ANNOUNCEMENT: Ducks Unlimited Texas Beneficial Use Master Plan Project Initiated

PRESS RELEASE - March 1, 2024

Ducks Unlimited (DU) and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) are pleased to announce the initiation of a Texas Beneficial Use of Dredged Material Master Plan, or TEXBUMP. Stakeholders who have an interest in natural resources restoration along the Texas coast using dredged material are invited to participate and provide input on this Texas-wide plan.

Based on the available dredged material quantity, BU has the potential to restore thousands of acres of currently degrading coastal habitat annually, while also providing coastal resiliency and abating relative sea level rise. The goal of the plan is to facilitate BU projects including creating bird islands, restoring degraded wetlands, renourishing beaches, building tidal flats, and restoring seagrasses. The TEXBUMP will coordinate efforts, establish efficiencies, build consensus, identify and evaluate sites, and produce guidelines and plans that will reduce #melines and costs of BU projects. Beneficial Use Groups, or TEXBUGs, consisting of stakeholders from each of four regions along the Texas coast, will assist in identifying suitable projects. Concept level designs will then be prepared for up to 28 potential sites within the coastal counties. Stakeholders can expect the first of a series of regional meetings within 4 months as this effort gets underway.

The TEXBUMP effort is led by Ducks Unlimited (DU) with support from the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) and Anchor QEA, who will provide project coordination efforts among the regional BUGs and coastal stakeholders to guide and facilitate input into the master planning process. Project efforts will be coordinated with the Texas General Land Office and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and will complement their sediment management and BU efforts. This project was paid for [in part] with federal funding from the Department of the Treasury through the State of Texas under the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act of 2012 (RESTORE Act). The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the State of Texas or Department of the Treasury.

Stakeholders interested in participating should contact Todd Merendino at Ducks Unlimited (tmerendino@ducks.org) and Stephanie Taylor at Anchor QEA (staylor@anchorqea.com)

04/02/2024

ANNOUNCEMENT: PUBLIC COMMENT and MEETING BKT 2/FUNDED PRIORITIES LIST (FPL) 4 PROPOSALS

Toby Baker, the Deputy Chief of Staff for Governor Abbott and the Texas RESTORE appointee, is requesting comments on proposed Texas program areas for submission to the RESTORE Council for consideration for grant funding through the Bucket 2 Council-Selected Restoration Component of the RESTORE Act.

The 45-day public comment period ends Friday, March 22, 2024 and comments should be emailed to RComments@tceq.texas.gov by 5:00pm (central) on the 22nd.

As part of the comment period, a public meeting will be held to receive comments on the proposed Texas program areas. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 5th, from 5:30 to 7:00 pm at Harte Research Institute, located on the Texas A&M Corpus Christi campus (6300 Ocean Drive).

The five Texas proposed program areas were developed in consultation with the Bucket 2 planning workgroups. Baker, along with the TCEQ RESTORE program staff, will review comments received on the posted proposed program areas and determine which to submit to the RESTORE Council for consideration for the next Bucket 2 funding cycle, referred to the FPL 4. The five Gulf states included in the RESTORE Act, as well as the six federal agencies, will determine which proposals to include in the FPL 4 document. At this time approximately $390 million is expected to be available for FPL 4 in the five Gulf state area.

In providing comments on the program areas it is important to include specific reasons to support a program for inclusion in the FPL 4. Texas’ submissions to the Council will be at the programmatic level and will not reference specific projects. However, your comments could provide information and language for the Texas program proposal narratives that captures the types of projects you think should be considered for funding. Though there is not a program area that specifically addresses land acquisitions, if this is an important activity to you, your comments could include whether it should be a stand along program area or which of the posted proposed program areas could employ land acquisitions. Since not all five program areas will likely be submitted to the Council, comments on priorities within the five programs would also be appreciated.

Following submission of the Texas program proposals to the Council and the FPL 4 is posted for comment and final approval, TCEQ will work with Baker to conduct a process to request and identify potential projects that could be funded within the Texas program proposals that are in the final approved FPL 4. That process will include public involvement. Information on that process will be posted on this website.

Please email any questions to restoretexas@tceq.texas.gov.

