Protection and Restoration of Ayres Point Oyster Reefs
The Ayres Point Oyster Reef Restoration Project is restoring 11.7 acres of lost oyster reef in Ayres Bay, part of the Mesquite Bay Complex along the South Texas coast. Oyster reefs are essential for healthy bays as they create habitat for fish and wildlife, improve water quality, and help protect shorelines. However, decades of overharvest, storms, and other stressors have caused major declines. Led by the Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program (CBBEP) and the Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve (MA-NERR), this project is supported by the Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Harte Research Institute (HRI), Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Coastal Conservation Association (CCA), and FlatsWorthy. This $2 million effort, funded by the NOAA Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, CCA, and the Matagorda Bay Mitigation Trust, will construct a series of submerged reef mounds to restore oyster habitat, boost biodiversity, and protect the Matagorda Island shoreline.
Collaborative Restoration of a Network of Oyster Broodstock Spawning Reserves Across the Mission-Aransas Estuary, Texas
The Collaborative Restoration of a Network of Oyster Broodstock Spawning Reserves is a major effort to protect and rebuild oyster populations across the Mission-Aransas Estuary, including Copano, Aransas, Mesquite, and St. Charles Bays. Oyster reefs are essential for healthy bays, supporting fisheries, improving water quality, and protecting shorelines, but they are among the most threatened marine habitats worldwide. This $8.2 million project, led by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) with partners including Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Harte Research Institute (HRI), Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program (CBBEP), Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve (MA-NERR), and The Nature Conservancy (TNC), will restore 20–50 acres of protected broodstock reefs. These special reefs will serve as safe havens for spawning oysters, helping supply larvae to surrounding waters and supporting both the environment and local fishing economies. The project also engages local communities through site selection workshops, shell recycling programs, and educational activities. Funded by NOAA’s Transformational Habitat Restoration and Coastal Resilience Grants under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this collaborative effort will help secure the future of oyster habitats and the benefits they bring to Texas’s coastal communities.
Protection and Restoration of a Bird Nesting Island in Aransas Bay
The Protection and Restoration of a Bird Nesting Island in Aransas Bay project focuses on saving and expanding one of the last remaining bird rookery islands in the area, Deadman Island. Colonial waterbirds such as pelicans, egrets, skimmers, and terns depend on small, isolated islands to safely nest away from threats such as predators and human influence. Unfortunately, these habitats are disappearing due to erosion, rising sea levels, boat traffic, and storm damage, including major impacts from Hurricane Harvey. Historically, Deadman Island has been a critical nesting site, and with suitable nesting habitat becoming scarce along the Texas coast, restoring this island is essential for the survival of many bird species.
This $4 million effort, led by the Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve in partnership with the Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program (CBBEP), will build a protective breakwater and restore the island’s footprint to approximately three acres. The project will create nesting habitat for hundreds of pairs of colonial waterbirds and will also support oyster reef growth, improving fish habitat and overall ecosystem health. With final design and permitting already underway, construction will soon begin to protect and enhance this important habitat, ensuring its long-term resilience for birds and other wildlife.