2004 Texas Conservation Report

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Nov 21, 2009

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TEXAS CONSERVATION REPORT 2004
FY04 Texas Conservation Program Accomplishments
(07/01/03 � 06/30/04)
Enhanced / Restored = 8,670 acres
Technical Assistance = 44,252 acres

1. Brazos Bend State Park (Entrance Wetland) � A 20 acre emergent wetland was restored on an 80 acre tract of former prairie adjacent to Brazos Bend State Park that was acquired in 2003. The property was ditched and drained in the 1930�s or 40�s for agriculture. Wetland hydrology restoration will allow for reestablishment of the emergent wetland community that once existed. Once reestablished the wetland will provide habitat for important wading birds and waterfowl, including sandhill cranes and mottled ducks, as well as numerous amphibians and other wetland dependent wildlife. The project is at the entrance of Brazos Bend State Park and immediately adjacent to FM 762 making it readily viewable to the thousands of visitors and school children that frequent the park every year. The project was fully funded utilizing mitigation dollars from the City of Sugarland as a result of airport expansion permit conditions by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers.

2. City of Irving (Mitigation Project) � Reforestation of 25 acres of bottomland hardwoods and planting of 81 acres of native prairie grass was completed on property owned and managed by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers in Irving, TX. DU was contracted by the City of Irving to complete the restoration that was phase one of multi year wetland mitigation plan. Additional reforestation and hydrology restoration are scheduled for FY05.

3. Gene Howe WMA � Restoration of a 40 acre wetland unit was completed. The project involved renovation of an existing levee constructed in the 1950�s and design and installation of a water control structure. The completed project will allow for water management capabilities of this unit and 100 acres of existing wetlands.

4. J.D. Murphree WMA (Compartment 12) � Management capabilities were greatly enhanced on the 393 acre compartment 12 unit at J.D. Murphree WMA in 2004. A new flash board riser and flap gate water control structure was designed and constructed on the southern boundary of the unit. This new water control structure will improve water level management in compartment 12 and redirect excess freshwater into compartment 13 that was previously emptied into the GIWW. The project will enable better control over water levels within these compartments to maintain fresh to intermediate marsh communities.

5. J.D. Murphree WMA (Hebert Spoil) � A flashboard water control structure with flap gate was designed and installed connecting the Hebert Spoil impoundment with Compartment 1 at the J.D. Murphree WMA. Prior to this project Hebert Spoil Impoundment was dewatered directly into the adjacent Taylor Bayou and lost. Flooding of Compartment 1 was difficult at best and dependent on optimum water level conditions in Taylor Bayou. Installation of the structure will provide a dependable freshwater source from the Hebert Spoil Impoundment to the 200 acre Compartment 1 to facilitate management of intermediate marsh vegetation for waterfowl and other wetland dependent wildlife.

6. Lower Neches WMA (Old River Unit) - A 30 acre moist soil management unit was established utilizing an old abandoned dredge-spoil site. The project involved enhancement of existing levees, interior leveling, and installation of a water control structure. The unit will be intensively managed to promote highly desirable moist soil plants for waterfowl. Public use of the site will be limited to non-consumptive uses due to the size of the area and relatively high hunting pressure surrounding the sites. However, hunters will be allowed to hunt in adjacent brackish marsh and a possible lottery system may be implemented to create a secluded, high-quality hunt for selected public hunters in the future.

7. Mad Island WMA (Crab Lake) � Two rock rip rap weirs were constructed across two tidal channels connecting Compartment 6 with Crab Lake and the GIWW at Mad Island WMA. The rock weirs were constructed at mean high tide level to allow ingress and egress during peak tidal movement and designed to reduce the amount of tidal energy and saltwater intrusion from the GIWW. This decrease in tidal energy and salinities will aid in restoration of the original brackish/intermediate plant communities that once resided in Compartment 6. The rock weirs will also reduce the effects of winter blow outs caused during strong north winds that drain the marsh creating extensive mudflats for long periods.

8. PLJV Private Lands � Three of five small playa wetlands were completed in Ochiltree and Collingsworth Counties in FY04. Two additional wetlands are designed and planned for construction in FY05. The projects included sedimentation removal, construction of levees, installation of water control structures, and planting of native prairie grass buffers. These projects were funded through a small grant from the Playa Lakes Joint Venture.

