Texas NRDA Restoration Projects
Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) is a legal and technical process to pursue restoration for injuries to natural resources caused by discharges of oil and releases of hazardous substances under the authority granted by the Oil Pollution Act (OPA) and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). Natural resources include the land, fish, wildlife, biota, air, water, groundwater, drinking water supplies and other resources. Under OPA and CERCLA, the President of the United States and state governors designate trustees to act on behalf of the public to restore natural resources impacted by oil or hazardous substances. In Texas, natural resource trustees include three state agencies, the Texas General Land Office (GLO), the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD). Federal trustee agencies working in Texas typically include, but are not limited to, the U.S. Department of Commerce, represented by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the U.S. Department of the Interior, represented by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Park Service. Trustees may vary by project. Below is a summary of restoration projects completed in Texas as part of the NRDA process.
Habitat
Bessie Heights Wetlands
Bessie Heights Wetlands. Click to expand.
This project constructed approximately 71 acres of intermediate and brackish marsh habitat in Orange County, Texas using beneficial use of dredge material. Dredged maintenance materials from the Neches River were pumped into the project area to restore marsh elevations that had been lost due to a combination of subsidence, saltwater intrusion, and erosion.
Copano Bay Oyster Reef Enhancement
Copano Bay Oyster Reef Enhancement. Click to expand.
This project constructed two 30-acre reefs to provide habitat for recruitment and productivity of oysters, habitat for a diverse amount of estuarine organisms, and enhance water quality and clarity within Copano Bay in Aransas County, Texas.
Tidal Channels and Wetland Expansion Project
Tidal Channels and Wetland Expansion Project. Click to expand.
This project created approximately 35 acres of high quality intertidal and high salt marsh wetland habitat at the Baytown Nature Center in Harris County, Texas. Channels were cut to allow for daily tidal flushing, and excess material removed from the channels was used to form marsh areas.
Pierce Marsh
Pierce Marsh. Click to expand.
This project constructed approximately 81 acres of intertidal marsh in Galveston County, Texas. Approximately 197,000 cubic yards of beneficially used dredge material from Gulf Intracoastal Waterway maintenance dredging activities was used to raise elevations. The project area was planted with smooth cordgrass using seeds and stem transplants, resulting in an approximately 63% increase in vegetation coverage.
Lake Raven Native Aquatic Vegetation Restoration
Lake Raven Native Aquatic Vegetation Restoration. Click to expand.
This project built 18 nursery runs to increase Texas Parks and Wildlife's aquatic plant nursery production capacity. The native aquatic plant nurseries produce mature transplants for ongoing planting into Lake Raven. This project funded the planting of 120 of these colonies along approximately one mile of shoreline at Lake Raven to control exotic aquatic species in Walker County, Texas.
Texas Department of Criminal Justice Prison Property Habitat Enhancement and Restoration
Texas Department of Criminal Justice Prison Property Habitat Enhancement and Restoration . Click to expand.
This project restored over 45 acres of riparian and upland habitat by controlling invasive salt cedar and planting native species in Mitchell County, Texas. These actions increased local diversity, increased shade to the river to improve water quality, provided woody debris and leaf litter for habitat diversity, and stabilized the bank to reduce erosion. Additionally, a roughly one acre emergent pond was created to provide aquatic habitat.
Little Bay Breakwater
Little Bay Breakwater. Click to expand.
This project constructed over 4 acres of oyster reef breakwater and planted 2 acres of smoothcord grass (Spartina alterniflora). This project increases habitat for marine wildlife, inhibits erosion, and promotes the growth and well being of the marsh and seagrass beds within Little Bay in Aransas County, Texas.
Lower Neches WMA Marsh Creation
Lower Neches WMA Marsh Creation. Click to expand.
This project restored 85 acres of salt marsh and 30 acres of wet prairie habitat by placing beneficially used dredge material on the Old River South Marsh Complex of the Lower Neches Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Orange County, Texas. The placement of Beneficial Use Dredge Material reestablished the original elevations to restore historic sheet flow patterns and allow re-growth of wet coastal prairie vegetation.
Powderhorn Lake Marsh
Powderhorn Lake Marsh. Click to expand.
This project constructed a 69-acre intertidal saltmarsh on the north shore of Powderhorn Lake in Calhoun County, Texas. The constructed marsh is adjacent to the Myrtle Whitmire Foester Unit of the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge and is managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
Lavaca Bay Oyster Reef
Lavaca Bay Oyster Reef. Click to expand.
This project constructed an 11-acre oyster reef within Lavaca Bay in Calhoun County, Texas. The reef consists of limestone rock distributed into 27 parallel segments separated by 50 foot wide gaps. Monitoring showed that all substrate collected from the reef supported oysters following reef construction.
J.D. Murphree WMA Water Control Structures and Levees
J.D. Murphree WMA Water Control Structures and Levees. Click to expand.
