The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) has announced a $26.5 million award to the Texas General Land Office to restore approximately 17 miles of the beach dune ridge system along McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), from High Island, Texas to Sea Rim State Park.
The award will leverage more than $25 million from Natural Resource Damages and RESTORE Act funds for a total conservation investment of more than $50 million.
When combined with an earlier pilot phase, completion of this restoration project will bring the total restored habitat to 20 miles, including the addition of approximately 150 feet of sand beach seaward of the dunes.
“ This important investment will bolster a fragile stretch of shoreline that is critical to the coastal ecosystem and communities of southeast Texas, ” said Jeff Trandahl, executive director and CEO of NFWF . “ The restored shoreline will also serve as a first line of defense against future storms .”
Construction works on the project are expected to begin later this year.