Big boggy national wildlife refuge and the USFWS coastal program is interested in restoring vegetated marsh and overall connectivity to the 1,800-AC big boggy marsh system through multiple actions

The Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Region 2 awarded Ducks Unlimited, Inc. a $300,000 cooperative agreement under the Coastal federal grant program (CFDA 15.630) to provide conceptual or preliminary design deliverables for priority restoration actions at the 1,800-acre Big Boggy Marsh system in Texas. Through Jul 2022 to Jun 2027, Ducks Unlimited will conduct elevation and horizontal surveys, and develop engineering designs to restore vegetated marsh and connectivity. Technical guidance will be provided on desired outcomes, and proposals drafted to support additional funding. Coordination with state, federal, and non-governmental partners will include communicating the project purpose and need, and applying best available science. Environmental compliance documentation will be prepared and meetings conducted with East Matagorda Bay resource stakeholders. The funding will support Ducks Unlimited's substantial involvement in restoration planning and coordination to improve marsh vegetation health, resiliency, and wildlife habitat functionality at Big Boggy Marsh and beyond into the bay.

These actions would restore and improve marsh vegetation health, support long term resiliency of the marsh, increase its functionality for fish and wildlife resources, and enhance the production of these resources beyond the marsh into east matagorda BAY. The primary objective of the proposed project will be conceptual or preliminary design deliverables for priority restoration actions identified by the project team. Generally, services provided by ducks unlimited will include elevation and horizontal surveys, engineering and design, and assistance in project planning and coordination. Service staff will be substantially involved in the project by providing technical guidance on desired outcomes, drafting proposals to support additional funding, coordinating and communicating with state, federal, and non-governmental organizations about the purpose and need for the project, applying the best available science for the project, providing environmental compliance documentation and participating in meetings with resource stakeholders associated with east matagorda BAY. There are no pre-award costs associated with this project.