses and athletic fields. Exploration Green Watershed Program, SWA

8 Project HBI Architecture group In order to establish green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) in the Galveston Bay watershed, the Texas Coastal Watershed Program (TCWP) proposes to demonstrate a range of GSI techniques using a multi-level approach, from individual property owners to large-scale undeveloped lands, with built-in applied research projects focused on water quality and quantity. This effort, programmatically referred to as Green Infrastructure for Texas or GIFT,brings together three TCWP programs—Freshwater Wetland Restoration, Stormwater Texas Coastal Watershed Treatment Wetlands, and Green Stormwater Infrastructure—for a unified, holistic approach Program( TX Agrlife Green Infrastructure addressing current and emerging needs to protect surface water resources. This specific Extension/ Texas Sea

9 for Texas (GIFT) HBI proposal will support the tasks/objectives under theFreshwater Wetland Restoration Grant) HCFCD and Harris County - Riparian land acquisition along all 22 waterways in Harris

10 County HBI HCFCD and Harris County Water quality can be improved in Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico by increasing tree canopy and leaf area (trees, shrubs, and groundcover) through urban forestry projects in Houston. Urban forests and increased leaf cover will modulate storm water flow and help reduce pollutants flowing to the Bay. Urban trees provide many other quality of life benefits including: habitat for migratory birds and wildlife; economic advantages for businesses and citizens; green space; reduced heat island effects; jobs creation; storm/wind resiliency; energy conservation and carbon sequestration. These benefits could provide an attractive investment opportunity for Deepwater Horizon Settlement Trees For Houston, US funders. This project will fill an important gap in planned projects to acquire and protect forests and Forest Service, HGAC, green space outside City limits and those that focus on restoring coastal habitats. The meeting was HCFCD, HARC, Davey Tree organized by the Texas A&M Forest Service and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities Resource Group, TX Sea Houston Urban Tree and hosted by Trees for Houston. Grant TAMU Forest

11 Canopy Project HBI Service

Lawther-Deer Park Prairie Nature & Natives Prairies

12 Education Center PCI Association of Texas

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ve ti & a a n e r o r ar ti -A N a o t iz Ec c n ) f je a s ve o rg r( o ct i r e e e t P O n m j ia d t a ro it a ar N P In Le P Lawther-Deer Park Prairie Preserve Restoration & Invasive Plant Natives Prairies

13 Control PCI Association of Texas The Katy Prairie Conservancy (KPC) working in conjunction with the public partners in the Prairie Seed Council as well as a for-profit nursery requests a grant of $5 million to support the creation of a Native Prairie Seed Nursery to create a commercially viable pioneer prairie seed species that can transform urban, suburban, and rural landscapes by creating low-maintenance, and habitat friendly landscapes. The changing landscape will provide numerous ecological benefits for the entire Gulf Coast community by conserving water, sequestering carbon, improving water quality and freshwater inflows to Galveston Bay, and reducing sediment and pollutant offloads downstream. Funds, if Native Prairie Seed awarded, will be used to test and expand candidate native pioneer prairie seed species tested in a Nursery - Houston- nursery on the Katy Prairie; eventually larger growing areas will be located on local farms and Gulf Coast Region ranches.

14 PCI Katy Prairie Conservancy Part 1: Growing the Next Generation of Prairie Plants and Seeds for Monarch, Native Pollinator, and Houston Audubon, Katy Migratory Bird Conservation- Native Prairie Upgrades and Establishment Prairie Conservancy, Next Generation 1. Native American Seed/Katy Prairie Conservancy Native Prairie Nursery Trees for Houston, The Prairies and 2. Houston Audubon Society’s Native Prairie Nursery Nature Conservancy, Pollinators Project - 3. The Nature Conservancy of Texas Texas City Nursery Student Conservation Greatly increasing 4. Trees for Houston Native Prairie Nursery - Trees for Houston Part 2: Association, Coastal availability of native Greatly Expanded Native Prairie Seed Collecting Part 3: Prairie Partnership, coastal prairie plants Training the Next Generation of Prairie Conservationists Houston Arboretum and and seeds for Nature Center, National restoration in the Wildlife Federation, Greater Houston Native Prairies Region and training Association of Texas, the next generation Prairie Seed Council of of prairie restoration the Upper Texas Coast,

15 professionals PCI Houston Wilderness This project would allow for remediation through repair, replacement, or other means, for OSSFs. Priority would be given to low income residents, and areas most directly adjacent to riparian areas of high ecological importance. The project funding would complement existing efforts including: 1) Texas A&M AgriLife OSSF eductaion for residents; 2) H-GAC SEP funding for remediation in priority watersheds; 3)Enforcement and education by local Authorized Agents; 4) H-GAC data collection and dissemination of OSSF locations; and 5) watershed-specific education and remediation efforts by local On-Site Sewage partners. These efforts demonstrate a regional commitment to dealing with OSSFs for aquatic habitat Facility remediation and water quality improvement. This program would help fulfill goals set by diverse stakeholder for water Quality groups through Watershed Protection Plans and other steering documents for the area.

16 and Aquatic Habitat HBI H-GAC

Page 3 Funded Projects Gulf-Houston Regional Conservation Plan Working List of Projects - Phase II

ve ti & a a n e r o r ar ti -A N a o t iz Ec c n ) f je a s ve o rg r( o ct i r e e e t P O n m j ia d t a ro it a ar N P In Le P The Houston Arboretum and Nature Center's master plan for the future of the park was developed that explores opportunities for preserving the most robust areas of forest and woodland while identifying areas of the site that would be most suited to express the breadth and beauty of native Gulf Coast ecosystems. Prairie, savannah, woodland, bayou and bog regions were identified based on their existing landscape opportunities and constraints and integrated into a new landscape narrative for the site. The guiding principles for the landscape restoration are: Increase edge condition (woodland to prairie), Enhance ecotones, Encourage diversity of flora-fauna, Optimize resilience of landscape, Develop vegetative layers of woodland understory, Manage the landscape towards system- wide ecological resilience, Remove invasive species, Restore and stabliize riparian corridors, Select new native plantings based on specifics of habitat zone, hydrology, and soil requirements and seasonal display, Provide moments of intensified native plantings within each habitat zone along the trail system for distinctive and memorable experiences, Promote plantings for wildlife habitat, Enhance user experience by stimulating human senses with planting design.

Restoration of Houston Arboretum Houston Arboretum &

17 & Nature Center HBI Nature Center The Stanley Preserve is 33.36 acres of forested wetlands in east Harris County donated by the owner for conservation purposes. This project will restore the site.

Stanley Preserve

18 Restoration HBI Greens Bayou Coalition "The White Oak Parkway Native Habitat Restoration and Outreach project will enhance urban bird and wildlife habitat along Houston’s bayou corridors and serve as a demonstration for future birding interpretation and recreation sites within Houston. The project aims to link Houston’s birds to a diverse audience--from the casual passerby to the advanced citizen scientist--as well as families Houston Parks and participating in activities at adjacent community centers. Recreation Houston Audubon(HA), Houston A 10-acre (approximately) portion of White Oak Parkway will be managed for birds and interpreted Parks and Recreation for the public as a pilot location for Houston Audubon’s Bird-Friendly Community Initiative. Department(HPARD), Management activities will focus on the removal of invasive species and planting of native plants Houston Parks suited for the riparian corridor. Support in the form of SCA’s work crews will remove invasive species Board(HPB), and Student White Oak and ensure ongoing habitat restoration in the first year of native plant installation. The project will Conservation ParkwayNative also include understory clearing in forested areas to reduce the collection of debris after flooding Association(SCA) Habitat Restoration episodes."

19 and Outreach PCI The Austin’s Woods Conservation Plan addressesd the need for biological integrity of each individual acquired tract as well as the contribution that each tract makes to the integrity of the overall project area. In the Plan, the Service identified 15 criteria for evaluating each proposed new satellite addition to the San Bernard NWR. Austin Woods CP

21 Eagle Nest Lake PCI USFWS Texas R.I.C.E. is requesting $750,000 for large scale native prairie restoration (15,000 ac), the elimination of exotic and invasive species, to restore the irrigation system, construction of 180 acres Brazoria National of wetland/moist soil units and to drill and install a large volume water well on the Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge Wildlife Refuge. Habitat

22 Improvement GBAE Texas R.I.C.E. Texas R.I.C.E. is requesting funding for the drilling and instillation of a high volume freshwater well on the Brazoria NWR. The well will be utilized to provide water to approximately 1,450 acres of constructed freshwater moist soil units. Most of the moist soil units are rotated within a rice farming Brazoria National rotation and provide immense value to hundreds of Wildlife Refuge

23 Water Supply HBI Texas R.I.C.E.

Page 4 Funded Projects Gulf-Houston Regional Conservation Plan Working List of Projects - Phase II

ve ti & a a n e r o r ar ti -A N a o t iz Ec c n ) f je a s ve o rg r( o ct i r e e e t P O n m j ia d t a ro it a ar N P In Le P Texas R.I.C.E. is requesting $60,000 in funding for the restoration of approximately 15,000 acres of native prairie and wet prairie on the Brazoria NWR. Brazoria NWR Habitat & Native Prairie and Wetlands