02/16/2024

UPDATE: BKT 3/TEXAS STATE EXPENDITURE PLAN (SEP) AMENDMENT #2 – 2023

On January 17, 2024, Toby Baker, Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of the Governor, and Governor Abbott’s appointee to the RESTORE Council, received approval from the RESTORE Council of Texas’ State Expenditure Plan (SEP) Amendment #2 - 2023.

Amendment #2 - 2023 to TCEQ’s 2020 amendment #1 approved State Expenditure Plan (SEP) is adjusting the amount of funds authorized for two of the four programmatic areas. Under amendment #1 - 2020 $7,830,000 was available for the Nature Based Tourism (NBT) program and $23,680,000 was available for the Shoreline and Beach Restoration (SBR) program.

For approved amendment #2 - 2023 the funds available for the Nature Based Tourism (NBT) program will increase to $22,830,000 and the amount for the Shoreline and Beach Restoration (SBR) program will be reduced to $8,680,000. In approved amendment #2 – 2023, TCEQ will transfer $15,000,000 from the SBR program to the NBT program to address increased costs for the NBT projects to complete their approved scope of work and to help support the subrecipients’ management and oversite activities of the NBT program. The scope of work for the NBT program will not change and remain as stated in the approved amendment #1 - 2020. Overall, the amount of funds Texas will be authorized under the approved SEP amendment #2 - 2023 does not change. The approved amendment is only transferring funds between two of the four approved Texas SEP programs.

Though two approved programs (Removal of Debris and Restoration of Water Quality & Quantity) continue to have zero funding, they remain as part of the initially approved SEP to provide flexibility and enhance any opportunity for future funding consideration, in response to changes in need, readiness and priorities.

01/31/2024

UPDATE: BKT 3/TEXAS STATE EXPENDITURE PLAN (SEP)

Following the required posting for public comment of amendment #2 (2023) of the state’s SEP, the TCEQ has finalized the document for submission to the RESTORE Council for review and approval. The amendment does not increase funds for RESTORE Bkt 3 activities, rather it transfers funds from one already approved program (Shoreline and Beach Restoration) to another approved program (Nature-Based Tourism). This SEP amendment does not alter the focus of the activities to fund projects identified by the Governor’s Commission to Rebuild Texas (CRT) that was established in response to Hurricane Harvey. During the public comment period, which ended October 27, 2023, thirteen comments were received. Eight comments were supportive of the transfer of funds. Two comments expressed opposition to the transfer. Three of the comments addressed issues not specifically related to the proposed transfer of funds. In reviewing the comments received, it was determined that no substantive changes were needed to amendment #2, as initially proposed and posted for public comment. Once approved by the RESTORE Council Steering Committee, the final Texas SEP Amendment #2 (2023) will be posted on this website.

01/08/2024

Texas State Expenditure Plan (SEP) Amendment 2 Available for Public Comment

As Governor Abbott’s appointee to the RESTORE Council, and Deputy Chief of Staff for the Governor, Toby Baker is seeking public comment on proposed amendment #2 to the Texas State Expenditure Plan (SEP), for Bucket 3.

The amended SEP #2 proposes to make the following changes:

  • increase the amount authorized for the Nature Based Tourism program (Appendix A) by $15,000,000 for a total of $22,830,000; and
  • decrease the amount authorized for the Shoreline and Beach Restoration program (Appendix D) by $15,000,000 for a total of $8,680,000.

No other changes are being proposed.

Comments must be submitted to RComments@tceq.texas.gov by 5:00 pm central time on Friday, October 27th.

For questions only, please use the ‘contact us’ button on this website.

La segunda enmienda al Plan de Gastos del Estado de Texas está disponible para comentarios públicos

Toby Baker, delegado por el Gobernador Abbott al Consejo RESTORE y Subjefe del Gabinete del Gobernador, está solicitando comentarios públicos sobre la enmienda número 2 propuesta para el componente (o Bucket) 3 del Plan de Gastos del Estado de Texas (SEP, por sus siglas en inglés).

El SEP modificado #2 propone realizar los siguientes cambios:

  • Incrementar la cantidad autorizada para el Programa de Ecoturismo (Apéndice A) por USD 15 000 000 para un total de USD 22 830 000; y
  • Disminuir la cantidad autorizada para el Programa de Restauración de Costas y Playas (Apéndice D) por USD 15 000 000 para un total de USD 8 680 000.

No se ha propuesto ningún otro cambio.

