AUSTIN— Today, Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, M.D., is excited to announce that the Texas General Land Office (GLO) awarded approximately $1.695 million for several projects across three coastal counties through its Coastal Management Program (CMP) Grant Cycle 30.
"As a Texan who spent more than a decade living on the coast, I am proud to spearhead the Texas General Land Office's (GLO) mission to preserve our beautiful beaches and safeguard the wildlife and people who call it home, said Commissioner Buckingham. "Through the GLO's Coastal Management Program, we are securing the future of our coastline by helping innovative projects get the funding they need to apply unique solutions to the problems facing Texas's coastal communities and habitats. I look forward to seeing how these funded projects improve the Texas coast's ecological and economic health, and I encourage applicants to submit new and exciting strategies this year."
These projects, funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), will improve Texas's coastal resource management and ensure the coast's long-term ecological and economic productivity.
Coastwide projects and those from Nueces, Jefferson, and Matagorda Counties received funding. The University of Texas at Austin (UT) and its Bureau of Economic Geology, the University of Houston, Lamar University, the Matagorda Bay Foundation, and Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (TAMUCC) will carry out the various projects. These innovative plans will enhance the flood forecasting and alerting ability in southeast Texas, improve coastal water quality in the Corpus Christi area, and map the extent of seagrass along the Texas coast.
CMP Grant Cycle 30 Projects
Coastwide:
Assessing Changes in Natural and Restored Dunes on Upper and Central Texas
The University of Houston will measure the erosion and recovery of vegetation and dunes following major storms on the upper and central Texas coast and evaluate the effectiveness and potential impacts of various dune restoration and stabilization techniques.
A Coastwide High-Resolution Seagrass Map for Texas
The University of Texas at Austin will use satellite imagery and image classification algorithms to map the current extent and distribution of seagrasses along the Texas coast. UT will then compare the results with maps from 2004 and 2007 to assess changes in seagrass coverage and identify areas in need of potential conservation or restoration efforts.
Texas High School Monitoring Program
The University of Texas at Austin, Bureau of Economic Geology will teach students and teachers how to measure topography, recognize and map vegetation and shoreline, and observe weather and wave conditions. The students’ efforts will provide coastal communities with valuable data on shoreline change.
Jefferson County:
Southeast Texas Flood Coordination Study - Regional Flood Sensor System
Lamar University will improve the Southeast Texas Flood Control District (SETxFCD) low-cost sensor network by replacing 34 systems with more reliable commercial units equipped with rain gauges. This enhancement will expand the flood forecasting and alerting capacity of the National Weather Service and the Texas Department of Transportation.
Matagorda County:
Matagorda Bay Shoreline Resilience: Restoring Seagrass Phase II
The Matagorda Bay Foundation will plant seagrass at seven different sites in Matagorda Bay and collect water quality data as the seagrass reestablishes. The goal of the project is to help increase Matagorda Bay shoreline resilience.
Nueces County:
Establishing a Coastal Bend Lab for Enhanced Water Quality Monitoring
Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi will establish a new laboratory with advanced water quality testing equipment and trained personnel. Subrecipient will purchase equipment that can measure Enterococcus levels, E. coli levels, and complete E. coli source tracking.
Tracing Fecal and Nutrient Pollution to Corpus Christi Bay and Laguna Madre
Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi will identify the sources of fecal indicator bacteria and nutrients in Corpus Christi Bay and the Laguna Madre. TAMUCC will conduct water sampling and complete advanced molecular and stable isotope analysis along with hydrological assessments to trace and quantify pollution sources.
The GLO's CMP focuses on four primary issues of concern to coastal communities: public access, coastal habitat, coastal hazards, and coastal nonpoint source pollution.
For more information about the coastal projects that received funding, click the button below:
For more information about the GLO’s CMP grant application process, click the button below:
Texas Coastal Management Program Grant Application
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