24 Restoration PCI Texas R.I.C.E. Construct Environmental Education Center to accommodate visitors to Brazos Bend State Park to be manned by TPWD and volunteer staff, approximate cost $10,000,000

Brazos Bend State Park Environmental TPWD Brazos Bend State

25 Education Center HBI Park Texas R.IC.E. proposes to construct, enhance and/or restore a minimum of 1,200 acres of freshwater wetland habitat on the Texas coast. The projects would only be constructed on lands that have perpetual protection. This would include national wildlife refuges, wildlife management areas, land trusts and private lands protected with a perpetual conservation easement. This will protect the investment made in the projects and also provide the public the opportunity to enjoy them since most will likely be constructed on lands owned by the public. Much of the work will be performed in abandoned and current rice farmland. These areas can easily be made to hold water at optimum depths. This would be demonstrated by the large scale work that Texas R.I.C.E. has completed on the Brazoria NWR and Anahuac NWR over the past 5 years. These projects amount to approximately 5,000 acres of newly constructed freshwater wetlands/moist soil units and attract immense numbers of waterfowl, shorebirds, wading birds and songbirds. They are very important for nesting Mottled Ducks and for the spring migration of shorebirds. Freshwater on the landscape in the spring and summer is at a premium on the Texas coast but is vital to a large number of species. This proposal will help meet that critical need. The Texas Mid Coast Initiative and Chenier Plain Initiative have Coastal Texas established goals of approximately 200,000 acres of newly constructed freshwater wetland/moist soil Protected Lands habitat that is needed for migratory and resident birdlife. Our project will greatly assist in that effort. Texas Rice Industry Wetlands Coalition for the

26 Development GBOMB Environment For over 150 years, this Columbia Bottomland country was then used for raising cattle, sugar cane, and other crops. In 1991, the Park was opened by the City of Houston as a nature preserve. The Conservancy seeks to support those uses, and work towards study and restoration of the meadows, woodlands, ponds, and creeks that make up the Park. The City of Houston and Cullinan Park Cullinan Park Conservancy want to restore addtional acres of land in the surrounding Cullinan Park and and in restoration and addition build trail miles to provided connectivity throught out the park and to the neighboring bayou City of Sugarland, Cullinan

27 connnectivitiy HBI systems Park Conservancy City of Fulshear is working towards acquiring land along the Red Bird lane, that is a wetland area.

Fulshear Red Bird Lane Land

28 Acquisition Project PCI City of Fulshear Construction of an education center on Gulf Coast Bird Observatory land in Lake Jackson, TX, with educational exhibits and bunkhouses for workshops

Gulf Coast Natural Resources education Gulf Coast Bird

29 and training center GBAE Observatory

Page 5 Funded Projects Gulf-Houston Regional Conservation Plan Working List of Projects - Phase II

ve ti & a a n e r o r ar ti -A N a o t iz Ec c n ) f je a s ve o rg r( o ct i r e e e t P O n m j ia d t a ro it a ar N P In Le P To provide a reliable source of freshwater, we propose the development of a deep-water well system at the Justin Hurst WMA. The well system would be capable of pumping approximately 2,000 to 3,000 gallons of water per minute. With a deep-water well, the WMA would have the capability provide supplemental water on 200-250 acres of emergent wetland impoundments. The reliable source of Improve Freshwater freshwater from a well will improve the WMA capability to manage water levels and greatly enhance Management the quality of the wetlands within the impoundment. In addition, a deep-water well system would Capabilities on increase active management capabilities for mottled ducks, a species of concern that depend on Wildlife freshwater wetlands along the coast. Texas Parks and Wildlife

30 Management Areas HBI Department The Justin Hurst WMA Shoreline Protection project is located along the southern boundary of Justin Hurst Wildlife Management Area (JHWMA) a short distance inland from the Gulf of Mexico Coast between the Brazos and San Bernard Rivers. The project area is located along the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) on the north shoreline where erosion combined with relative sea-level rise, has converted estuarine intertidal emergent wetlands and upland to open water. Furthermore, a spatially- explicit model developed by Ducks Unlimited. (http://sroarcgis.ducks.org/breakwater/?poe=release) identified a majority of the GIWW shoreline at JHWMA as priority for protection to prevent erosion of adjacent coastal marsh which is of particular value to waterfowl as foraging habitat. Upon completion of the project, the breakwater structure will mitigate the deleterious effects of elevated wave energy in the GIWW. Shoreline erosion rates along the GIWW within the project area will decline and important coastal wetlands will be protected. Based on results of previous breakwater projects, accretion of sediment is expected in the open water zone between the breakwater and the existing shoreline; and in turn, will promote colonization by emergent vegetation and restoration of intertidal marsh. These results will produce multiple benefits (listed below) for natural resources in the project area and for the coastal community within the San Bernard River and Brazos River watersheds.1. Protect and preserve (and potentially restore) coastal wetlands, including declining types, and geologically unique uplands. 2. Safeguard important habitats for the benefit of threatened and endangered species, marine fisheries, and coastal-dependent and migratory birds. 3. Prevent the loss of important wetland services and values, such as water quality benefits, storm surge abatement to reduce total property loss, and outdoor recreational opportunities. Texas Parks and Wildlife Justin Hurst WMA Department (TPWD),

31 Shoreline Protection GBAE Ducks Unlimited The San Bernard River’s mouth has become completely closed due to sediment from the Brazos River. The closing of the mouth has rediverted flow into the Inter-coastal waterway, leading to pronounced impacts on aquatic habitat, speciation and water quality, as well as impacting economic interests (barge traffic) in the inter-coastal waterway. Local stakeholders have identified this project Brazoria County Texas, as a priority throughout the Deepwater Horizon recovery process. This project would be scalable from U.S. Army Corps of dredging the mouth (temporary) to developing a permanent structural solution to sediment Engineers, Port Freeport, deposition. This is identified as a goal in the San Bernard WPP, developed with EPA/TCEQ, and has San Bernard Wildlife Mouth of the San multiple benefits and non-traditional conservation partners.Project affects an area of 25,115 acres. Refuge, Friends of the San

32 Bernard HBI Bernard River Plan and construct near-shoreline breakwater to protect marshes and tidal flats which are impacted by subsidence. Near Shoreline Breakwater at Surfside's Beach Brazoria County Shoreline

33 Drive GBAE Restoration Task Force 5 year vegetation control project targeting at Chinese tallow trees, water hyacinth, cattails and phragmites to protect the value of freshwater wetlands, marshes, coastal prairies and forests. Non-native and Invasive Vegetation Control on Wildlife

34 Management Areas PCI TPWD

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ve ti & a a n e r o r ar ti -A N a o t iz Ec c n ) f je a s ve o rg r( o ct i r e e e t P O n m j ia d t a ro it a ar N P In Le P PF will develop a Regional Sediment Management Plan (RSMP) and Restoration Initiative (RI) with the Port Freeport dredge material (DM) that is coming from the present and future expansion, associated with the Regional Sediment deepening and widening of the Port navigation channel and creation of new infrastructure. tural Management- resources groups, federal, state and non-profit organizations and may restore over 1,200 acres of Habitat Restoration natural habitats near the PF facilities.

35 KInitiative GBAE Port of Freeport This project suggestion is a partnership between The Student Conservation Association (SCA) and the Justin Hurst Wildlife Management Area (JHWMA) and the Armand Bayou Nature Center (ABNC). SCA is the largest youth serving conservation organization in the United States, dedicated to the conservation of America’s natural and community resources and to the environmental education, workforce training, and personal development of its youth. JHWMA, owned by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is approximately 15,000 acres in southern Brazoria County, TX near the city of Freeport. The property consists of hardwood forest, coastal prairies, and marshlands. The primary goal of JHWMA is to provide quality habitat for native species of wildlife, both resident and migratory. The need for quality habitats on JHWMA is immense, as it is located in immediate proximity to major industrial facilities. SCA will provide one Restoration Corps team to each partner comprised of 5 young adult members and 1 leader to preform 1) Invasive Species control 2) Native SCA Texas Gulf plabnt propagation and introduction 3) debris and litter removal, and 4) Trail maintenance. The SCA ( TPWD and

36 Restoration Corps PCI ABNC) The Surfside Beach Drive. project will extend the revetment that has already been engineered and constructed from Texas Street to the eastern Freeport Jetty. Beach Drive has already lost more than 30 houses due to erosion. Surfside Beach Drive Revetment Brazoria County Shoreline

37 Extension GBAE Restoration Task Force Texas R.I.C.E proposes to eliminate exotic and invasive species from a 16,000 acre area of the Brazoria and San Bernard NWR's. These two refuges make up the bulk of the Texas Mid Coast Complex. The project area represents the largest intact blue stem prairie and wet prairie left on the upper and middle Texas coast. It has tremendous diversity and value to native wildlife and consists of hundreds of species of plant and animal life including Little Blue Stem, Switchgrass, Gama Grass, Brown Seed Paspalum, Gayfeather, Maximillan Sunflower, Swamp Sunflower, Tall Dropseed, Bundleflower, Rattlesnake Master along with many other species. Interspersed throughout the upland prairie were numerous freshwater depressions and sloughs which provided excellent habitat to waterfowl, water birds and other wetland dependent species. Unfortunately due to variety of reasons both the upland prairie, wet prairie and freshwater wetlands became overgrown with a forest of tall and dense exotic Texas Mid Coast and invasive species which greatly reduced the value to, and diversity of, wildlife. Further funding is Complex Invasive needed to continue treating problematic areas and for maintenance spraying. Chinese Tallow and Texas R.I.C.E., Brazoria