Los comentarios deben enviarse a RComments@tceq.texas.gov antes de las 5:00 p. m. (hora estándar del centro) del viernes 27 de octubre.

Favor de utilizar el botón de “contacto” de este sitio web solamente para hacer preguntas.

09/12/2023

PUBLIC COMMENT REQUESTED: COUNCIL POSTING OF FPL 3B AMENDMENT FOR TEXAS

The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (Council) is seeking public comment on a proposal to amend its approval for ecosystem restoration activities. Specifically, the Council is proposing to vote whether to amend its Funded Priorities List 3b (FPL 3b) to:

  • Expand the geographic boundary for the previously approved $24,300,000 in planning and implementation funding for the Texas Land Acquisition Program for Coastal Conservation in Texas

Background on this proposed modification of funding approval is provided on the Council's Public Comment page. Before voting on whether to approve this modification, the Council is publishing this proposed FPL amendment for a 15-day public comment period beginning on August 4, 2022, and concluding at 11:59 pm (CST) on August 18, 2022.

08/05/2022

Video Release: RESTORE Funded Project

Texas RESTORE program has released a video highlighting the Galveston beneficial dredge project. This project, funded under RESTORE Bucket 1, placed dredged sand on Babe’s Beach in Galveston to restore regional habitats, mitigate ongoing beach erosion and off-set the impact of area run-off. Along with TCEQ’s RESTORE program, the project was done in partnership with several federal, state and local entities.

06/22/2022

RESTORE COUNCIL REQUESTS COMMENTS ON BUILD AMERICA BUY AMERICA ACT WAIVER

The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (Council) is seeking public comment on a proposal to waive the requirements of the Build America Buy America Act (BABAA) for six months in order to provide the Council with the time needed to determine how best to address this new law. BABAA mandates that federal grants for infrastructure projects include conditions requiring that the iron, steel, manufactured products, and construction materials used for such projects be produced in the United States. The Council needs to determine whether its funding is subject to BABAA and if so, how to address this law most effectively if and when it issues grants for infrastructure projects, which could include activities such as wastewater treatment and flood protection.

Background

In accordance with BABAA, the Council is proposing a general applicability adjustment period waiver of six (6) months, beginning upon the Council’s issuance of the waiver, of the BABAA domestic content procurement preference provisions as applied to federal financial assistance awards made by the Council pursuant to the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act of 2012 (RESTORE Act). The Council has determined that this adjustment period waiver is in the public interest to enable the Council to (a) align the requirements of BABAA with the Council-Selected Restoration Component and the Spill Impact Component of the RESTORE Act, both of which components are funded and administered by the Council; and (b) avoid immediate delays and disruptions to critically important Council-funded infrastructure projects in the Gulf Coast region. Specifically, the adjustment period is needed in order for the Council to (i) determine if and how BABAA applies to its RESTORE Act projects and programs (collectively, “activities”); (ii) establish the administrative processes, documentation, and capacity necessary for compliance with BABAA requirements for the long term, as appropriate; (iii) ensure that the Council maintains the continuity of its recipients’ activities; and (iv) closely coordinate among the six federal agencies and five states comprising the Council and, as appropriate, engage Council stakeholders, subrecipients, and the general public regarding BABAA. Subject to the effective date of this proposed waiver set forth below, the waiver applies to Council funding approvals for infrastructure activities under the Council-Selected Restoration Component and Spill Impact Component of the RESTORE Act occurring on and after May 14, 2022; BABAA will not retroactively apply to funding approvals occurring before that date.

DATES

Beginning June 9, 2022, you may visit www.restorethegulf.gov to submit your comments before the close of the 15-day public comment period at 11:59 pm MT on June 24, 2022. This waiver will be effective upon the Council’s issuance of the waiver and will remain in effect for six months thereafter. After reviewing public comments, the Council will determine whether to proceed with this waiver with or without modifications to address public input.

06/09/2022

RESTORE COUNCIL ISSUES PRESS RELEASE: 2022 Comprehensive Plan and Videos

Today the RESTORE Council issued a press release addressing the posting of the 2022 Comprehensive Plan for public comment, as well as the release of videos highlighting several RESTORE funded projects in Texas.

