EPA Honors Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program

DALLAS – (Nov. 30, 2017) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Gulf of Mexico Program announced exciting news. The Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program earned third place in the 2017 Gulf Guardian Awards, Civic/Non-Profit category.

A Win for Wetland Restoration

This award recognized the group’s leadership in restoring 160 acres of marsh habitat in Nueces Bay. Their decade-long effort brought together funding partners, volunteers, and public support. As a result, a vital stretch of wetland returned to life—benefiting fish, birds, and nearby communities.

Celebrating Action and Impact

The Gulf Guardian Awards highlight outstanding environmental projects across the Gulf region. In this case, the EPA honored the Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program for its community-driven approach. Their success shows what’s possible when science, dedication, and public engagement align.

Program Restoration 

The program restored 160 acres of marsh habitat in Nueces Bay. As a result, it earned national recognition for its impact.

Ben Scaggs, Director of the Gulf of Mexico Program, praised the effort. He emphasized the Gulf’s dual role—as a source of recreation and a driver of economic activity.

“The Gulf of Mexico is a vibrant yet vulnerable ecosystem,” Scaggs said. “To protect it, we must take innovative and proactive steps.”

Gulf Guardian

He added that the Gulf Guardian award winners lead by example. They bring fresh ideas and create models that others can follow.

In the end, this project shows how local restoration can deliver big results for an entire region.

Restoring the Heart of Nueces Bay

The Nueces Bay Marsh restoration project revived 160 acres of critical wetland habitat along the Nueces Bay Causeway. This stretch lies between Corpus Christi and Portland, Texas. Once a thriving ecosystem, it had suffered decades of damage and decline. Now, thanks to sustained effort, it’s coming back to life.

A Vital Ecosystem Lost to Development

Before the 1940s, the marsh provided a vital nursery for shrimp, crabs, and juvenile fish. It also served as a feeding ground for larger fish and countless birds. However, that changed in the 1940s when construction began on Highway 181 and the Nueces Bay Causeway.

The dredging and development lasted nearly 15 years. During that time, over 180 acres of healthy marsh were destroyed. In the following decades, another 160 acres disappeared due to erosion and subsidence. The impact rippled through the local environment.

Wildlife populations declined. Infrastructure around Highway 181 also faced new risks, with the degraded wetlands no longer buffering storms and tides.

A Long-Term Plan to Restore the Bay

In 2005, the Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program (CBBEP) stepped in. After years of planning, construction began in 2009. The project aimed to restore what had been lost and protect what remained.

Over the next 10 years, the $5.3 million effort took shape. Funding came from many partners—federal, state, and local. Volunteers and local residents also played a key role, adding labor, time, and energy to the cause.

A 160-Acre Comeback

Today, the project stands as a major win for conservation. It created a 160-acre marsh complex in an area that had seen more than 50 years of habitat loss. That means more food, shelter, and safe spaces for marine life.

The Nueces Bay estuary connects to the Gulf of Mexico through Corpus Christi Bay and Aransas Pass. Texas Parks and Wildlife designated it a shrimp nursery area. As a result, commercial shrimping is prohibited. This restored marsh now supports the early life stages of many marine species—including some vital to the local economy.

Recognized for Excellence: Gulf Guardian Award

In 2017, the project received national recognition. It won a Gulf Guardian Award from the Gulf of Mexico Program. Since 2000, this award has honored people, businesses, and organizations that help keep the Gulf healthy and productive.

Awards are given in seven categories, including individual, business/industry, civic/nonprofit, youth education, cultural diversity/environmental justice, partnerships, and binational efforts. First, second, and third place awards highlight the best of the best.

This year’s ceremony will take place on November 30, 2017, at the Grand Hotel Marriott Resort in Point Clear, Alabama.

About the Gulf of Mexico Program

Founded in 1988, the Gulf of Mexico Program works to protect and restore the Gulf’s ecosystem. Its mission focuses on environmental and economic sustainability.

Backed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the program brings together a diverse network. That includes state and federal agencies, business leaders, farmers, scientists, environmental advocates, and local communities from all five Gulf states.

Together, they share one goal: to ensure the Gulf remains healthy, productive, and resilient for generations to come.

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For more about EPA’s Gulf of Mexico Program: https://www.epa.gov/gulfofmexico