38 Species Control PCI Macartney Rose make up the majority of the problem species. They are, however, very responsive to NWR Texas R.I.C.E. is requesting $86,000 to construct 200 acres of wetland/moist soil units on the San Bernard NWR and to construct 45 acres of wetland/moist soil units, to eliminate invasive species from 300 acres of wetlands and to install a high volume deep water well to provide fresh water to 175 acres of existing freshwater wetland units on the Mad Island WMA. San Bernard NWR: We plan to construct a 200 acre wetland unit in degraded pasture. This will be accomplshed by constructing levee to up to 3 feet tall with 4:1 slopes with a 14 foot wide top. Maximum depth will be 2 feet and average 6-10 inches. Once flooded this will naturalize into high quality freshwater wetland habitat that will be very productive to migratory and non migratory waterfowl, wading birds and shorebirds as well as animal, amphibian and reptilian species. Thousands of birds will utlizie the project area especially durng the fall/winter months. It will also provide much needed and scarce freshwater during the spirng and summer to nesitng Mottled Ducks and provide feeding habitat to nesting wading birds. The construction will be performed by large 4 wheel dirve tractors pulling laser guided scraper buckets. These machines are capable of constructing the project to very precise specification. Once the levees vegetate they will last for decades and perhaps centuries. Aluminum water control structures will regulate the water depth. Texas Mid-Coast

39 Wetland Intiative GBAE Texas R.I.C.E.

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ve ti & a a n e r o r ar ti -A N a o t iz Ec c n ) f je a s ve o rg r( o ct i r e e e t P O n m j ia d t a ro it a ar N P In Le P This project will enhance and complete two critical colonial waterbird and coastal seabird nesting islands within the San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge. These two islands, recently constructed by Ducks Unlimited, support several coastal bird species including priority conservation species like the Reddish egret, Black skimmer, and the Gull-billed tern. Funding for this project will allow Ducks Unlimited to make improvements on the islands by placing 6 inch layers of crushed shell, oyster, limestone, or other similar materials on the island crowns, providing suitable nesting material and reducing the growth of undesirable vegetation. Monitoring of success will commence following placement of the material.This project will bolster populations of Gulf Coast birds by protecting and restoring critical nesting habitat within the San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge. San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge consists of more than 24,000 acres of coastal prairies and salt marshes in southern Matagorda and Brazoria counties. The Refuge offers habitat to more than 400 species of wildlife, including some 250 bird species.

Cow Trap Lake Bird Nesting Island

40 Improvements GBOMB Ducks Unlimited

This project seeks to restore 150 acres of degraded Galveston Bay oyster reefs using a landscape approach to create a network of spatially separated oyster populations. A network of high vertical relief source and sink oyster reefs will be created in Upper Galveston Bay. This will allow for increased oyster population sustainability and oyster habitat resiliency. For this project, source reefs are A Landscape defined as reefs with high density oyster populations that supply planktonic oyster larvae via currents Approach to Oyster to other nearby oyster habitats. These reefs will be located in waters restricted from commercial Reef Restoration in oyster harvest but in close proximity to waters open to commercial harvest.

42 Upper Galveston Bay GBOMB TPWD Aggregation and Degradation of Dispersants and Oil by Microbial Exopolymers (ADDOMEx) Vision and Mission: While it is known that weathering and hydrodynamic forces affect both the distribution and properties of the oil released, and that opportunistic microbes play an important role in its Aggregation & degradation, there are few studies examining the interactions between oil, microbes (phytoplankton, Degradation of bacteria), and their exudates. Disperants and Oil by Microbial Exopolymers Texas A&M University-

43 (ADDOMEx) GBAE Galveston

Alligator Point Island lies between West Galveston Bay and Chocolate Bay adjacent to the Intracoastal Waterway. This island supports a wide array of colonial nesting species, approximately X species. Historically, the island supported more significant numbers as it was a larger island; approximately 5.5 U.S. Fish and Wildlife acres in 1996. Today the island is approximately 1.3 acres in size. To support colonial waterbird Service (USFWS), Texas populations, this proposal seeks to enhance the existing island to a sustainable elevation and increase General Land Office its size. Additionally, vegetation will be planted to support colonial nesting birds. Components (TGLO), NRCS, TPWD, Alligator Point Island supportive of bare ground nesters will also be incorporated into the design. The island as currently Audubon Texas,

44 Restoration GBOMB designed will be similar to its configuration is 1990 of approximately 10 acres in size and at Galveston NEP, TCEQ Texas R.I.C.E. is requesting $133,000 for the construction of 550 acres of wetland/moist soil units and the restoration of 100 - 150 acres of native praiirie in prior converted farmland of the Anahuac NWR. The constructed wetland/moist soil units will be extremely valuable to waterfowl, shorebirds, grassland birds and wading birds. This will implement virutally every conservation and species recovery plan for the Cenral Flyway and Texas coast including the Gufl Coast Joint Venture Mottled Duck Conservation Plan, North American Waterfowl Plan, U.S. Shorebird Conservation Plan, Anahuac National Texas R.I.C.E., Houston International Shorebird Iniatiive, Partners in Flight and wetland goals of the Gulf Coast Joint Venture. Wildlife Refuge Endowment, Anahuac

45 Wetlands Creation GBOMB NWR

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ve ti & a a n e r o r ar ti -A N a o t iz Ec c n ) f je a s ve o rg r( o ct i r e e e t P O n m j ia d t a ro it a ar N P In Le P A consortium is acting on the findings of Rice University’s Severe Storm Prediction Education and Evacuation from Disaster Center (SSPEED) that documents the benefits of natural coastal structures in reducing damage to urban areas from storm surges and flooding. The National Recreation Area proposal is one of several strategies proposed by the SSPEED coalition, representing a combination of ‘green’ and ‘gray’ infrastructure (natural habitats and engineered structures) that would provide Assist Proposed Lone landowners financial incentives to protect 450,000 acres of tidal marshland, brackish wetlands and star Coastal National coastal prairie and about 150,000 acres of bay and estuarine area south of Houston and Galveston, Recreation Area some of which has already been protected by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, The Nature Conservancy, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, and units of local government. Funds would be used to work collaboratively with partners to fund green infrastructure improvements and restoration, and voluntary incentives to willing landowners to improve protect up to 50,000 acres in the area. 46 GBAE The Nature Conservancy

Bay Area Colonial Water Bird Rookery

47 Island Habitat GBOMB Houston Audubon Many construction and restoration projects have been conducted on the Gulf of Mexico to create and restore areas for use by wading birds and shorebirds. However, many of these projects have not been adequately evaluated to determine the actual success relative to providing appropriate habitat for different bird species. Differences in physical and other characteristics of different projects may lead to differential use by birds. It would be useful to determine what the effectiveness of different Best Practices for restoration projects are for different bird species so as to better construct or restore for conditions Bird Habitat that are the most favorable in creating nesting habitat. For example, are some projects only used for Restoration on the resting and loafing versus nesting? Is the density of particular nesting species different on different Gulf Coast projects because of the different characteristics created in different islands? The proposal here would be to develop and implement a standardized protocol to evaluate all restoration efforts to date to define the best restoration practices that can then be applied to new restoration efforts.

Gulf Coast Bird

48 GBOMB Observatory The Texas Coastal Watershed Program (TCWP) proposes to restore an additional 23 acres of coastal freshwater wetlands on former agricultural fields at Sheldon Lake State Park near Houston, Texas. The Bird Habitat and Park's wetlands drain into Carpenters Bayou 7 miles upstream of the tidal waters of Galveston Bay Coastal Freshwater and are used by many species of Gulf Coast birds Wetland Restoration Texas AgriLife Extension at Sheldon Lake Service/Texas Coastal

49 State Park GBOMB Watershed Program The project site is proposed along the most rapidly eroding area on Bolivar Peninsula. The project area has been typically erosional with shoreline recession rates of about 3 to 9 feet per year (BEG, 2004). However, recent storms, such as Hurricane Claudette in 2003, Rita in 2005, and in particular Ike in 2008 have caused increased (to severe) erosion to the beach, have damaged structures and infrastructure along for the shorefront, and have also damaged roads in these communities that serve as the only evacuation route. Shoreline retreat from Hurricane Ike alone was 220 ft on average, with peak erosion of over 400 ft. (HRI, 2009). Existing habitat for endangered sea turtles and piping plovers has been significantly reduced due to these recent erosive events. The proposed project seeks to reconstruct severely eroded beaches and dunes along an approximately 10-mile stretch of beach Bolivar Beach and between the communities of High Island on the east to Caplen on the west.

