The official name of this team is the Coastal Fisheries Restoration Team.
[Bill Rodney, Natural Resource Specialist, Coastal Fisheries Management Team]
You got it right. It’s pretty nebulous. None of us actually, I think, knew we were
on the team. But it kind of makes sense because we all do aquatic habitat restoration.
[Rebecca Hensley] And it's not just all about restoration on
the ground. It’s acquisition. It's preservation of habitats and lands. It's planning and strategies
for the future.
[Paul Silva, Natural Resource Specialist, TPWD Ecosystem Resources Program]
Currently, because of human development, and sea level rise and subsidence in the coastal
area, it's having a huge impact on the natural resources.
[Cherie O’Brien, Coastal Ecologist, TPWD Ecosystem Resources Program]
Marsh loss in this area is huge. You know, it's over 35,000 acres. Just in the Galveston
Bay complex alone. You know, our projects are a drop in the bucket.
[Cherie O’Brien] Everything’s really starting to spread,
too. Getting rhizomes shooting out. Looks real healthy.
[Cherie O’Brien] Cherie O’Brien, FX 3A9531
And it really is just a drop in the bucket. But, every drop counts.
[music]
[birds chirping]
[ocean waves]
[Jackie Robinson, Coastal Ecologist, TPWD Ecosystem Resources Program]
When we’re working on a project, a project may take several years to develop and to implement.
[Bryan Legare, Natural Resource Specialist, Coastal Fisheries Management Team]
We’re finding that there is a lot of support for restoration efforts all up and down the
Texas Coast. And this will make it easier in the future to go after funding. And funding
sources are also pushing for more restoration efforts as they see that this is vital to
ecological success.
[Jan Culbertson, Natural Resource Specialist, TPWD Ecosystem Resources Program]
But then we also have opportunities within our community. The one I’m working with
in Dickinson is a watershed partnership.
[Jan Culbertson] And that there was a wedge that where sediment
had accumulated in the channel. Okay, so let's remove the sediment, use it in a beneficial
use method, and create habitat. That accomplishes a water quality goal. That accomplishes a
habitat in fisheries goal.
[Jan Culbertson] The main thing is, it benefits the whole community.
[Mike Morgan, Coastal Ecologist, TPWD Ecosystem Resources Program]
The habitat conservation projects I work on involve the placement of legal protection
through conservation easements, which provides perpetual protection for wetlands and stream
habitats.
[motorboat engine]
[Alex Nunez, Regional Response Coordinator, TPWD Ecosystem Resources Program]
Unfortunately, fish kill events do occur. When that happens, we identified the responsible
party. And then seek compensation for those resources that were impacted. Those moneys
we receive are then funneled into many of these restoration projects.
[music]
[Nathan Kuhn, Ecosystem Resources Team Leader, TPWD Ecosystem Resources Program]
In these groups, you know, they’ve all come to the table and they’ve been willing to
be reasonable and compromise when necessary. And who like each other now, at least if they
didn’t to begin with (laughs).
[Mike Morgan] So, this is an example of a coastal habitat
restoration project where three years ago, this area was almost all open water.
[Jackie Robinson] Conductivity, 117.7
[Leslie Koza, Ecosystem Resources Team Leader, TPWD Ecosystem Resources Program]
I think everyone on our team is so dedicated and so passionate about their work that it
shows. They'll do what it takes to get projects done and they take pride in a sense of ownership.
[Cherie O’Brien] I do think every job counts, so that's why
I continue to do it. Cause these projects don't come easy. They are hard. And they’re
a lot of work. A lot of stress. A lot of sleepless nights. But it is for this end goal and I
think we do a good job at that and that's why we are successful with our projects.