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Making the Texas Coast More Resilient: Threading the needle between restoration and resiliency
AMANDA FULLER – DEPUTY DIRECTOR, GULF OF MEXICO RESTORATION PROGRAM
NWF.ORG • 2
Outline
• Gulf restoration and recovery after Deepwater Horizon
• Coastal resilience planning efforts in Texas and beyond
• Hurricane Harvey – Now what?
• A renewed look at restoration projects – defining resiliency co-benefits
Gulf Restoration & Recovery After Deepwater Horizon
INVESTMENTS MADE IN TEXAS
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Restoration Funds in the Gulf Region After the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
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Category 1 Category 2 Category 3 Category 4
Chart Title
Series 1 Series 2 Series 3
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Investments Made in Texas
Priority Landscapes
• Salt Bayou
• Bahia Grande
• Upper Coast
• Bays
Project Types
• Land acquisition & protection
• Habitat restoration
• Projects that benefit birds
• Hydrologic restoration
• Oyster reef restoration
Coastal Resilience Planning Efforts in Texas and Beyond
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Ongoing Coastal Planning Efforts
Texas Coastal Resiliency Master Plan (GLO) – March 2017 complete + 2019 in progress
Coastal Texas Protection & Restoration Feasibility Study (USACE)
Texas RESTORE Act Multi-year Implementation Plan + State Expenditure Plan
RESTORE Council’s 2016 updated Comprehensive Plan
Post-Harvey planning (ex: Greater Houston Flood Mitigation Consortium April 2018 report)
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Prioritizing for Comprehensive Restoration:
• Assessing Ecosystem Stressors & Identifying Restoration Needs
• Projects with the greatest contribution
• Large-scale projects & programs
• Projects contained in existing plans
• Projects that restore long-term resiliency
• Additional Consideration• Sequencing & timing
• Available funding
• Political feasibility
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www.gulfrestoration.nwf.org
Rethinking Project EfficacyECOLOGICAL, ECONOMIC, AND CULTURAL IMPACTS
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Quantifying Resiliency Co-benefits
Ecological Economic Cultural
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Land Acquisition/Conservation
Protect habitat for the benefit of particular species, AND:
• Improved water quality in bays and estuaries
• Reduced storm wave heights
• Multiple lines of defense
• Valued ecosystem services
• Enhance outdoor industry/economy
• Flood insurance discounts
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Restoring Freshwater Inflows to Bays/Estuaries
The restoration of freshwater inflows to coastal bays and estuaries will help improve the overall health and functioning of coastal wetlands and their ability to withstand the effects of future sea level rise, storms, and droughts.
• Protecting oysters and oyster reef habitat
• Benefits to blue crab population
• High productive commercial and recreational fisheries
• Maintain estuary health and salinity levels
AMANDA FULLER
DEPUTY DIRECTOR
GULF OF MEXICO RESTORATION PROGRAM
GULFRESTORATION.NWF.ORG
512-610-7773