50 Dune Restoration GBAE Texas General Land Office

Page 9 Funded Projects Gulf-Houston Regional Conservation Plan Working List of Projects - Phase II

ve ti & a a n e r o r ar ti -A N a o t iz Ec c n ) f je a s ve o rg r( o ct i r e e e t P O n m j ia d t a ro it a ar N P In Le P Smith Point Island have lost significant acreage due to erosion and subsidence. Dredge spoil material will be strategically added to Smith Point Islands to increase elevation and prevent overwash of Houston Audubon, ground nesting birds. Shrubs and other vegetative planting National Park Conservation Association, Bolivar Nature Trail: Galveston County, Bolivar Nature-based Penisular Economic Economic Development Development for the Corporation, Texas A&M

51 Upper Texas Coast GBOMB Agrilife Extension Bolivar Peninsula is a 30 mile long peninsula on the north east side of Galveston County, situated between the Gulf of Mexico and Galveston Bay. There are three communities in the project area Port Bolivar, Crystal Beach, and Gilchrist. The Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) was dug through the Galveston Bay side of the peninsula. The project will construct a series of rock breakwater structures parallel to the GIWW in 10 critical project areas. The rock breakwater project will result in permanent Bolivar Peninsula protection of critically important wildlife habitats by eliminating the effects of wave energy and vessel Salt Marsh wakes on unprotected shorelines and reducing damage to coastal marshes. Erosion rates along the Texas General Land Office Protection and GIWW on Bolivar Peninsula range between 4 and 10 feet per year, with the GIWW width having Restoration increased from 125 feet when originally constructed, to over 700 feet wide within the project area. The complex of bayous and wetlands within the project area form a very productive ecosystem that provides habitat and refuge for large populations of commercially and recreational important fish and wildlife species. Without shoreline protection to act as a buffer, wave energy will cause further shoreline erosion along the GIWW. The construction of the rock breakwater project will prevent continued marsh loss within the critically important coastal marshes of the Galveston Bay ecosystem.

52 GBAE $400,000Emergent tomarsh establish vegetation a large will volume become water established well to supply between 2,000 the acres existing of created shoreline wetland and the units rock

Brazoria National Texas R.I.C.E. (to be Wildlife Refuge managed byBrazoria

53 Water Supply GBAE N.W.R.) This shoreline protection and marsh restoration project along the Candy Abshier WMA's East Bay Candy Abshier shoreline is intended to address the loss of estuarine marsh habitats in Galveston Bay due to Wildlife historical land surface subsidence and shoreline erosion. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Management Area Wildlife Division (land manager of this WMA), has proposed to build breakwater structures Shoreline Protection approximately 200 feet into East Bay from the existing ~2,500-foot shoreline as a way to reduce TPWD, Ducks Unlimited, and Marsh impacts of wave energy on the shoreline and to trap and accrete sediments so that new fringing Galveston Bay

54 Restoration GBAE marsh may be established. Foundation

Cedar Gully Galveston Bay

55 Education Center HBI Foundation

A group of people are getting together on the 29th of May to clean up our Baystreet Park. Unfortunately I do not have the funding to provide water, gloves, or bags. The city kinda cleaned the Duck Sanctuary in the park but thats as far as they went. If you could please get back with me This weekend or Monday it would be really appreciated. If we can manage to make this a success I would like to get a group together about every 3 months to clean up this park or any park in this town.

56 Clean the Park HBI Null

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ve ti & a a n e r o r ar ti -A N a o t iz Ec c n ) f je a s ve o rg r( o ct i r e e e t P O n m j ia d t a ro it a ar N P In Le P The Gulf Coast of Mexico is one of the most important regions in North America for bird-watching and outdoor activities. Bird conservation along the Gulf Coast is of primary importance because it contributes to the conservation of natural resources but also because it provides economic incentives to the coastal communities by increasing nature tourism. Thus, maintaining healthy bird populations along the coast is important from an economic and ecological standpoint. Fish-eating birds are at the top of the food chain and often accumulate more contaminants than other species at lower trophic levels. American oystercatchers feed on bivalves which are also consumed by humans. This study will assess general ecosystem health and potential impacts of contaminants in bivalves on human health. This research project will address the impacts of environmental contaminants on aquatic birds breeding along the Gulf Coast, using the American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus palliatus) as Coastal Ecosystem an indicator species. Coastal wetland areas, estuaries, and islands along the Gulf of Mexico coast health: Documenting constitute a primary nesting and feeding ground for many North American birds. Most of the species avian exposure to nesting on these areas are waterbirds which nest in colonies and feed on aquatic vegetation, Gulf pollutants. invertebrate organisms, and fish. Exposure to environmental contaminants in these species can occur through the diet, but also directly through dermal absorption, preening, and inhalation. To our knowledge there has not been a complete assessment of the potential impacts that environmental contaminants in the Gulf of Mexico could have on many aquatic birds, including species of special concern and in need of protection. The results of this research can also be used to determine the health of coastal areas and their potential associated impacts on other species of concern, i.e. fish, shellfish, and humans.

Gulf Coast Bird

57 GBOMB Observatory

Coastal Exchange Program SSPEED Cneter Rice

58 GBAE University This project to perform ecosystem studies in Galveston Bay and along the Gulf Coast from Brazoria County to Chambers County is significant because of there is very little data from the Galveston Bay Collaborative area that shows how much water and air pollutants are absorbed by the coastal wetlands, forested Ecosystem Services bottomlands and oyster reefs and how that absorption impacts the entire Great Houston Region. Studies along the Increased knowledge of these ecosystems and their associated services allows them to be better Galveston Bay incorporated into policy and development decisions and utilized to their full functional potential.

59 Margin GBAE Houston Wilderness Construction of Multi-purpose wetland for Improvement of Water Quality and

60 Habitat GBAE EIH

Specifically, this project will create approximately 3 additional acres of quality colonial waterbird Creating and nesting habitat, more than tripling the available nesting habitat on High Island. In addition, Restoring Galveston boardwalks and interpretive signage will be placed to enhance public access viewership of the newly Bay Area Colonial created bird islands. Water Bird Rookery

61 Island Habitat GBOMB Houston Audubon The goal of this project is to create a decision support system for land use, restoration and acquisition Demonstrating the decisions affecting aquatic, shoreline and wetland habitats in the Houston-Galveston region. The Utility of Ecosystems decision support system will be GIS-based and will contain land use /land cover classifications, final Services for ecosystem goods and services (FEGS) assigned to land classes, and production functions of the FEGS. Environmental A prototype will be created using data and collaborators from five counties around Galveston Bay, Decision Making in Texas. the Galveston Bay

62 Region GBAE HARC

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ve ti & a a n e r o r ar ti -A N a o t iz Ec c n ) f je a s ve o rg r( o ct i r e e e t P O n m j ia d t a ro it a ar N P In Le P The objective of this project is to restore approximately 8 to 10 acres of estuarine wetlands and improve degraded water quality in Dickinson Bayou. Restoration of these estuarine emergent wetlands is an integral component of restoring habitat and their water quality functions to the Dickinson Bayou Watershed and Galveston Bay Estuary. The proposed restoration project in Dickinson Bayou Dickinson Bayou will provide ecosystem benefits for water quality enhancement in a water body that Wetland Restoration has been listed by TCEQ as impaired for dissolved oxygen and bacteria and has had many Proejct Phase 1 & 2 documented fish kills. The proposed marsh restoration project also has the distinct advantage of (Dickinson Bayou providing both enhanced ecosystem functions that result in increased productivity of fish and wildlife Marsh Restoration species in a designated nursery as well as enhanced filtration of excessive nutrients that flow into

63 Project) GBAE Dickinson Bayou TPWD This construction project will restore and protect over 500 acres of degraded wetlands and protect 6,800 linear feet of vulnerable shorelines from erosion within the Dollar Bay-Moses Lake complex in Galveston Bay, Texas. Dollar Bay and Moses Lake are contiguous bodies of estuarine marsh adjacent to western Galveston Bay that are highly productive habitat important to the life cycle of a number of species. Subsidence, shoreline erosion and salt water intrusion have greatly impacted these Galveston Bay Dollar Bay-Moses ecologically productive areas. This investment will build upon earlier efforts under the Gulf Foundation (Recipient) Lake Wetland Environmental Benefit Fund that funded engineering, design and permitting of this project. USFWS, TGLO, The Nature Restoration and Conservancy, NRG

64 Protection - Phase II GBAE Energy, Shell Oil Company Galveston Island is the second largest estuarine complex in the region and has been declared by the EPA’s Natural Estuary Program as an estuary of national significance. A vital part of this estuary complex is known as the East End Lagoon (EEL). The East End Lagoon consists of approximately 684 acres on the east end of Galveston Island. The land has both salt and fresh water bodies of water, coastal prairie, considerable salt marsh wetlands and beach front. There is a striking diversity of habitats from fast moving waters of the , to tidal lagoons and wetlands, coastal prairie grasslands, inter-tidal wetlands, sand flats and dunes, and sea grass beds. The open waters on the site are approximately 120 acres and the wetlands approximately 344 acres with the remaining approximately 220 acres being upland prairie. Three threatened or species of concern – the piping plover Charadrius melodus , the reddish egret Egretta rufescens and the gulf salt marsh snake East End Lagoon Nerodia clarkii utilize these habitats. This is the one of the largest undeveloped piece of land on Nature Park & Galveston Island. The site is not pristine and has been impacted by both human and natural Galveston Island Park

