In this three year project will investigate the performance of artificial reef pyramid low profile modules and concrete railroad tie patches of several sizes over several sediment types in the…

This three-year, $153,846 formula grant awarded by the U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service in Region 2 to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will investigate the performance of artificial reef modules and concrete railroad tie patches in the nearshore Gulf of Mexico along the Texas coast. The project aims to understand the benefits and functions of these nearshore reefs and identify the most robust configurations for providing adequate nursery and adult reef habitat. Using side-scan sonar, ROV surveys, and boat-mounted ADCP surveys, the research will assess the effects of the deployed reef configurations and their performance in providing fish habitat several years after deployment. This project focuses on habitat restoration, creation, and cultivation to inform adaptive management for the restoration and creation of Texas nearshore habitats using artificial reefs. The funding is provided under the State Wildlife Grants (CFDA 15.634) program, which supports strategic, proactive conservation efforts by state fish and wildlife agencies.

In this three year project will investigate the performance of artificial reef pyramid low profile modules and concrete railroad tie patches of several sizes over several sediment types in the nearshore gulf of mexico along the texas coast IT is important to understand the benefit and function of these nearshore reefs and what configurations are most robust in terms of providing adequate nursery habitat to adult reef habitat there are four study sites of this research including the RIO grande valley reef corpus christi reef big mans reef and kates reef this project will use sidescan sonar ROV surveys and boat mounted adcp surveys to assess the effects of these deployed configurations and their performance providing fish habitat several years after deployment the research for this proposal focuses on habitat restoration creation and cultivation IT will inform adaptive management for the restoration and creation of texas nearshore habitats using artificial reefs