Coastal Conservation Association Texas and the Building Conservation Trust have committed $250,000 to support efforts by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Ducks Unlimited (DU) to restore Dagger Island and protect important seagrass beds in Redfish Bay, Texas.

Commenting the latest news, DU Director of Development Matt Bunn, said: “Partners like CCA and BCT make the wetland restoration work we do possible. Waterfowl and fisheries often share the same habitats and need the same resources and people who enjoy coastal areas like Redfish Bay appreciate it when organizations can come together and improve these areas for everyone.”

The partners are working together to enhance 557 acres of continuous seagrass beds, intertidal wetlands and coastal islands in the Redfish Bay State Scientific Area. Redfish Bay contains the northernmost extensive stands of seagrass on the Texas coast and is one of only three bays that contain all five species of native seagrass in Texas.

Dagger Island was once a nearly solid island separating Corpus Christi Bay and Redfish Bay.

Erosion has decreased the size of the island and broken it into a chain of smaller islands. This decline altered the function and values provided to the Redfish Bay system, including protection of large stands of seagrasses, which are important for water quality in the bay.

Ducks Unlimited will construct a half-mile breakwater and use dredged material to restore Dagger Island.

Funding for this project is provided by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund, the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program, CCA Texas, BCT and Ducks Unlimited.