This project enhanced 685 acres of coastal wetlands by installing water control structures and levees at Texas Parks and Wildlife's (TPWD) J.D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Jefferson County, Texas. The water control structures were designed to enhance the abundance and quality of emergent marsh, supra-tidal marsh and coastal prairie by allowing TPWD to manage water circulation and flow dynamics more efficiently and restore historic seasonal hydrology.
Gainesville Habitat Restoration
Gainesville Habitat Restoration. Click to expand.
This project created 113 acres of aquatic and wetland habitat, 4 acres of woodland habitat, and 31 acres of grassland habitat by constructing dikes and channels to retain water and facilitate the formation of desired habitats, removing undesirable vegetation, planting native vegetation, installing irrigation system to facilitate growth and survival of planted wetland vegetation, and installing fences to prevent livestock entry in Cooke County, Texas. The aquatic and wetland habitat was planted with 12 species of emergent vegetation and 11 species of semi-emergent vegetation and seeded with native grasses. The woodland habitat was planted with 18 species of woody vegetation and 82 transplanted trees. The grassland habitat was seeded with a mixture of grass and wildflowers. This habitat restoration allowed for the re-establishment of wildlife populations including mammal, avian, reptilian, and amphibian species.
Goliad Riparian Habitat Enhancement
Goliad Riparian Habitat Enhancement. Click to expand.
This project planted native tree species along a 30-acre segment of the San Antonio River in Goliad County, Texas. Over 200 native trees were planted to encourage the recovery of riparian habitat. A Resource Management Plan will guide long term conservation of resources at the site.
Mustang Island Dune Restoration
Mustang Island Dune Restoration. Click to expand.
This project used beach sand to construct approximately 2 acres of sand dunes and install approximately 700 linear feet of sand fencing at the Mustang Island State Park in Nueces County, Texas. The construction of the dunes allowed natural vegetation to reestablish and provide habitat and shoreline protection from storms.
Preservation
Nueces Delta Tracts Acquisition
Nueces Delta Tracts Acquisition. Click to expand.
This project acquired approximately 4,420 acres of diverse estuarine marsh and prairie habitat, including estuarine wetlands, freshwater marshes and lakes, mudflats, fringe riparian corridors and adjacent uplands and added it to the Coastal Bend Bays and Estuary Program within the Nueces River Delta in San Patricio County, Texas. Additionally, a conservation easement was placed on the property to maintain the land's ecological services into the future, prevent possible subdivision and development of the property, and minimize the threat of future man-made degradation of the property's ecological values.
Talbot Prairie
Talbot Prairie. Click to expand.
This project acquired approximately 366 acres of bottomland forest and tall grass prairie in Bowie County, Texas and donated it to the Native Prairies Association of Texas. This property includes one of the last examples of unplowed native prairie in Northeast Texas. This type of tall grass prairie has a unique mix of grasses and wildflowers. A conservation easement was placed on the property to maintain the land's ecological services into the future, prevent possible subdivision and development of the property, and minimize the threat of future man-made degradation of the property's ecological values.
Orange County Wetland Project
Orange County Wetland Project . Click to expand.
The project placed a conservation easement on approximately 475 acres of predominately tidally-influenced marshland/wooded wetland complex habitat located near a highly industrialized segment of the Neches River in Orange County, Texas. The conservation easement is held and enforced by the Big Thicket Natural Heritage Trust and prevents any future use that will significantly impair or interfere with the conservation value of the property.
Texas Department of Criminal Justice Conservation Easement
Texas Department of Criminal Justice Conservation Easement. Click to expand.
This project placed a conservation easement on 35 acres of riparian habitat along a segment of the Colorado River near Colorado City in Mitchell County, Texas. The conservation easement is held and enforced by The Natural Area Preservation Association, Inc. and prevents any future use that will significantly impair or interfere with the conservation value of the property.
Facey Tract Acquisition
Facey Tract Acquisition. Click to expand.
This project acquired 697 acres of tidal flat, estuarine marsh, and coastal grassland adjacent to Corpus Christi Bay and added it to Mustang Island State Park in Nueces County, Texas. Deed restrictions and cable fencing are used to protect the habitat.
Spring Creek Bend Preserve Acquisition
Spring Creek Bend Preserve Acquisition. Click to expand.
This project acquired approximately 100 acres of bottomland hardwood forest that was threatened by development. The land was added to the Spring Creek Greenway conservation initiative in Montgomery County, Texas. Additionally, a conservation easement was placed on the property to maintain the land's ecological services into the future, prevent possible subdivision and development of the property, and minimize the threat of future man-made degradation of the property's ecological values.
Kelly Tract Acquisition
Kelly Tract Acquisition. Click to expand.
This project acquired approximately 88 acres of riparian and unimproved pasture habitat adjacent to the San Antonio River. The land was added to the Texas State Park system as part of Goliad State Park and Historic Site in Goliad County, Texas. The property is being archeologically investigated to search for clues that may add to our knowledge of Texas history.
Lake Linda Conservation Easement
Lake Linda Conservation Easement. Click to expand.