05/05/2022

Release of Videos

TCEQ Executive Director Baker is pleased to announce the release of videos highlighting four RESTORE and Deep Water Horizon-funded projects in Texas. Three of the videos display land acquisition projects and the fourth details a project supporting efforts to provide technical and non-technical training, professional development and work experience in restoration, conservation and resiliency.

04/25/2022

Update to Process for Bucket 2 FPL3 Funding Phase

The RESTORE Council (Council) has announced an update to the process for the next round of Bucket 2 funding opportunities, FPL 3. The Council will develop the FPL 3 in two phases, a and b. Developing the FPL 3 in two phases will enable the Council to respond to urgent ecosystem needs, save money, and take advantage of important partnership opportunities to advance large-scale ecosystem restoration in the near term. For FPL 3a, the Council will seek public comment as it considers two ecosystem projects, one in Louisiana and one in Alabama. In the second phase, FPL 3b, the Council would consider restoration projects and programs that address additional ecosystem needs across the Gulf, including Texas. FPL 3a and 3b will adhere to the FPL development processes committed to by the Council, particularly as they relate to best available science (BAS), public engagement and transparency, and the Council’s recently finalized Planning Framework. For information on the two projects being considered on FPL 3a, please visit https://www.restorethegulf.gov. Also, continue to visit this site for updates on the on-going efforts in Texas to develop proposals that could be considered for funding through FPL 3b, as well as associated timelines.
TCEQ Executive Director and Governor Abbott’s appointee to the RESTORE Council Toby Baker’s presentation at the September 9 and September 10 public meetings.

Announcement: Request for Proposals

The TCEQ has posted the following Request for Proposals (RFP): Oversight and Monitoring Services for Restore Act Grant Projects. The solicitation number is 582-20-10405 and involves Class 926, Items 40, 42 and 72 and Class 958, Items 25, 26 and 77. The RFP can be accessed through the Electronic State Business Daily (ESDB) web site. On the web site, in the “Solicitation ID/PO Number ” field, enter the solicitation number (582-20-10405) and then click on “Search” to access this solicitation. The deadline for submitting proposals in response to the RFP is 3:00 pm (central time) on Thursday, September 12th. A pre-proposal conference has been scheduled for Tuesday, August 20th, 2019 at 9:30 A.M. (Central Time). Attendance at the pre-proposal conference is not mandatory; however, attendance is strongly recommended. The location of the Pre-Proposal Conference is at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, 12100 Park 35 Circle, Building D, Conference Room 191, Austin, TX 78753. Through this RFP, the TCEQ is seeking a Contractor(s) to provide scientific and technical services to assist TCEQ with its duties related to monitoring and oversight of funded projects awarded to Texas under the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economics of the Gulf Coast States Act (RESTORE Act). The Contract may also be utilized at the discretion of TCEQ for other activities related to the RESTORE Act program. All questions concerning the RFP must be presented through the ESDB site, listed above.

Bucket 3 Texas State Expenditure Plan Approved

On March 4, 2019, Toby Baker, TCEQ Executive Director and Governor Abbott’s appointee to the RESTORE Council, received approval of Texas’ Initial State Expenditure Plan (SEP). As a reminder, the initial SEP focuses on Hurricane Harvey recovery efforts and is a programmatic plan addressing the distribution of approximately $31 million in RESTORE Bucket 3 funds. Other plans will be developed in later years as additional Bucket 3 funds become available. Texas is expected to receive a total of $121 million by the end of 2031. With the approval of the Texas programmatic SEP the next steps to secure the Bucket 3 funds for Texas projects are outlined below:
  • TCEQ develops and submits to the RESTORE Council staff federal applications for each of the four programmatic areas in the approved SEP.
  • Once the RESTORE Council has awarded grants for each of the four programmatic areas, TCEQ will develop work plans for selected projects that will be funded under each of the awarded programmatic grants.
  • The selection of projects will be made through collaboration between the Office of the Governor, Baker, and the Commission to Rebuild Texas (CRT), a Governor-established Commission to manage Hurricane Harvey recovery efforts. The extensive project lists that have been compiled by CRT following the hurricane will be used in determining which projects are most needed and are eligible to receive RESTORE funds through the Bucket 3 SEP component of the RESTORE Act.
Projects selected to move forward under the approved SEP must comply with the programmatic SEP requirements, such as, but not limited to the following:
  • eligible activity;
  • authorized geographic location; and
  • qualified recipient type.

