The proposed actions described herein will strengthen critical ecosystems and benefit underserved communities in two counties within the greater houston metro area

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration awarded Ducks Unlimited, Inc. a Cooperative Agreement for $9,998,764 on October 1, 2026, under the Habitat Conservation program (CFDA 11.463) to implement nature-based shoreline stabilization and estuarine marsh restoration in the West Galveston Bay watershed across two counties in the greater Houston metropolitan area.

The project will construct nearshore rock breakwaters to reduce wave energy from vessel wakes, wind-driven waves, and tides that currently drive high rates of shoreline erosion and loss of vegetated marsh habitat. Following breakwater installation, the stabilized shoreline area will be restored to a tidal marsh complex containing emergent vegetation, open water, and tidal flats. These actions will address direct threats to fisheries productivity and ecosystem resilience caused by erosion-driven conversion of lower-salinity to higher-salinity marsh types and the loss of marsh to open water.

The award also funds youth education outreach and early-career development opportunities in natural resources for underserved communities. The project will benefit 19,395 individuals in underserved communities and approximately 10,625 students across the two-county area.

Performance runs through December 31, 2029, with administrative oversight at Ducks Unlimited's Southern Regional Office in Ridgeland, Mississippi.

These actions will implement nature-based solutions to stabilize shorelines and protect estuarine marsh which in turn will increase ecosystem and community resiliency from coastal climate hazards. Additional benefits to underserved communities will include youth education outreach and early career development opportunities in natural resources. These actions and programs will benefit 19,395 individuals in underserved communities and approximately 10,625 students. Specifically, the proposed actions will address shoreline erosion impacts that threaten the health of adjacent estuarine marsh and their resilience to tropical storms within the west galveston BAY watershed. The shoreline of each of the project sites experience high rates of erosion caused by vessel wakes, wind-driven waves, and tides. This equates to a direct loss of marsh habitat as well as widening natural tidal channels and opening new cuts into once isolated wetlands. The changes to tidal hydrology caused by erosion have resulted in conversion of adjacent marsh from lower salinity to higher salinity marsh types and the loss of vegetated marsh to open water. These impacts continue today and threaten productivity for fisheries and ecosystem resilience. The objectives of this project are to stabilize vulnerable BAY and giww shorelines through implementation of nearshore rock breakwaters that are known to be a long-term and effective solution for reducing wave energy in high-energy, aquatic environments. Following completion, the shoreline will stabilize, and the area between the breakwater and the shoreline will be restored to a tidal marsh complex containing emergent vegetation, open water, and tidal flats. Finally, NOAA funding will be committed to education outreach programs and early career development opportunities directly benefiting youth and underserved communities in the region.