65 Preserve GBAE disturbances. It is a dynamic yet resilient environment made even more so being on a barrier island. Board of Trustees The East End Lagoon (EEL) Park and Preserve Phase 1-A Project is part of a City Council-approved Master Plan to create a world-class and sustainable natural recreational area and nature preserve that will safeguard and make publicly accessible what is considered the most ecologically significant parcel of undeveloped land remaining on Galveston Island. The concept is to protect and restore existing natural resources while enhancing the overall visitor experience. The site will provide a variety of recreational opportunities while also emphasizing the importance of preserving the open, East End undeveloped character of the site. LagoonPhase 1-A Galveston Island Park

66 Project GBAE Board of Trustees The largest and most popular of GBF's educational programs is its "Get Hip to Habitat" program. The Get Hip to Habitat program is a school-based coastal habitat program that melds GBF's habitat Education through education and restoration initiatives. Get Hip to Habitat directly addresses local and regional issues Restoration: facing Galveston Bay, in particular, one of the most dominant issues currently facing Galveston Bay-- Galveston Bay Get coastal habitat loss. Get Hip to Habitat combines traditional classroom learning with "in the field" Hip to Habitat learning. This includes planting native grasses in habitat restoration sites. Galveston Bay

67 Program GBAE Foundation

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ve ti & a a n e r o r ar ti -A N a o t iz Ec c n ) f je a s ve o rg r( o ct i r e e e t P O n m j ia d t a ro it a ar N P In Le P Differences in physical and other characteristics of different projects may lead to differential use by birds and affect their useful life. It would be useful to determine what the effectiveness of different restoration projects are for different bird species so as to better construct or restore for conditions that are the most favorable in creating nesting habitat. For example, are some projects only used for resting and loafing versus nesting? Is the density of particular nesting species different on different Evaluating the projects because of the different characteristics created in different islands? The Gulf Coast Bird effectiveness of Observatory proposal presented here would be to develop and implement a standardized Gulf Coast- restoration projects wide protocol to evaluate all restoration efforts to date to define the best restoration practices that as waterbird habitat can Gulf Coast Bird

68 along the Gulf Coast GBOMB Observatory

Follet's Island CR- 257 Dune System Brazoria County Shoreline

69 Restoration GBAE Restoration Task Force With over 2,600 acres of important habitat at risk, this nourishment and beach and dune restoration project along with the restoration of CR257 protect and restore critical habitat and marsh in this area. If the dune and beach system are not restored, small storms or small high tide events will further impact and destroy sections of the important habitat every year, in addition to placing this area at Follet's Island GEMS risk to an environmental disaster. Twenty million is needed to restore the protective function of the

70 Shoreline Protection GBAE beach/dune system. Texas General Land Office Smith Point Island have lost significant acreage due to erosion and subsidence. Dredge spoil material will be strategically added to Smith Point Islands to increase elevation and prevent overwash of ground nesting birds. Shrubs and other vegetative plantings will be added to stabilize sediment and provide nesting sites for shrub-nesting colonial waterbirds. A structure to reduce wave action/intensity on the southern edge of Smith Point will likely be needed. Jigsaw and Rollover Islands Galveston Bay Bird are located along the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) and receive high energy waves from Islands Restoration passing ships and barges, causing a substantial erosion problem. The islands need the protection of a low breakwater built between the island and GIWW. The islands also need to have material added to the top to raise the elevation and provide additional nesting habitat for the terns and skimmers who use the sites. A low rock berm at Rollover Pass Island will result in permanent protection of critically important wildlife habitats by eliminating the effects of wave energy on unprotected island shorelines. Benefits and Rationale: Despite being bordered by one of the largest metropolitan areas

71 GBOMB in the country, Galveston Bay remains an important location for colonially nesting waterbirds and Audubon Texas Galveston Bay contains a variety of smaller islands that support rich and diverse rookeries. Several of these smaller islands support significant rookeries despite their lesser size and are important contributors to the overall population. Our objective is to restore these islands’ footprints to historical Galveston Bay Bird size and increase elevations that will better support the colonial waterbirds over the long term. Nesting Islands

72 Restoration GBOMB Audobon Texas This project involves delivering additional water to the estuary during dry years by purchasing water- use permits from willing sellers, or paying owners of water-use permits to enter into long-term commitments to not withdraw that water upstream, and then adding downstream delivery points to ensure that the water reaches the estuary. It will provide up to an additional 40,000 acre-feet/year of Galveston Bay inflows to the Galveston Bay system during dry conditions as compared to future conditions without

73 Freshwater Inflows GBAE the project. This project would result in the restoration of 400 acres of oyster reef within three areas of Galveston Bay: East Approved Area, Central Approved Area, and Conditionally Approved Area 1. Restoration Galveston Bay sites will be monitored for success criteria based on recruitment of oysters to restored sites compared Oyster Reef to adjacent control sites. Restoration and Texas Parks and wildlife

74 Enhancement GBOMB Department

Page 13 Funded Projects Gulf-Houston Regional Conservation Plan Working List of Projects - Phase II

ve ti & a a n e r o r ar ti -A N a o t iz Ec c n ) f je a s ve o rg r( o ct i r e e e t P O n m j ia d t a ro it a ar N P In Le P The Bureau of Economic Geology has undertaken a coast-wide study of the trends of wetlands and aquatic habitats along the Texas portion of the Gulf of Mexico. This project will continue the coast- wide study of wetlands environments of the Texas coast. Wetland trends data are needed for mitigation/restoration projects and are of special concern in the context of river deltas and interior palustrine (SWANCC) wetlands. Coastal wetlands are essential natural resources that are highly productive biologically and chemically and are part of an ecosystem on which a variety of flora and Galveston Bay fauna depend. Scientific investigations to determine trends of wetlands will greatly assist in their Wetland Trend protection and preservation, and directly benefit long term productivity and public use. The results of Analysis for this study will address two critical issues: 1) The extent and location of wetland trends, and 2) The Bureau of Economic Restoration probable causes for rates and locations of change in Galveston Bay wetlands. Geology, University of

75 Prioritization GBAE Texas at Austin This initiative would educate citizens, landowners, municipalities, local and state governments and non-governmental organizations of the importance of wetlands and provide an overview of the Galveston Bay policies currently in place which regulate potential and historic impacts to wetlands. This project Wetlands: Planning would seek to maximize the natural and economic values of wetlands for a more sustainable future for a Sustainable for Galveston Bay-one

76 Future GBAE Galveston Baykeeper For Galveston, which is considered a “sand limited” system with a minimal supply of new sand, the project is an essential strategy for addressing quickly eroding beaches through the beneficial use of dredge material. This method was identified as a principal strategy in Galveston’s 2013 “50 Year Sand Management Plan” developed in a partnership of the Galveston Park Board, City of Galveston and the Engineering, Research and Design Center of the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). USACE dredges 600,000-800,000 cubic yards of sand annually from the Houston-Galveston Ship Channel, disposing the material in designated offshore placement areas. This sand material is lost from the system, exacerbating the challenge of limited sand supply. Through this project, sand dredged from the ship channel will be placed on the beach along Galveston’s Seawall, allowing the material to replenish the island’s beaches and protect the coast. This project also seeks to minimize erosion caused by city storm drains that discharge onto Seawall beaches from high volume outfalls. Engineering solutions to Galveston Parks Board of Galveston Beneficial minimize damage caused by water velocity and volumes will be sought. The Park Board also will Trustees, USACE, Artist

77 Dredge Project GBAE partner with local, NGO Artist Boat to organize volunteer-based community events to vegetate two Boat, City of Galveston Texas Parks and Wildlife Department intends to build approximately 8 elevated tent kayak-in tent campsites and 7 tidal tent campsites with various configurations to offer different experiences on the Galveston Island bay portion of Galveston Island State Park. Also included will be a bay side fishing pier. State Park Bay side tent, tidal and kayak

78 campsites GBAE TPWD Texas Parks and Wildlife Department intends to build Multi-Use campsites, tent campsites, day use facilities, a check-in station and dune access walks on the beach side of Galveston Island State Park. The work will bring the park back to its flagship operating status that it was known for before Hurricane Ike. This project includes the building of multi-use campsites, tent campsites, dune access boardwalks, equestrian facilities, as well as restroom and shower facilities on the beach side of the Park. These improvements will enhance visitor use and enjoyment of Park resources. Galveston Island State Park is a Galveston Island 2,000-acre park in the middle of Galveston Island, southwest of the City of State Park Beach Re- Galveston in Galveston County, Texas.

79 Development GBAE TPWD This project will create 4,415 linear feet of breakwater shoreline to protect 2 acres of estuarine emergent marsh and 12 acres of seagrass beds in West Galveston Bay. This critical habitat project will Galveston Island be complimented by the creation of an additional 73 acres of estuarine marsh complex slated for State Park Marsh restoration under Phase I of this project. The marsh habitat created by this investment will serve as Restoration and important nurseries for fisheries as well as foraging, roosting, and wintering habitat of numerous Protection in coastal and migratory bird species. Additionally, this project will create 8,830 linear feet of hard Carancahua Cove – substrate similar to oyster reefs that will provide beneficial fish habitat. Texas General Land

80 Phase II GBAE Office, TPWD

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ve ti & a a n e r o r ar ti -A N a o t iz Ec c n ) f je a s ve o rg r( o ct i r e e e t P O n m j ia d t a ro it a ar N P In Le P Restore, enhance and protect 30 acres of intertidal marsh habitat (intertidal fringe marsh, salt flat marsh, sand flat and protected shallow water) at Galveston Island Galveston Island State Park. State Park Marsh Restoration and Texas General Land

81 Protection -Phase I GBAE Office, TPWD Texas Parks and Wildlife Department intends to construct approximately 20 elevated cabins for overnight rental on the north eastern peninsula at Galveston Island State Park. Cabins will allow non- traditional camping visitors to enjoy the park and will provide a new source of funding for the park's enterprise operations. Approximate budget estimate is three pods at $2.5 million per pod, or $7.5 million for all three pods. This project was developed and included as part of the 2011 Galveston Galveston Island Island State Park Master Plan.

