Baytown Nature Center
Wetland Restoration Project
The project area is
located at Baytown Nature Center, Harris County, Texas. The BNC, comprised of
approximately 420 acres, occupies a large, irregularly shaped peninsula bordered
by Burnett, Crystal, and Scott bays and is located at the confluence of the
northern end of
Galveston Bay and the San Jacinto River. The objective is to restore
approximately 112-acres of existing freshwater and estuarine wetlands and
associated coastal habitats. A 50-acre tidal marsh with ancillary freshwater
wetlands will be constructed north of and adjacent to the existing Wooster
Education marsh (a 60-acre tidal marsh). The proposed project area will
transform a subsided, abandoned residential neighborhood into high quality tidal
marsh and freshwater wetlands with two elevated areas contoured and vegetated to
provide wetlands and oak motts typically occurring along the Texas Gulf Coast.
The new tidal marsh habitat, freshwater wetlands, and live oak motts will
increase available habitat for the 316 bird species consisting of neotropical
migrants as well as year-round residents.
Partners: City of Baytown, ExxonMobil, Lyondell Chemical Company, Galveston Bay Estuary Program, North American Wetlands Conservation Act’s Standard Grants Program, and the Texas Coastal Program