Bolivar Flats: Acquisition,
Restoration, & Enhancement
The project area is
located on HAS’s Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary, situated on Port Bolivar,
Texas. Bolivar Flats is an expansive coastal wetland system which, 60 years ago,
stretched nearly unbroken along the mid- and Upper Texas Gulf Coast. These
wetland systems historically provided unique habitat for an abundant and diverse
number of wildlife species. However, these ecologically vital and fragile
ecosystems have degraded over the years due to hydrologic changes on the
landscape, commercial and residential development, proliferation of invasive
and exotic weeds, salt water intrusion, lack of natural wild fires, and cattle
grazing impacts.
The area is especially important to shorebirds, which use the shallow flats, and a number of rare and endangered species of birds which inhabit the Bolivar Flats at some point during the year, such as Least Terns which annually nest during spring. However, the nesting population has continued to decrease since 1996 (36 pairs) to a low of 7 nesting pairs in 2000. Vehicular traffic through and near nesting areas could be contributing to the decline in nesting populations. Restricting access and restoration of coastal prairie habitats have the the potential to increase nesting population and success of colonial waterbirds as well as resident, over-wintering and migrating grassland birds.
The purpose of this agreement is to
protect and restore Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary in Port Bolivar, Texas.
Currently, the HAS Bolivar Flats is approximately 508 acres of coastal habitat.
Presently, HAS is pursuing the acquisition of an additional
1,365 acres
of adjacent properties (Bolivar Flats, 615 acres and Horseshoe Marsh,~750
acres). Like many coastal wetlands, coastal tidal wetlands have been severely
damaged by saltwater intrusion and decreased freshwater inflows due to drainage
projects, subsidence, erosion, watershed conversion, and channelization. To
restore these damaged wetlands and prairies, HAS, along with partners,
began a
habitat enhancement program to protect and restore the sanctuary’s wetlands.
Partners: Houston Audubon Society, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (Shell Marine & Phillips), National Coastal Wetlands Grant (NAWCA) and the Texas Coastal Program