82 State Park Cabins GBAE TPWD Galveston Island State Park preserves a significant slice of the Galveston Island barrier island ecosystem, covering some 2000 acres from bay to Gulf. Commercial and residential development on both sides of the park have all but eliminated opportunities to add additional land to the park for conservation and recreation. The park surrounds a 5-acre inholding that is currently vacant, but could easily compromise park operations and biological value of adjacent park grasslands and wetlands in Galveston Island the future if developed. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) proposes to buy this tract and State Park Inholding add it to the state park, for permanent protection and management.

83 Acquisition GBAE TPWD The 47 acre mitigation property will be held in perpetuity by the State of Texas as part of Galveston Island State Park. We are asking for funds to purchase the four in-holdings to make one large 55.25 acre wetland/strand prairie parcel that will be used as wildlife habitat and become a tool for Galveston Island educational and research purposes. The property would be much more representative of what native State Park Mitigation Galveston Island land looked like before private development if there were no condos, convenience Texas Parks and Property In-Holding stores, rv parks or other commercial buildings adjacent to it. Wildlife/Galveston Island

84 Parcel Purchase GBAE State Park Go Green Galveston (G3) is a residential recycling initiative through Galveston Urban Ministries Empowerment Program. G3 is now running its pilot project. The G3 project is designed to help bring awareness to the environment, while creating jobs and providing training to under-resourced communities here on the island. Go Green Galveston Galveston Urban

85 (G3) GBAE Ministries Funds will be utilized for the development of engineering and design documents necessary to protect and restore 5,100 acres of fragile coastal marsh habitat, sea grass, tidal channels and oyster beds in Greens Lake West Galveston Bay. shoreline protection breakwaters, (b) a weir or reduced inlet structure at the Protection and mouth of Greens Lake to reduce tidal exchange and wave energy, and (c) the beneficial use of dredge Marsh material from the GIWW and/or other potential sources to restore marsh elevations sufficient to Restoration: promote and sustain marsh vegetation. Ducks Unlimited Engineering & Overall, the protection of this critical coastal habitat will contribute to the larger landscape-scale (Recipient) NOAA, TGLO,

86 Design GBAE conservation efforts in West Galveston Bay. TCEQ, TPWD Funding of the Gordy Marsh Habitat Protection Project will permanently protect approximately 4000 acres of valuable coastal, estuarine wetlands with associated uplands, freshwater ponds and wetlands, located within the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Chenier Plain of Texas, and adjacent to Trinity Bay in the Galveston Bay system, an estuary of national significance. Under this proposal, grant funds will be used to implement the Gordy Marsh Project through title fee acquisition by the Galveston Bay Gordy Marsh Habitat Foundation. Galveston Bay

87 Protection Project GBAE Foundation

The Habitat Restoration Technology Training Center (HRTTC) will serve the Gulf of Mexico through professional development programming focused on stewardship and habitat restoration for the region. The facility will feature flexible classroom space as well as a state-of-the-art distance learning studio and distribution network. Through its established partnerships in the region, HRTTC staff will develop a training program that emphasizes best practices and technology and increases workforce Habitat Restoration capacity to execute successful restoration projects. The HRTTC seeks funding in support of the Technology Training program operations for the first five years. (Gulf Of Mexico

88 Center GBAE Foundation)

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ve ti & a a n e r o r ar ti -A N a o t iz Ec c n ) f je a s ve o rg r( o ct i r e e e t P O n m j ia d t a ro it a ar N P In Le P This project will use funds to model and install a hydrological restoration project that would restore isohaline lines across the damaged landscape from Robinson Bayou to Smith Point. Inflows, tidal prisms, drainage acreages, and rates would be used to develop a long term hydrology restoration plan for these marshes. This would allow vegetative communities to recovery naturally, increase the Hydrological long term productivity of fisheries species so strongly linked to the estuary, and provide long term Restoration of habitat for waterfowl, wading birds, and shorebirds that utilize this area.

89 Coastal Marsh GBAE USFWS

The main focus of this island restoration is to support and sustain bare ground nesting birds including Black Skimmer, Gull-billed Tern, American Oystercatcher, Forester Tern, Royal Tern, and Sandwich Tern.

The enhancement of Jig Saw Island would entail the placement of limestone aggregate #4 or similar material, typically 1” to 2” in size, adjacent to existing portions of the island. Approximately, 13,430 cubic yards of material would be placed to create a reef structure with a 50-foot base and an above water elevation of 4 feet. The material will be placed in water approximately 1-foot in depth. This Jig Saw Island structure will stabilize the island and extend longevity by mitigating erosion.

90 Restoration GBOMB USFWS Following the preservation of these properties by GBF, habitat management practices necessary for Management of maintaining the ecological integrity of these lands were not applied. This proposal suggests a number Galveston Bay of measures to rehabilitate several high profile properties owned by GBF with the purpose of Conservation increasing the potential wildlife habitat value. This effort will help maintain the mosaic of natural Properties for ecosystem functions of the Galveston Bay estuarine system that are essential to sustaining our quality Enhanced Ecosystem of life, economic vitality, and unique population of resident and migratory wildlife. Functions and Galveston Bay

91 Resilence GBAE Foundation Texas R.I.C.E. is requesting $140,000 to construct 300 acres of freshwater wetlands in abandoned rice farmland on the Middleton unit of the Anahuac NWR. Included in this project is the creation of a 70 acre reservoir/moist soil unit that will provide water to the wetland units and the instillation of re lift pump on Onion Bayou. The project will be managed to provide excellent wetland habitat to migratory and resident wildlife. Texas R.I.C.E. (to be managed by Anahuac

92 Middleton Wetlands GBAE N.W.R.) This proposed project intends to 1) protect up to 4,000 linear feet of shoreline and adjacent habitat along the north shoreline of Moses Lake from continued erosion and habitat conversion and 2) restore an estimated 30 acres of degraded wetland habitat in Dollar Bay by raising elevations suitable for emergent and high marsh complex. Preferred methodologies include: 1) construction of Dollar Bay-Moses nearshore segmented breakwater structures to trip waves, halt shoreline erosion, and accrete Galveston Bay Lake Shoreline sediments behind the structures (Moses Lake) and 2) placement of materials--potentially from dredge Foundation (Recipient) Enhancement and sources--to restore elevations suitable to support emergent vegetation and upland coastal species. USFWS, TGLO, The Nature

93 Restoration GBAE Conservancy, Accenture Goal of the project is to enhance habitat and augment wild stocks through an aquaculture base project. To bring together all of the current educational resources of the Gulf Coast to create an educational mecca for ocean studies programs. To create a large consortium of stake holders in the Gulf to share resources that can be received through the restoration efforts and BP funding to super utilize and maximize the restorative process. Currently, there are near 700 projects requesting funding from the BP settlement grants that have been allocated. Many of these projects are redundant, not in the materials or siting, but in the logistical requirements needed to complete them. I believe that in combining asset requirements, and through proper scheduling and project resources, that it will be possible to greatly reduce cost, while increasing efficiency and longevity of the selected Northern Gulf of projects. Working in unison will also encourage communication and cooperation between all the Force 10 Maritime Mexico Super separate entities involved. Services and Marine

94 Project GBAE Research

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ve ti & a a n e r o r ar ti -A N a o t iz Ec c n ) f je a s ve o rg r( o ct i r e e e t P O n m j ia d t a ro it a ar N P In Le P Despite the pressing needs, effective detection and quantification of oil spills has not become a technological reality. Current detection methods employ manual identification using routine Novel Sensor System helicopter surveys, which are severely limited in their efficiency, by weather conditions, cost, and for the Early safety considerations The Gulf of Mexico (GOM) requires an efficient, reliable, automated and cost Detection and effective method of monitoring for spills, especially given that 90% of the more than 6000 platforms Monitoring of in the GOM are unmanned and unpowered.

