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FOESTER LAKE, ARANSAS NWR, TEXAS
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Initiated in 2001
For more information contact
Aransas National Wildlife Refuge
P.O. Box 100
Austwell, Texas 77950
| Project Description: |
Foester Lake on the Aransas NWR in Texas was impounded in the
1960s to create a freshwater lake to attract waterfowl. The levee
construction greatly altered the historic hydrology of the area
by restricting sheetflow and upland runoff that formerly nourished
the adjacent estuarine marshes and ponds. Without input of fresh
water, the estuarine marshes became stagnant, hyper-saline and
unproductive. These marshes were important nursery areas for certain
life stages of fish, crustaceans, and aquatic birds.
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| Project Status: |
In October 2002, levees will be inspected and repaired to insure
integrity and a culvert will be installed, breaching the levee,
and providing fish passage. Pre and post project studies have
and will be conducted, respectively to determine benefits.
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| Benefits: |
This project would restore freshwater flows, reducing salinity
and providing access, to approximately 1,000 acres of marsh and
upland freshwater habitats. Access to historic nursery habitat will
be provided for certain life stages of red drum, spotted sea trout,
blue crab, and aquatic birds.
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| Partners: |
Aransas NWR, USFWS Corpus Christi Ecological Services Office,
and Aluminum Company of America. |
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