Dickinson Bay Bird Island: Colonial Waterbird Nesting Habitat & Wetland Restoration Project
Erosion has essentially
eliminated the Dickinson Bay islands and existing habitats, which traditionally
provided nesting substrate for ground nesting colonial waterbirds birds such as
the least tern, gull-billed tern, royal tern, black skimmer, American
oystercatcher, and caspian terns. The loss of shoreline and emergent marsh has
altered
the productive vegetative communities/habitats located throughout the
project area. The surface area of the islands has become subtidal, resulting in
no available nesting substrate.
The Dickinson Bay Islands Restoration Project is designed to replace three critical islands that have eroded over the past six decades. The restored islands will provide critical intertidal marsh habitat, colonial waterbird roosting/nesting habitat, oyster reefs, and essential erosion protection for the Texas Nature Conservancy’s Attwater Prairie Chicken Preserve. The islands will be approximately 5 acres, 14 acres, and 10 acres respectively. Intertidal marsh will comprise approximately 10 to 12 acres or one-third of the overall project size. Slightly elevated areas with shell hash or fine gravel will comprise approximately 10 acres, and elevated shrub/tree habitats will comprise approximately 8 acres. Approximately 1,200 cubic yards of oyster shell will be provided on the northwest end of each island to create approximately three acres of oyster reef in the area.
Partners: Galveston Bay Foundation, The Nature Conservancy of Texas, Reliant Energy Inc., West End Marine, Mainland Concrete, Galveston Bay Estuary Program, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, Texas General Land Office, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, NOAA Fisheries, NOAA Community-Based Restoration Program, Restore America's Estuaries, and the Texas Coastal Program
Aerial photo of Island #1 construction taken February 16, 2004