On December 2, a team of close to a dozen state, federal, NGO and private partners will accept the only environmental award of its kind given by the President of the United States. The North Deer Island shoreline restoration project benefits multiple priority bird species. Among others, the island's habitat is considered vital to the recovery of the brown pelican, which flew off the endangered species list to national applause Nov. 11.
Led by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the project partners worked for nine years to armor approximately 1.7 miles of North Deer Island's rapidly eroding shoreline. Erosion was destroying highly-productive habitat for up to 30,000 nesting pairs of birds using this Audubon Society bird island sanctuary. Also, the island's wetland marshes provide valuable nursery habitat for shrimp, redfish and other important fish species.
Partners barged in 24,100 tons from a rock quarry in Missouri-using the Mississippi River and the Intracoastal Waterway as a route-to create 7,100 feet of stone breakwater and armored shoreline. Planning, engineering, and construction costs for the nine-year endeavor exceeded $3.2 million.
The project helps implement regional habitat conservation goals established by the Galveston Bay Estuary Program partnership, whose mission is to preserve the bay's economic and ecologic health.
The large and diverse partnership includes: Audubon Texas, EcoNRG, EPA Gulf of Mexico Program, Houston Audubon, Harris & Eliza Kempner Fund, Meadows Foundation, Reliant Energy, Shell Marine - National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Texas Commission of Environmental Quality - Galveston Bay Estuary Program, Texas General Land Office, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Presented annually since 1997, the Coastal America Awards recognize outstanding efforts and excellence in leadership for protecting, preserving and restoring the nation's coastal resources and ecosystems.
 |
|
North Deer Island Protection Team at the awards ceremony. |
