These funds for coastal bend bays and estuaries program (cbbep) support implementation of the comprehensive conservation and management plan (ccmp) and accompanying strategic plan to improve the water…

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 6 has awarded a $909,800 Project Grant under the National Estuary Program (CFDA 66.456) to the Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program, Inc. (CBBEP), a non-profit organization. The funding will support various initiatives to implement CBBEP's Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan for protecting and restoring the water quality, habitats, and living resources of the Coastal Bend bays and estuaries in Texas. Key activities to be delivered include monitoring and adaptive management of dredge material placement, enhancing accessibility and shoreline restoration at wildlife refuges, controlling invasive species in wetlands, inspecting and repairing failing septic systems, conducting ocean acidification monitoring, constructing green stormwater infrastructure, and providing community cleanup and waste disposal services. The project period runs from Nov 1, 2023 to Oct 31, 2028. Certain activities will involve sub-recipients to assist with tasks such as trail construction, shoreline protection, and septic system remediation.

These funds for coastal bend bays and estuaries program (cbbep) support implementation of the comprehensive conservation and management plan (ccmp) and accompanying strategic plan to improve the water quality, protect the natural habitat and living resources, and support sustainable human uses of the coastal bend bays and estuaries. This agreement is supported by funding provided under the infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA) (PL 117-58).activities:activities in the work plan focus on maintaining, restoring, and/or improving water quality and habitat, and also include public access, outreach, and education. The activities to be performed by the cbbep include the following: 1) monitoring success of dredge material placement at the nueces delta - the objectives for this project are (1) to conduct pre- and post- elevation and vegetation surveys related to an upcoming dredge placement project at the nueces delta preserve and (2) to develop an adaptive management plan that will assist cbbep in their long-term management efforts associated with the dredge placement project. 2) hans and PAT suter wildlife refuge enhancements, phase i - the specific project objectives include: (1) conversion of trails from asphalt to americans with disabilities act (ADA)-compliant concrete trails; (2) protection and restoration of eroding shoreline; and (3) engineering and design work related to boardwalk and viewing structure replacements. 3) held-moran sanctuary accessibility improvement and trail development, phase II - the primary project objective is to continue improving the accessibility to held-moran sanctuary by installing an ADA-compliant trail, interpretive signage, and establishing a fire break on the southwest boundary. 4) flour bluff wetlands invasive species control - the objective of this project is to perform habitat restoration activities, specifically, removal of invasive plant species, to improve the diversity of native plants and wildlife populations at the wetlands located on the flour bluff independent school district (fbisd) campus. 5) on-site sewage facilities (ossf) assistance program, phase II - the project objective is to address nutrient and bacteria issues in targeted watersheds by inspecting, repairing, and/or replacing eleven ossfs that are failing or non-existent, focusing on underserved communities with limited resources. 6) ocean acidification monitoring in aransas ship channel - the primary objective of this project is to conduct high frequency monitoring of potential of hydrogen (PH) and partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO2) in the aransas ship channel using two in situ sensors. Additional water samples will be analyzed for total alkalinity and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC). 7) green stormwater infrastructure demonstration project at keach family library, robstown, texas (TX) - the primary project objective is to construct a demonstration-scale rain garden and bioretention area at the nueces county's keach family library in robstown, TX. 8) 'UP2U plus' disposal fees - the project objective is to provide disposal fees associated with dumpster events for the 'UP2U plus' program, a public awareness campaign providing numerous community clean UPS and free bulk waste collection events throughout the coastal bend region through 2024. Subrecipient:there are five projects that will utilize subrecipients: 1) hans and PAT suter wildlife refuge enhancements, phase i - the specific project objectives include: (1) conversion of trails from asphalt to ADA-compliant concrete trails; (2) protection and restoration of eroding shoreline; and (3) engineering and design work related to boardwalk and viewing structure replacements. 2) ossf assistance program, phase II - the project objective is to address nutrient and bacteria issues in targeted watersheds by inspecting, repairing, and/or replacing ELE