Bahia Grande
Bahia Grande, “Big Bay”, was once a large and productive tidally-influenced wetland connected to the Lower Laguna Madre system. Historically, this large wetland system served as an important nursery for a wide variety of fish and shellfish and was habitat for wildlife and wintering waterfowl. The natural tidal flow between Bahia Grande and the Laguna Madre was cut off by construction projects in the 1930’s and 1950’s. For nearly 70 years, the degraded wetland was a source of blowing dust, a site of massive fish kills, and a complicated natural resource problem. Today, Bahia Grande is considered one of the largest and most successful coastal wetland restoration projects in the United States.
In 2000, Laguna Atascosa NWR acquired the 21,700 acre Bahia Grande Unit located between the towns of Laguna Vista and Brownsville, Texas. Almost half of the Bahia Grande Unit is wetlands, including the 6,500 acre Bahia Grande basin for which the tract of land was named.
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Before the restoration and flooding of the Bahia Grande. Photo by USFWS. |
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In 2005, a pilot channel was constructed that connected the Brownsville Ship Channel to the Bahia Grande and began refilling the main basin. In 2007, two interior channels were cut that reconnected the larger basin to two smaller interior basins – the Laguna Larga and the Little Laguna Madre -- ensuring natural tidal flow and exchange throughout the whole system.
The next major step is to widen and deepen the original pilot channel, which should greatly improve tidal flow into the basins and thereby fully restore the natural biological functions of the wetlands. When fully restored, the 10,000 acres of wetlands will enhance habitat for wildlife and fisheries, improve environmental conditions in surrounding communities previously affected by blowing dust, provide opportunities for recreation and environmental education, and contribute to the local economy through increased nature tourism.
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Bahia Grande after construction of the channels and restoration of the wetlands. Photo by USFWS. |
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A partnership of more than 65 groups known as the Bahia Grande Restoration Partnership collaborated to restore the degraded wetland. Partners include local, state, and federal agencies; municipalities; educational institutions from the secondary to university levels, commercial and recreational fishery organizations; corporations and foundations; local, state, and national conservation organizations; and private citizens and landowners. In 2007, the Laguna Atascosa NWR and the 65 collaborating partners were recognized in the Presidential Wetlands Report and are proud recipients of the National Wetlands Conservation Award and the Coastal America Partnership Awards.
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A restored Bahia Grande as seen from above. Photo by USFWS. |
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Eventually the Bahia Grande Unit will be open to the public for recreational purposes. Currently, the public can fish from the banks of San Martin Lake off Hwy. 48. |