Update on Bucket 1 MIP

TCEQ RESTORE staff continue to prepare federal applications for submission to Treasury to receive grant awards for Bucket 1 funds. TCEQ will submit seven federal applications consisting of 22 of the 26 projects in the accepted Multi-Year Implementation Plan (MIP). The applications are based on the following primary eligible activities: Restoration & Protection; Mitigation; Promotion of Consumption of Seafood; Planning Assistance; Tourism; Flood Protection; and Workforce Development. Each of the 22 projects will be included in one of the seven applications associated with the eligible activity that it was listed under in the MIP. Staff has submitted the following applications to Treasury: Restoration & Protection (four projects); Flood Protection (five projects); and Workforce Development (two projects). The Tourism application (six projects) is currently being finalized. As a reminder, approximately $97 million is currently available to Texas under Bucket 1. Projects moving forward to the application phase were selected by then TCEQ Commissioner Baker using his discretionary authority and in consultation with the Office of the Governor. Factors that were considered included whether the projects (1) strengthen coastal resiliency, (2) stimulate local coastal economies, (3) increase tourism, and (4) establish a foundation for future economic and ecosystem restoration through careful planning and study. Consideration was also given to projects that had a strong economic component in addition to ecological restoration. Finally, these projects were also selected to provide funding for as many RESTORE eligible counties as possible, as well as to ensure a cross-section of projects that addressed as many of the RESTORE eligible activities as possible. Any questions concerning the Bucket 1/MIP process should be directed to the TCEQ’s Procurement and Contracts section in the Office of Administrative Services at arthur.french@tceq.texas.gov.

About RESTORE

The Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act of 2012, or The RESTORE Act. The RESTORE Act dedicates 80 percent of any civil and administrative penalties paid under the Clean Water Act, after the enactment of the RESTORE Act, by responsible parties in connection with the Deepwater Horizon oil spill to the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Trust Fund for ecosystem restoration, economic recovery, and tourism promotion in the Gulf Coast region. Following resolution of administrative and civil penalties, Texas is expected to receive at least $550 million in RESTORE funds through 2033. The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (Council) is charged with helping to restore the ecosystem and economy of the Gulf Coast region by developing and overseeing the implementation of the RESTORE Act. The Council includes the Governors of the States of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas and the Secretaries of the U.S. Departments of Commerce, Agriculture Army, Homeland Security and the Interior and the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Commissioner, Toby Baker, has been designated by the Governor of Texas, as the Texas representative on the Council. In addition, the RESTORE Act authorizes the U.S. Treasury to manage the activities conducted by the states under Buckets 1 (Direct Component) and 5 (Centers of Excellence). Restore Funds Chart

Funding

The money in the Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund will be allocated to the Gulf Coast states and the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council according to the following guidelines:
  • 35 percent divided equally between the five Gulf Coast States to be used for ecosystem restoration, economic development & tourism promotion (Direct Component – Bucket 1);
  • 30 percent for ecosystem restoration under the Comprehensive Plan developed and approved by the Council (Comprehensive Plan Component – Bucket 2);
  • 30 percent divided among the five Gulf Coast States according to a formula to implement State Expenditure Plans, which require Council approval–each Gulf state is guaranteed a minimum of 5 percent of the 30 percent allocation (Spill Impact Component – Bucket 3);
  • 2.5 percent dedicated to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to establish a Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Science, Observation, Monitoring & Technology Program; and
  • 2.5 percent allocated to the Gulf Coast States to award grants to establish Centers of Excellence/Bucket 5.

Allocation of Funds Under the RESTORE Act

In 2016, the Council and the State of Texas recognize this unique and unprecedented opportunity to implement a coordinated Gulf region-wide restoration effort. The Council’s five goals included in the Plan are: (1) Restore and Conserve Habitat – Restore and conserve the health, diversity, and resilience of key coastal, estuarine, and marine habitats. (2) Restore Water Quality – Restore and protect water quality of the Gulf Coast regions fresh, estuarine, and marine waters. (3) Replenish and Protect Living Coastal and Marine Resources – Restore and protect healthy, diverse, and sustainable living coastal and marine resources. (4) Enhance Community Resilience – Build upon and sustain communities with capacity to adapt to short- and long-term changes. (5) Restore and Revitalize the Gulf Economy – Enhance the sustainability and resiliency of the Gulf economy. The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (Council) adopted the 2016 Comprehensive Plan. The Plan provides strategic guidance for the Council to follow as it makes decisions on funding projects and activities aimed at restoring the Gulf of Mexico. The plan provides a framework to implement a coordinated region-wide restoration effort in a way that restores, protects and revitalizes the Gulf Coast region following the DWH oil spill. The Initial Comprehensive Plan provides a framework to implement a coordinated region-wide restoration effort in a way that restores, protects, and revitalizes the Gulf Coast region following the DWH oil spill. For additional information on the Plan, visit the Council’s website at www.RestoreTheGulf.gov. RESTORE Eligible Counties Map