95 Offshore Oil Spills GBAE University of Houston This project is intended to reduce wave energies affecting the shoreline between Oyster Lake and West Bay, impede the pending breach between the two systems, and restore fringing marsh habitat along the shoreline through the installation of hard structure breakwaters and transplanting of marsh vegetation behind the structures. It is anticipated that these breakwaters will not only reduce wave energies and halt erosion, but will also result in sediment accretion behind the structures, building up intertidal elevations for the expansion of fringing marsh habitat. The hard structures will also provide substrate on which oyster spat can attach and grow into matured oysters, increasing oyster habitat and reinforcing shoreline protection features. These practices have been demonstrated at numerous other high wave energy project sites around Galveston Bay with successful results in reducing Oyster Lake erosion, accreting sediments, reestablishing fringing marsh, and providing hard substrate suitable for Shoreline Habitat oyster development. Galveston Bay

96 Protection GBOMB Foundation

Pierce Marsh Beneficial Use Marsh Galveston Bay

97 Restoration GBAE Foundation

Pilot Study of Floating Treatment Wetlands as Addition to Stormwater BMP

98 Repetoire GBAE TAE Much of the coastal plain from Sabine River to Galveston has been altered over the years by ditches and roadways diverting the natural hydrology of the landscape. Water is removed more quickly from the landscape as a result through accelerated drainage and higher salinity water is allowed to enter more quickly. As a result the coastal marshes experience increases in salinity levels as well as increased tidal exchange or if under structural management dry out much quicker. Many of the wetlands are cut off from the tributaries so flood water from areas more interior do not push freshwater into the interior wetlands when seasonal flooding occurs. As a result, interior wetlands are either drying up more quickly or have experienced increased salinities to a point where historical vegetation and species utilizing these areas can no longer survive. This project will use funds to purchase the Cole Farms on Elm Bayou. A portion of the property will be converted back to coastal Property Purchase prairie with natural topography restored. A portion of the property will be converted into organic for the use of water rice farming in a rotation with moist soil management. This will provide constant inflows of clean US Fish and Wildlife

99 rights HBI fresh water to the prairie wetlands and help minimize the issue of exotic or invasive species control. Service The proposed project would fund an individual who would work for Chambers County in their Restoration of Public Economic Development Department. The position would focus on outreach efforts to correct the Trust of the Natural stigma that is affecting coastal ecotourism in our area. Resources of Chambers County and the Upper Texas Coast

100 GBAE Chambers County

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ve ti & a a n e r o r ar ti -A N a o t iz Ec c n ) f je a s ve o rg r( o ct i r e e e t P O n m j ia d t a ro it a ar N P In Le P The objective of this project is to restore a 5 to 7 acre colonial waterbird rookery island in Dickinson Bay, which will be Phase II of the original Dickinson Bay Island Marsh Restoration Project (Phase I). Phase I of the Dickinson Bay Island Marsh Restoration Project is completed and is currently occupied by nesting American oystercatchers and terns. This project site includes remnants of dredged material disposal islands, consisting mainly of sand and gravel that have been lost to erosion and subsidence. Phase II will be constructed to provide multiple habitat functions, including nesting space for colonial waterbirds and 2-acres of oyster reef. The island will provide approximately 5 acres of Restore Colonial nesting habitat for colonial waterbirds. Approximately 4,000 cubic yards of suitable oyster cultch will Waterbird Rookery be provided to expand the oyster reef constructed at Dickinson Bay Island Phase II. The expanded Habitat in Dickinson oyster reef will improve water quality in Galveston Bay.

101 Bay GBOMB TPWD The proposed action entails the closure of Rollover Pass to alleviate beach erosion along the Bolivar Peninsula, reduce the required frequency and costs of maintenance dredging the GIWW, increase the effectiveness of beach restoration projects, and restore the bay waters to more natural water quality (salinity) conditions. Rollover Pass Closure/Fisheries

102 Mitigation GBAE Texas General Land Office The San Jacinto Footbridge Project is designed to construct a footbridge atop the submerged road bed from the cul-de-sac at the Almonte Retreat marker to the cul-de-sac across the open span of water between them. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - San Jacinto San Jacinto Battleground State

103 Footbridge Project GBAE Historic Site The North Shore Restoration Project is designed to restore approximately 20 acres of both uplands and tidally influenced wetlands. Subsided lands on the north side of the park, adjacent to the Houston Ship Channel, are so shallow that they are exposed during extreme low tide events. A double berm is proposed, one that would allow backfilling to reclaim roughly 11 acres of uplands and a second that would be design San Jacinto Parks and Wildlife

104 Shore Restoration GBAE Department The San Jacinto North Shoreline Repair Project is designed to reinforce and repair the rock armoring along this shoreline fronted by the San Jacinto River.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - San Jacinto San Jacinto North Battleground State

105 Shoreline Repair GBAE Historic Site Restore the remaining 80-90 acres of wetlands in the Santa Ana Bayou system lost to subsidence. With water control structures in place, and the experience of previous beneficial spoil placements, all that is needed is to remove material from a suitable source in or adjacent to the ship channel and pump it carefully into the bayou. The benefits of restoration include 1) a dramatic increase in native diverity and productivity; 2) return of the ecosystem to a condition much more closely resembling its San Jacinto Santa historic state; and, 3) restoration of a historic landscape that helps park visitors understand the Ana Bayou Marsh conditions of the battleground in 1836. Texas Parks and Wildlife

106 Restoration GBAE Department

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ve ti & a a n e r o r ar ti -A N a o t iz Ec c n ) f je a s ve o rg r( o ct i r e e e t P O n m j ia d t a ro it a ar N P In Le P Our project suggestion is a partnership between The Student Conservation Association (SCA) and the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory (GCBO). SCA is a national nonprofit, our mission is to build the next generation of conservation leaders and inspire lifelong stewardship through hands-on service to the land. In Lake Jackson, Texas in Brazoria County, GCBO is the recognized authority on Gulf of Mexico bird conservation its mission is the protection of birds and their habitat around the Gulf of Mexico. Each year, for 5 years SCA will provide 1 Corps and 3 Interns. Each Corps team will be comprised of 5 young adult members and 1 SCA staff leader. SCA Corps Members are college age expense paid volunteers. The SCA Corps & Interns will perform: Loggerhead Shrike Ecology in Urban and Rural landscapes in the Upper Texas Coast estimate resident and migratory population density; determine territory shape, size, and habitat requirements in urban and non-urban landscapes; define and assess SCA Gulf Bird suitability of habitat in urban landscapes; determine productivity and vital rate data for resident Protection and birds; compare nesting ecology parameters between urban and non-urban nesting shrikes; compare The SCA (Gulf Coast Bird

107 Monitoring Corps GBOMB territory size of year-round resident versus wintering migratory shrikes; identify limiting factors Observatory ) This project will contribute to the applied science of oyster reef restoration in Galveston Bay System. Its goal is to use the best science and techniques available to restore approximately 15 acres of 3- Science-base dimensional sub-tidal oyster reef habitat in Middle Reef, a historically productive reef area in East Restoration of an Galveston Bay. The scientific objective of this restoration project is to test material size hypothesis Oyster Reef in and ecological design characteristics in building the reef. Middle Reef, East The Nature Conservancy,

108 Galveston Bay GBOMB TPWD, TAMU-CC The proposed Sea Turtle Early Restoration Project would help restore sea turtles by addressing threats on their nesting beaches and in the marine environment. The three sea turtle species that Sea Turtle Early would be addressed by this project—Kemp’s ridley, green, and loggerhead— are all protected by the Restoration Project Endangered Species Act. This project would be implemented by the Department of the Interior (DOI), (Sea turtle National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the Texas Trustees over a 10-year conservation in period The Nature Conservancy-

109 Texas GBAE Galveston The Seabrook Habitat Island Restoration project aims to restore an historical marsh island to provide critical habitat in support of waterbirds and other aquatic species. This will accomplished by constructing a 22.5 acre island consisting of marsh mounds of various sizes surrounded by rubble mounds of various sizes on the perimeter.

Seabrook Habitat

110 Island Restoration GBAE The Nature Conservancy

The island supported over 14 species of nesting waterbirds. Erosion and relative sea level rise has USFWS,Texas Commission shrunk the island. Today the island is 3.8 acres in size with only a few shrubs of the salt cedar able to for Environmental survive. The island supported thousands of nesting pairs of birds and today supports less than 100. Quality, Texas General Smith Point Island when restored will support colonial waterbirds able to use wetlands on Smith Point Land Office, NRG as well as surrounding bay waters. The closest substantial colonial waterbird site is Evia Island Audubon Society approximately 8 miles away. The project will enhance the existing breakwaters and add new Texas Parks and Wildlife components totally 2,250 feet in length; restore the size of the island to 6 acres and increase its Department elevation to approximately 4 ft above mean tide level (MTL); and lastly add an oyster cultch berm of Natural Resource approximately 2 acres in size that will serve as intertidal and subtidal reef. Conservation Service Ducks Unlimited Smiths Point island Galveston Bay Estuary

111 Restoration GBOMB Program

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ve ti & a a n e r o r ar ti -A N a o t iz Ec c n ) f je a s ve o rg r( o ct i r e e e t P O n m j ia d t a ro it a ar N P In Le P This proposal would purchase water rights along East Bay Bayou within Anahuac NWR. These existing water rights would be used to enhance the vitality of marshlands and provide reliable water access for moist soil management. Access to fresh water continues to be a limiting factor in the operational management of refuge marshlands in Texas. Securing reliable water rights. Additionally a solar powered pumping station would be placed on the diversion point to allow full use of water rights acquired. The solar powered pumping station would be developed that would place a 15 hp pumping motor powered by a photovoltaic array. Future funding limitations would not preclude the functional use of the system for the expected 30 year lifespan of the solar units. Modular photovoltaics would allow for easy field replacement in case of maintenance issues. The entire tract would benefit from this use and allow the refuge to maintain water rights by use during lean budget years. Sustainable Marsh US Fish and Wildlife

112 Management GBAE Service

Sweetwater Lake Shoreline Protection & Oyster Reef Galveston Bay

113 Enhancements GBAE Foundation The Conservation Fund will work with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to identify and acquire properties that are the Service's highest priorities, based on those lands identified in the Final Environmental Impact Statement for Refuge expansion. Upon acquisition, the properties would be conveyed to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to become part of the Refuge Complex.

