The bahia grande (BG) complex is a recovering estuarine system within the laguna atascosa national wildlife refuge (LANWR), currently one of the largest restoration projects in the country

This Cooperative Agreement award of $126,663 from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration provides funding to support research and monitoring activities under the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Science, Observation, Monitoring, and Technology program. Specifically, the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and its parent organization the University of Texas System will carry out assessments of ecosystem recovery in the Bahia Grande estuarine complex, located within the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge. Previous assessments conducted with involvement from named researchers have found recovery progress decelerating, indicating an need to improve tidal exchange through widening of the main connecting channel to support full restoration of the estuarine ecosystem to a functional state. Work under this award will further evaluate recovery in the Bahia Grande complex and inform management efforts to accelerate progress toward restoration goals over a two year period ending in August 2023.

Tidal exchange between this system and the lower laguna madre (LLM) was interrupted in the 1930S, effectively converting the basin into a dust bowl. This condition remained until a channel was dredged in 2005, connecting the system to the LLM, allowing flooding and limited tidal exchange. The goal of this intervention was to restore the BG to a functional estuarine ecosystem. Following the restoration intervention (i.e., opening of connecting channel), the recovery of the BG estuarine ecosystem has been assessed and monitored with direct involvement by both cintra buenrostro and fierro cabo. These assessments have concluded that, while recovery is occurring, progress is decelerating. An amelioration in tidal exchange has been indicated as a requirement to full ecosystem recovery. Widening of the MAI