CCA Texas and Building Conservation Trust Continue Habitat Restoration and Creation

Freeport/Vancouver Nearshore Reefing

CCA Texas, Building Conservation Trust (BCT), and Atlantis Marine Habitats LLC recently teamed up to deploy 50 pyramids into the Freeport/Vancouver nearshore reefing site. CCA Texas and BCT contracted Lil Mo Marine Services to deploy the pyramids, while Atlantis Marine Habitat LLC provided the materials at no cost. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is the permit and lease holder for all nearshore reefing sites along the Texas coast. Any deployment of materials into these sites must be approved by TPWD and they also provide the deployment zone coordinates for projects such as these.

The Freeport/Vancouver nearshore reefing site is located within Texas state waters and lies approximately 10 miles SSW of the Freeport jetties. The Freeport/Vancouver site was created when during deployment to the Freeport Liberty Ship Reef site in 1976, the Vancouver Liberty Ship sank during a storm and settled to the bottom of the Gulf at its present position. Since that time many other materials have been deployed to this site for the benefit of the marine eco-system, recreational fishermen, and divers.

The Vancouver nearshore site was one of the first habitat projects and the first nearshore reefing site that CCA Texas’s Habitat Today for Fish Tomorrow (HTFT) program was involved in.CCA Texas originally committed $50,000 to the site in February of 2010 and, in August of 2010 deployed 125 concrete catch basins, risers and culverts donated by Old Castle Precast. In addition, 23 drilling test blocks ranging from 3 to 13 tons were also deployed. In early 2017, TPWD contracted Atlantis Marine Habitats LLC to deploy 800 pyramids into the site. This project was made possible by funds secured from Deep Water Horizon settlements. CCA Texas and BCT strongly believe in the continued expansion and support of marine habitat creation and restoration projects they have supported in past efforts, and the nearshore reefing sites along the Texas coast offer many opportunities to do so.

“One of Habitat Today for Fish Tomorrow’s early goals was to see nearshore reefing sites created out of each major port along the Texas coast,” commented HTFT Committee Chairman Jay Gardner. Gardner continued, “These nearshore sites provide quality marine habitat and fishing opportunities for Texas’s recreational fishermen and divers, and we feel it is important to continue supporting these efforts with continued deployments up and down the Texas coast.”

To date, CCA Texas and BCT have been involved in and/or committed funds to eight nearshore reefing sites along the Texas cost. The total financial commitment to nearshore reefing in Texas has now grown to $1.565 million. CCA Texas and BCT will continue to support TPWD and other organizations in the efforts to provide nearshore marine habitat and angling opportunities for recreational fishermen. Other nearshore projects in the near future include Sabine’s HI20, Galveston’s Big Man and Kate’s reefs, and the deployment of several railcar loads of concrete railroad ties and rubble into the Rio Grande Valley Reef.All of these efforts are anticipated to occur during summer and fall of 2018.

Moses Lake

The shoreline protection and marsh restoration effort in Moses Lake (Galveston Bay), led by the Galveston Bay Foundation (GBF), continues to move along.CCA Texas contributed $150,000 to the effort that will provide shoreline erosion protection for 1.3 miles of shoreline and restore up to 10 acres of intertidal marsh complex within Moses Lake. In early May, GBF hosted a grass planting at the site during the Marsh Mania effort. These volunteer efforts provide great grant matching opportunities and provides the public an opportunity to be involved in habitat restoration efforts. CCA Texas, BCT and GBF continue to build on a great partnership and look forward to working together in the future on many habitat restoration efforts.

Banquet Season on a Roll

CCA Texas volunteers and staff just completed a very strong spring banquet season, completing 36 events through the end of May. Banquet attendance and support of the local communities remains extremely strong and CCA Texas is grateful for the efforts of the volunteers and supporters. Texas’s coastal marine resources are in a better position because of your efforts and we salute you!