This project placed a conservation easement on 15 acres of undeveloped native floodplain forest, lower hillside seepage bog, seep forest, and oak hickory woodland habitat located near Quitman in Wood County, Texas. Species and habitats of particular interest on the property include pitcher plants (Sarracenia alata), purple aster (Aster puniceus var. scabricaulis; a rare plant), and stream valley bog (a rare natural community). The conservation easement will maintain the land's ecological services into the future, prevent possible subdivision and development of the property, and minimize the threat of future man-made degradation of the property's ecological values.
Campbell Railsback Tract Acquisition
Campbell Railsback Tract Acquisition. Click to expand.
This project acquired an approximately 745 acre property of diverse topographic features ranging from permanently inundated sloughs to seasonally inundated floodplain and upland ridges. The land was incorporated into the Caddo Lake Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Marion County, Texas. The land will be managed according to the Caddo Lake WMA Strategic Plan to protect the resource and capital investments, facilitate research investigations and demonstrations, and provide for maximum public use consistent with compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act.
Hasty Tract Acquisition
Hasty Tract Acquisition. Click to expand.
This project acquired an approximately 58-acre property of various bottomland and flatwoods hardwood forest types. The land was incorporated into the Caddo Lake Wildlife Management Area in Marion County, Texas. The land will be managed according to the Caddo Lake WMA Strategic Plan to protect the resource and capital investments, facilitate research investigations and demonstrations, and provide for maximum public use consistent with compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act.
LaMantia Tract Acquisition
LaMantia Tract Acquisition. Click to expand.
This project acquired approximately 108 acres of estuarine marsh and coastal grassland. The property was transferred to The Nature Conservancy and incorporated into the adjacent Francine Cohn Preserve in Nueces County, Texas. Additionally, a conservation easement was placed on the property to maintain the land's ecological services into the future, prevent possible development of the property, and minimize the threat of future man-made degradation of the property's ecological values.
Alazan Bayou River Tract Acquisition
Alazan Bayou River Tract Acquisition. Click to expand.
This project combined funds with other sources to acquire an approximately 486-acre property of contiguous bottomland hardwood habitat along 3 miles of the Angelina River. The property was incorporated into the Alazan Bayou Wildlife Management Area in Angelina County, Texas. Additionally, a conservation easement was placed on the property to maintain the land's ecological services into the future, prevent possible development of the property, and minimize the threat of future man-made degradation of the property's ecological values.
Big Thicket National Preserve Tract Acquisition
Big Thicket National Preserve Tract Acquisition. Click to expand.
This project acquired approximately 408 acres of high-quality bottomland hardwood and wetland habitat consisting of bald cypress and water tupelo. The property was transferred to the National Park Service to be incorporated into the Beaumont Unit of the Big Thicket National Preserve in Orange County, Texas. The property is classified as a Natural Zone by the National Park Service, which requires that its natural and ecological integrity be maintained.
Lennox Woods Preserve Conservation Easement
Lennox Woods Preserve Conservation Easement. Click to expand.
This project placed a conservation easement on approximately 76 acres within the Lennox Woods Preserve in Red River County, Texas. The property contains lowland and bottomland forest with habitats that support a diverse bird population and terrestrial, semi-aquatic, and aquatic wildlife species.
Recreation
Mustang Island State Park Pavilion Project
Mustang Island State Park Pavilion Project. Click to expand.
This project constructed two 20-foot by 24-foot pavilions at the Mustang Island State Park in Nueces County, Texas. One of the pavilions is located in the pedestrian only day-use area and the other pavilion is near the jetty day-use area. Two beach wheel chairs were purchased to facilitate American's with Disabilities Act compliant access.
Six Mile Park Fishing Pier
Six Mile Park Fishing Pier. Click to expand.
This project constructed a wheelchair accessible T-shaped fishing pier at Six Mile Park in Calhoun County, Texas to enhance recreational activities including fishing. The eight-foot wide pier includes a 200-foot-long endpoint segment perpendicular to the shoreline that extends 50 feet in both directions running parallel to the shoreline. The dock also includes a 14-foot-long fish cleaning station and lighting for night usage.
Mustang Island State Park Shade Shelters
Mustang Island State Park Shade Shelters. Click to expand.
This project added 35 portable shade shelters and four American's with Disabilities Act compliant portable toilets to the Mustang Island State Park in Nueces County, Texas. A trailer was purchased to evacuate the shade shelters in the event of severe weather events.
Six Mile Park Boat Ramp Improvements
Six Mile Park Boat Ramp Improvements. Click to expand.
This project installed a 75-foot-long single lane boat ramp, 50-foot-long dock alongside the boat ramp, and an access ramp with handrails at Six Mile Park in Calhoun County, Texas to increase fishing access in Lavaca Bay. The project also dredged a 200-foot-long channel for boating access, replaced deteriorated boards to rehabilitate the existing breakwater which prevents waves from interfering with boat ramp operations, and resurfaced the parking area.