Making the Texas Coast More Resilient: Threading the needle between restoration and resiliency

AMANDA FULLER – DEPUTY DIRECTOR, GULF OF MEXICO RESTORATION PROGRAM

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Outline

• Gulf restoration and recovery after Deepwater Horizon

• Coastal resilience planning efforts in Texas and beyond

• Hurricane Harvey – Now what?

• A renewed look at restoration projects – defining resiliency co-benefits

Gulf Restoration & Recovery After Deepwater Horizon

INVESTMENTS MADE IN TEXAS

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Restoration Funds in the Gulf Region After the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill

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Chart Title

Series 1 Series 2 Series 3

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Investments Made in Texas

Priority Landscapes

• Salt Bayou

• Bahia Grande

• Upper Coast

• Bays

Project Types

• Land acquisition & protection

• Habitat restoration

• Projects that benefit birds

• Hydrologic restoration

• Oyster reef restoration

Coastal Resilience Planning Efforts in Texas and Beyond

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Ongoing Coastal Planning Efforts

Texas Coastal Resiliency Master Plan (GLO) – March 2017 complete + 2019 in progress

Coastal Texas Protection & Restoration Feasibility Study (USACE)

Texas RESTORE Act Multi-year Implementation Plan + State Expenditure Plan

RESTORE Council’s 2016 updated Comprehensive Plan

Post-Harvey planning (ex: Greater Houston Flood Mitigation Consortium April 2018 report)

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Prioritizing for Comprehensive Restoration:

• Assessing Ecosystem Stressors & Identifying Restoration Needs

• Projects with the greatest contribution

• Large-scale projects & programs

• Projects contained in existing plans

• Projects that restore long-term resiliency

• Additional Consideration• Sequencing & timing

• Available funding

• Political feasibility

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www.gulfrestoration.nwf.org

Rethinking Project EfficacyECOLOGICAL, ECONOMIC, AND CULTURAL IMPACTS

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Quantifying Resiliency Co-benefits

Ecological Economic Cultural

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Land Acquisition/Conservation

Protect habitat for the benefit of particular species, AND:

• Improved water quality in bays and estuaries

• Reduced storm wave heights

• Multiple lines of defense

• Valued ecosystem services

• Enhance outdoor industry/economy

• Flood insurance discounts

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Restoring Freshwater Inflows to Bays/Estuaries

The restoration of freshwater inflows to coastal bays and estuaries will help improve the overall health and functioning of coastal wetlands and their ability to withstand the effects of future sea level rise, storms, and droughts.

• Protecting oysters and oyster reef habitat

• Benefits to blue crab population

• High productive commercial and recreational fisheries

• Maintain estuary health and salinity levels

AMANDA FULLER

DEPUTY DIRECTOR

GULF OF MEXICO RESTORATION PROGRAM

GULFRESTORATION.NWF.ORG

FULLERA@NWF.ORG

512-610-7773