10. Sheldon Lake State Park (Education Center) � In FY04 DU was contracted by Texas Parks & Wildlife through grant funding to facilitate planning and design on a series of wetlands and water delivery system at Sheldon Lake State Park as part of a large scale expansion of it�s environmental education center. The state park sits within the confines a former 1,100 acre reservoir impoundment constructed during World War II to supply water to war industries in Houston. The reservoir was ditched and partially drained after the war and is now owned and managed by Texas Parks & Wildlife. The remaining lake is shallow and fully naturalized, supporting cypress swamps, herbaceous emergent marshes, and open water. Sheldon Lake historically hosts one of the largest colonial waterbird rookeries in the state in addition to providing winter refuge for tens of thousands of migratory waterfowl. In addition the park attracts over 100,000 visitors annually and provides outreach and environmental education to one of the largest urban populations in the country. This project is phase one of a multi phase project that will include indoor classrooms, interpretive trails and kiosks, and observation decks.

11. Playa Lakes WMA / Taylor Lakes Unit (Cattail Lake) � Construction was begun on restoration of an 18 acre perched water-table lake. Cattail Lake, like many small wetlands in the mixed-grass prairie region of Texas, historically wintered large numbers of migrating and wintering waterfowl. Uplands surrounding the wetlands were formerly tilled and terraced through the early 1960�s. Over time these terraces eroded, depositing soils within the wetland basins. Encroachment of cattails and other undesirable emergent vegetation quickly follow this sedimentation making the wetlands of little value to waterfowl. This project involves removal of 18� of sediment, design and construction of a water control structure, and establishment of a native grass buffer. The project is being funding with NAWCA small grant and is scheduled for completion in early FY05.

12. Wetland Reserve Program � In 2001 DU entered into a Cooperative Agreement with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service to assist with the delivery of the Wetland Reserve Program (WRP). The program is fully funded through federal appropriations and includes purchase of conservation easements and wetland restoration. Through the partnership with NRCS, DU has designed and delivered the wetland restoration component on lands enrolled in the WRP. In FY04 DU restored wetland hydrology to 1,247 acres on 10 easements. The restoration activities involved construction of low levees, installation of water control structures, and excavation of shallow swales and sloughs. In addition 970 acres of bottomland hardwood seedlings were planted on 5 easements and native prairie grass planted on 525 acres on 3 easements.

13. Texas Prairie Wetlands Project � A total of 43 wetland units totaling 3,036 acres were completed through the Texas Prairie Wetlands Project in FY04. In addition, there are 29 wetland units totaling 1,065 acres currently under various stages of construction, with another 30 landowners currently on the waiting list. There are now 29,598 acres under management agreements completed through the TPWP since it�s inception in 1992. The Texas Prairie Wetlands project is a partnership between DU, TPW, USFW, and the NRCS focusing on 28 counties along the Texas Gulf Coast.

14. East Texas Wetlands Project � A total of 33 wetland units totaling 1,434 acres were completed through the East Texas Wetlands Project in FY04. In addition, there are 8 wetland units totaling 704 acres currently under various stages of construction, with another 50 landowners currently on the waiting list. There are now 3,506 acres under management agreements completed through the TPWP since it�s inception in 2001. The East Texas Prairie Wetlands project is a partnership between DU, TPW, USFW, and the NRCS focusing on wetland habitat in 46 counties in East Texas.

15. Two NAWCA grants were approved for funding during FY04. A $902,660 Texas Mid Coast Wetland Restoration NAWCA grant submitted in July 2003 was approved. A signed grant agreement is anticipated within the next couple of months. The grant will generate over $1.8 mill in partner match and provide restoration / enhancement on 7,667 acres of wetland habitat on private and public lands over the next two years. Partners include: DU, Texas Parks & Wildlife, Katie Prairie Conservancy, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and numerous private landowners. The Texas Chenier Plain Coastal Wetlands Conservation II NAWCA grant was submitted March 2004 and approved for funding in July 2004. This grant will provide $998,952 in funding and generate $6.2 million in partner match to restore and enhance 10,719 acres of habitat on both public and private lands. A signed grant agreement is anticipated within the next couple of months. Partners include: DU, Camp Bailey, Texas Parks & Wildlife, Jerfferson County Drainage District 6, Labelle Properties, Walter Umphrey, British Petroleum/Amoco, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and numerous private landowners.

16. On July 30, 2004 a NAWCA grant proposal will be submitted to the North American Wetlands Conservation Council (NAWCC) for the West Gulf Coastal Plain II. If approved the grant will provide $640,398 in funding and an additional $1.3 mill toward conservation work on public and private lands in East Texas. The proposal would impact over 3,939 acres of wetlands and associated upland habitats. Partners include: DU, Texas Parks & Wildlife, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and private landowners.