Texas Chenier Plain The Conservation Fund /

114 Refuge Complex GBAE USFWS The purpose of this grant is to acquire and permanently protect 70,000-80,000 acres of land on the upper and middle Texas coast. Texas Coastal Habitat Acquisition

115 and Conservation GBAE Texas R.I.C.E. Texas R.I.C.E. is requesting funds to protect with permanent easements 8,000 - 20,000 acres of Texas Coastal Lands critically important lands along the Texas coast with permanent conservation easements.

116 Protection GBAE Texas R.I.C.E. Texas R.I.C.E. proposes to acquire between 13,000 and 20,000 acres along the Texas coast and coastal plain to protect and manage it in perpetuity for migratory and native wildlife. These properties would Texas Coastal be secured in the future by a perpetual conservation easement that will be attached to it through Wildlife Habitat other conservation groups and the Fish and Wildlife Service which will protect the land use and the property. 117 Acquisition GBAE Texas R.I.C.E. This project will restore and maintain the intermediate and salt marsh health by mimicking the natural fire occurrence in these critical habitats. This will be done by prescribed burning the intermediate and salt marsh on a 2 to 3 year rotation dependent on habitat conditions, weather and water levels. Prescribed burning on this interval will stimulate and improve the root systems of coastal marsh grasses which will prevent erosion, aid marsh accretion to counter the effects of To reintroduce the coastal erosion and subsidence. Another benefit is a more resilient coastal marsh better able to natural fire regime withstand the impacts of natural disasters such as seasonal hurricanes. The coast of this project is and occurrence on estimated to be $32,000 per year. US Fish and Wildlife

118 Anahuac NWR PCI Service Project goal is to construct a living shoreline in front of currently failed or failing bulkhead at GBF’s Trinity Bay Discovery Center. The project would construct approximate 1,200 linear foot nearshore Trinity Bay Discovery breakwater and provide the opportunity to restore up to 2 acres of estuarine intertidal marsh habitat Center Living Galveston Bay

119 Shoreline GBAE Foundation

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ve ti & a a n e r o r ar ti -A N a o t iz Ec c n ) f je a s ve o rg r( o ct i r e e e t P O n m j ia d t a ro it a ar N P In Le P We propose to restore up to 141 acres of coastal prairie, thereby also improving the ecological function of up to 258 adjacent acres of high-quality coastal prairie by uniting them into a single contiguous stand. We will monitor the project to evaluate success, and experimentally evaluate the effectiveness of different restoration strategies. The University of Houston Coastal Center (UHCC) contains a priceless remnant of imperiled coastal prairie. We propose to restore up to 141 acres of coastal prairie and improve another 258 acres by targeting patches of tallow woodlands that are separating patches of healthy prairie (Figure 1). These patches are ideal restoration targets because restoring these areas will connect existing prairies and improve their ecological function by increasing habitat connectivity and removing edge effects associated with neighboring forests. In addition, because UH already owns the land, the cost of producing “new” coastal prairie through this project is considerably less than for projects that require acquisition of land. Finally, the restoration value of this project is high because the existing UHCC prairie is among the highest-quality prairie habitat in University of existence—this project will enhance and create prairie of the highest possible ecological value. This Houston Coastal project would also support environmental education at the university and K-12 levels through hands- University of Houston on education of participants and tours of the site. This project would benefit prairie restoration

120 Center GBAE Coastal Center Creationthroughoutof thea wading Gulf Coastbird byrookery increasingat theAnahuac supplyNWR. of seedThe availablerookery fromcreation the UHCCproject and supportingwas carefully designed to provide a safe, predator free nesting location for over 1000 pairs of wading birds, including herons, egrets, and roseate spoonbills. This rookery will be one of the largest in Chambers County and will make a considerable contribution to wading bird conservation on the upper Texas coast. This project will also create 22 acres of high-quality waterfowl habitat and 2.5 acres of Wading Bird Rookery Neotropical migratory songbird habitat.

121 Creation GBOMB Anahuac NWR/USFWS Objective: Restore and protect estuarine marsh habitats including intertidal fringe marsh, salt flat West Bay Estuarine marsh, sand flats, shallow water, and seagrass at 7 locations; Gang's Bayou, Starvation Cove, Habitat Restoration Dana/Carancahua Coves, Jumbile Cove, Bird Island Cove, and McAllis Point, in West Galveston Bay. and Protection

122 Project GBAE TPWD The purpose of this project is to protect the water quality of West Galveston Bay through an initiative to conserve farm and ranchlands as well as native coastal habitats in watersheds that drain into West West Bay Water Galveston Bay. The initiative will use conservation easements, purchase of development rights and Quality Protection fee title purchases to conserve properties held by willing land owners. Texas Parks and Wildlife

123 Project GBAE Department Texas R.I.C.E is proposing to restore approximately 1,600 acres of intermediate marsh on the north side of West Galveston Bay between Halls and Chocolate Bayous. This section of marsh is largely intact and has historically been of immense values to migratory birds, wading birds, Mottled Ducks and as a nursery for finfish and shellfish. Our proposal is to place two large water control structures on the ditch/drain that drains the marsh West Galveston Bay and to stablize the project area with rock and other similar materials, which will prevent increasing

124 Marsh Restoration GBAE salt water intrusion. Texas R.I.C.E. Texas Rice Industry Coalition for the Environment will create 190 acres of freshwater wetlands on the Halls Bayou Ranch. This will provide high value habitat to a very diverse number of species including wading birds, shorebirds and waterfowl. Because of its location it will attract enormous numbers of birds throughout the year. It will also provide important watershed values by cleaning and improving quality of the runoff before it runs into the Halls Bayou West Galveston Bay and other watersheds that dump directly into West Galveston Bay.

125 Watershed Wetlands GBAE Texas R.I.C.E. Under this project, H-GAC would identify and pursue specific tracts in these priority watershed areas to acquire or on which to seek conservation easements (in partnership with a local land trust, as Riparian Corridor appropriate). Priority would be given to high quality ecological resources (as partly defined by H- Protection for GAC's EcoLogical tool and other GIS and partner feedback) cost effectiveness, and potential to Priority Watersheds contribute to water quality improvements. This project would complement existing education efforts in the Houston- through H-GAC and other local partners regarding the importance and proper maintenance of

127 Galveston Region HBI riparian areas. HGAC

Page 21 Funded Projects Gulf-Houston Regional Conservation Plan Working List of Projects - Phase II

ve ti & a a n e r o r ar ti -A N a o t iz Ec c n ) f je a s ve o rg r( o ct i r e e e t P O n m j ia d t a ro it a ar N P In Le P

Streamlining The proposed project will build upon work recently completed under a NOAA project of special merit Wetland Permitting (NOAA No. NA12NOS4190021; GLO No. 13-079-000-7102). The GeoTechnology Research Institute, and Decision- Houston Advanced Research Center (GTRI/HARC) and Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service, Texas Making Improving Coastal Watershed Program (TCWP) compiled and analyzed a USACE ORM II database of 7,052 Region Mitigation federal 404 wetland permits (1990-2012; 8 counties of the Houston-Galveston region). TCWP and and Building the GTRI/HARC also analyzed 123 full permit records for compliance, acreage of impacts and Capacity of Local compensatory mitigation and mitigation bank credits. Governments and

128 Citizens GBAE HARC The purpose of the The 5-County Lower Trinity River Project: Connecting Ecotourism to Riparian Conservation (The LTR Project) is to educate landowners throughout the entire Trinity River watershed on the key list of core conservation practices to improve the water quality entering the Trinity River. These sustainable practices will ensure improvement of water resources throughout the Trinity to secure available water use for current and future generations. If awarded, the project will use funds to educate land owners on core conservation practices, and monitor effectiveness of these The 5-County Lower practices on different lands along the Trinity from headwaters to bay waters, in an effort to improve Trinity River Project: water quality and efficiency of land use, increase the water supply, determine best use practices and Connecting provide incentives for private land owners to participate throughout the Trinity River watershed. The Ecotourism to plan will also have a focus on ecotourism and increasing the public awareness on the vast amount of Riparian ecotourism opportunities in the 5-county LTR area. Conservation (The

129 LTR Project) HBI Houston Wilderness An 8,700-acre forested property with some hardwood, pine plantation, hardwood and some proposed wetland mitigation area. Willow Creek in the American Land

130 Willlow Creek Forest HBI Conservancy In Lake Conroe, not far from bulkheads shielding homes in the Seven Coves neighborhood from water, sits Bird Island. But the bird sanctuary is in jeopardy because of erosion caused by waves and drought. About half of the island has disappeared in the past few years, prompting calls to save the thoroughly exposed spit before the last remaining acre is completely washed away. Officials could build up the land with dredge spoils, plant trees and other vegetation to hold it in place and set large Lake Conroe Bird rocks around it for protection from waves. Jim Roach, TPWD, San

131 Island Preserveatio GBOMB Jacinto River Authority

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