Pierce Marsh Preserve
Located on the north shore of West Bay, Pierce Marsh was once part of Basford
Lake, a salt marsh criss-crossed with channels and rich with fish and wildlife. However, large areas of Pierce Marsh
became open water due to subsidence caused by groundwater withdrawal. Conversion
from marsh to open water led to a dramatic decline in habitat values for fish
and wildlife. Because nearby groundwater can no longer be ext
racted, subsidence
rates have decreased dramatically, so conditions became suitable for large scale
marsh restoration. A coalition of concerned partners -- The Nature Conservancy,
Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept., Galveston Bay Foundation, Texas General Lands
Office, Natural Resources Conservation Service, National Marine Fisheries
Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service-- pooled their knowledge and experience to plan and implement a
protection, restoration and monitoring plan.
A two-thirds undivided interest in the Pierce Marsh has been owned and
managed by The Nature Conservancy of Texas since 1987. With a gift from Jon
Davisson, the Foundation acquired the remaining two one-sixth undivided
interests in 1997, bringing the total 1,361-acre tract into ownership and
management by nonprofit organizations. A National Coastal Wetlands Grant grant
(North American Wetlands Conservation Act) and matching non-federal funds from
the Natural Resource Damage Assessment trustees allowed the Foundation to
purchase an adjacent 985 acres, which was recently named the Lloyd & B.A.
Bentsen Preserve at Pierce Marsh. The complex would be permanently managed
by GBF in cooperation with TNC. In combination with the recently completed I-45
Estuarine Corridor project, the two projects will protect more than a 4,600-acre
block of permanently protected contiguous wetland and associated upland habitat
harboring waterbirds and estuarine
fish.
A restoration partnership employed an innovative marsh terracing technique and constructed 153 long, narrow terraces on 63 acres of nearshore open water where original intertidal marshes and subtidal wetland vegetation had been lost. Terraces were constructed and arranged in 200 foot open square patterns. Galveston Bay Foundation staff, with assistance from hundreds of volunteers, planted 48,300 sprigs of emergent wetland vegetation propagated at the Reliant Energy Natural Resource Center. As the restored system becomes less vulnerable to erosion and water clarity improves, volunteers will replant seagrass in the shallow pools between the terraces.
Additionally, another terrace project was recently completed at Pierce Marsh using in-situ materials. This 20 acre terrace complex is located adjacent to the original 63 acre project. Several of the terrace crowns were capped with oyster shell/ hash to enhance nesting opportunities for colonial waterbirds.
This project has been successful due to key roles many partners played by providing biological and technical support, contributing funds, negotiating with landowners, finalizing acquisition agreements, providing engineering and design services, coordinating volunteers, administering the grant, and monitoring the restoration work. Each partner provided vital talents and abilities, and by collaborating, partners accomplished an important project that promises a brighter and healthier future for Galveston Bay.