The project activities described herein will use nature based solutions (NBS) to maintain and improve marsh health and increase the resiliency and capacity of these coastal marshes to withstand storms…

The U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service, through the National Wildlife Refuge System Enhancements program (CFDA 15.654), awarded a $6,500,000 Cooperative Agreement to Ducks Unlimited, Inc. to implement nature-based solutions for coastal marsh restoration and resilience in Texas. The project aims to remediate damage to the McFaddin Beach Berm caused by recent hurricanes and storms, which has eroded portions of the berm and allowed saltwater intrusion into back marshes. Ducks Unlimited will complete project planning and implementation to restore the berm and return its protective function, benefiting coastal habitats and wildlife on the refuge. The performance period for this award is September 30, 2024 to September 30, 2027.

The project activities described herein will use nature based solutions (NBS) to maintain and improve marsh health and increase the resiliency and capacity of these coastal marshes to withstand storms and reduce the amount of damage caused by such storms. The mcfaddin beach berm project completed in 2016 resulted in a 17.6 mile earthen berm to replace the protective function of the natural beach ridge which was lost from long term erosion and hurricanes. The beach berm is an important feature for the refuge and the salt bayou marsh ecosystem limiting saltwater inundation of marshes from the gulf of mexico during non storm events. Implementation of this NBS project is needed to remediate damage to the mcfaddin beach berm caused by hurricane harvey and other recent tropical storms that have eroded portions of the existing berm forming cuts for saltwater to enter the back marshes during high seasonal tides. Ducks unlimited proposes to complete project planning and implementation to restore the berm and return its important function benefiting coastal habitats and wildlife on the refuge.