The J.D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area (WMA) north of Sabine Pass is one of the most diverse ecosystems in the state. It is home to a plethora of bird species, reptiles, turtles, gators, rodents, coyotes, bobcats, and wild hogs. This year the Salt Bayou Unit, also known as Marsh Bayou, is undergoing a major marsh revitalization, a project that will boost the entire ecosystem thanks to environmental restoration efforts by Port Arthur LNG.
“As part of our environmental mitigation program for Port Arthur LNG, we reached out to Texas Parks & Wildlife in 2015 to determine their interest in sediment for their marsh,” said Jim Thompson, Permitting and Compliance for Sempra Infrastructure. “We are dredging the canal where tankers will load LNG and will be removing about seven million cubic yards of sediment. That sediment has been repurposed to build up the marsh.”
Restoration of the marsh requires pumping 4.8 million cubic yards of sediment into two separate marsh areas, each more than 600 acres in size. With pumps moving sediment from the marine berth dredging operation to the marsh 24 hours a day, one of the marsh areas is already filled. When both marsh areas are filled, the land will be given time to settle, and then native vegetation will be planted to bring the sites back to life.
“We’re excited to work with Port Arthur LNG,” said Michael Rezsutek, a Project Leader for the Upper Coast Wetland Ecosystem Project in Port Arthur. “Erosion of the park began decades ago when the intercoastal canal was built and continued to erode with each passing hurricane and rise and fall of sea levels. This project would have cost us tens of millions of dollars in grants, which would be next to impossible to achieve. This partnership allows us to offset the cost while maintaining the community’s recreational activities, everybody wins.”
Since a big part of the marsh ecosystem is small animals and birds, the next phase of the project will be planting native vegetation which is expected to begin in 2025. Once vegetation takes root, wildlife will use these plants for food, nesting, and housing.
“This is a great example of how industry and community can work towards the same goal,” said Thompson. “We’re excited about the opportunity to help conserve and enhance the area and its natural resources for generations to come.”
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