This agreement provides funding under the infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA) (PL 117-58) to the coastal bend bays and estuaries program (cbbep)

This Project Grant award, provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the National Estuary Program (CFDA 66.456), will fund the Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program (CBBEP) to implement eight projects that support the organization's Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan. The $909,800 award will support activities such as wetland enhancement, trail development, shoreline protection, water quality monitoring, wastewater treatment plant assessments, habitat restoration, and stormwater management initiatives across the Texas Gulf Coast region. Key subrecipients include Texas-based conservation groups, universities, and governmental entities. The award period runs from November 1, 2024 to October 31, 2029.

The recipient will support implementation of the comprehensive conservation and management plan (ccmp) and strategic plan to improve water quality, protect the natural habitat and living resources, and support sustainable human uses. The projects proposed for funding via the bipartisan infrastructure law (BIL) will leverage existing efforts. Specifically, the recipient will complete the following eight projects: 1.lamar burton wetlands enhancement and aransas woods 2. Laguna shores hike and bike trail amenities, phase i 3. Shoreline and wetland protection at cohn preserve, phase II 4. Temporal changes in aragonite saturation state in oyster reefs 5. Baffin BAY wastewater treatment plant - agua dulce assessment 6. Protection and restoration of benny's shack islands, phase II 7. Nueces delta preserve infrastructure enhancements 8. Rain to resource project - rainwater harvesting at the SAN antonio and aransas pass railroad depotactivities:the activities include: 1.lamar burton wetlands enhancement and aransas woods-lamar burton wetlands cattail reduction – enhance wetland productivity and wildlife viewing opportunities at two sites managed by aransas first. 2. Laguna shores hike and bike trail amenities, phase i – provide the first step in design and construction of a hike and bike trail that will serve to improve public access for wildlife viewing and fishing at a series of ponds located along laguna shores drive. 3. Shoreline and wetland protection at cohn preserve, phase II – slow down existing erosion and enable a more efficient, cost-effective, complementary construction option of the shoreline protection design identified in phase 1. 4. Temporal changes in aragonite saturation state in oyster reefs – improve the understanding of aragonite saturation state (omega; arag) in the mission-aransas estuary (MAE) and its response to hydrological variability and biogeochemical processes (respiration) at a series of natural and restored oyster reefs on a seasonal basis, including periods after significant freshwater inflow. 5. Baffin BAY wastewater treatment plant - agua dulce assessment – improve water quality in petronila creek and baffin BAY through the identification of improvements at the agua dulce wastewater treatment plant (wwtp) and completion of a funding application to implement improvements. 6. Protection and restoration of benny's shack islands, phase II – increase the amount of nesting habitat available for colonial waterbirds within the lower laguna madre by protecting and restoring benny's shack islands. 7. Nueces delta preserve infrastructure enhancements – ensure accessibility for all individuals to the educational programs offered at cbbep's nueces delta preserve by providing ADA-compliant trails, boardwalks, pier, and wildlife observation platforms. 8. Rain to resource project - rainwater harvesting at the SAN antonio and aransas pass railroad depot – implement a rainwater harvesting project at the historic SAN antonio and aransas pass railroad depot that provides water for the site's landscaping, while also serving as a powerful educational tool that showcases the benefits of rainwater harvesting. Subrecipient:the following subawards are included in this assistance agreement: 1. Lamar burton wetlands enhancement and aransas woods 2. Laguna shores hike and bike trail amenities, phase i 3. Shoreline and wetland protection at cohn preserve, phase II 4. Temporal changes in aragonite saturation state in oyster reefs 5. Baffin BAY wastewater treatment plant - agua dulce assessment 8. Rain to resource project - rainwater harvesting at the SAN antonio and aransas pass railroad depotoutcomes:the anticipated deliverables include: semi and annual progress reports, final project reports and quality assu