Post-Hurricane Beach Restoration at McFaddin NWR

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McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge proposes to restore approximately target the most severely impacted sections of 18 miles of beach damaged by Hurricane Ike. Hurricane Ike storm surge severely eroded the beach ridge, lowering the elevation of the ridge approximately 1-2 feet along the entire length of the beach, and causing 10-15 blowouts of lower elevation along the 20 miles of beach. The beach ridge protects over 55,000 acres of intermediate marsh managed by the refuge. Current impacts to the interior marshes from saltwater intrusion and potential oil impacts from the gulf will threaten the majority of the refuge’s wildlife habitat. Currently, high tides push sea water over the damaged beach ridge several times during the summer and fall, making it impossible to effectively manage a large portion of the refuge. McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge is an important wintering area for over 100,000 migratory waterfowl annually. This project will fill in the blown out areas and raise the beach ridge to an elevation that will keep the high tides lunar and seasonal tides out of the marsh and protect the area from the damages of exposure to a gulf oil spill. The Texas General Land Office has been working on this issue for several years and has specific knowledge of the issues and process confronting the beach. The General Land Office also has done preliminary assessments critical to the development of a solution to this issue. The GLO would provide support through partnerships and other grants of no less than one million dollars to assist in the project. This assistance can be in in-kind services such as permitting and NEPA preparation, engineering work or other aspects of this project.

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