TEXAS EFFORTS

In his capacity as TCEQ Commissioner, Toby Baker was appointed by the Governor to perform RESTORE-related duties for Texas, including representing the state on the federal RESTORE Council. Baker is responsible for directing the state’s activities to secure RESTORE funds associated with four of the five components under the federal RESTORE Act. These components include: Direct (Bucket 1), Council-Selected (Bucket 2), Spill Impact (Bucket 3), and Centers of Excellence (Bucket 5). Baker’s gubernatorial appointment to the Council remained in place when he became the TCEQ Executive Director.

RESTORE Components (Buckets)

Direct Component (Bucket 1)

Under Bucket 1, 35% of the RESTORE Funds are available in equal amounts to each of the five Gulf Coast states. Each state must submit a Multiyear Implementation Plan (MIP) to the U.S. Treasury prior to receiving grant awards. Funds under Bucket 1 provide the Gulf states with the most discretion in selecting projects to receive grants. Projects receiving Bucket 1 funds must address ecosystem restoration and economic development along the Texas Coast. See above for updates on the latest Bucket 1 activities.

Council-Selected Component (Bucket 2)

The RESTORE Council receives 30% of the total RESTORE funds to support Bucket 2 projects. Projects funded under Bucket 2 implement the RESTORE Council’s Comprehensive Plan. The grant funds can be used for ecosystem restoration and protection in the Gulf Coast region. Council Members, representing the five Gulf Coast states and six federal agencies, submit projects to the RESTORE Council for consideration. Project selection is competitive and is based on priority criteria presented in the federal RESTORE Act. Under the first round of Bucket 2 funding, referred to as FPL 1, approximately $26 million for six projects were approved for Texas. Four of the six projects in Texas will be managed by the state, through the TCEQ. Those projects include: Matagorda Bay System Landscape Conservation, Bayou Greenways, Bahia Grande Coastal Corridor, and Texas Beneficial Use and Marsh Restoration. Also under FPL 1, ,NOAA, through the U.S. Department of Interior, was awarded grant funds to engage the Gulf of Mexico Coastal Conservation Corps (“GulfCorps”) Program in developing a Gulf-wide conservation corps that will contribute to meaningful Gulf of Mexico ecosystem restoration benefiting coastal habitat and water quality in each of the Gulf coast states, while economically benefiting coastal communities through education, training, and employment opportunities. The GulfCorps recruits, trains, and employs workers to implement habitat restoration projects and develop skills in support of long-term Gulf coast restoration. NOAA established a cooperative agreement with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) to develop and administer the GulfCorps program within each Gulf state, including Texas. Activities conducted by the Texas GulfCorps crew in the spring of 2018 included: Armand Bayou Nature Center Stewardship, the crew:
  • constructed and installed dozens of nesting platforms at the island with the heron and egret rookery;
  • cut and removed Chinese Tallow on 5.8 acres of land;
  • spot-treated the cut-stumps of those invasive species with herbicide to hamper re-growth;
  • removed 18 cubic feet of trash; planted 0.4 acres of saltmarsh species; and
  • removed 300 feet of obstructing fence lines.
Artist Boat’s Coastal Heritage Preserve Stewardship, the crew:
  • cut and removed Chinese Tallow on 4.55 acres of land;
  • spot-treated the cut-stumps of those invasive species with herbicide to hamper re-growth;
  • cleared almost 100 cubic feet of underbrush; constructed 90 feet of new fence line; and
  • conducted fuel reduction thinning on 0.2 acres.
Additionally, the Texas crew received training in the following:
  • Invasive Species Identification
  • Herbicide Application
  • Trail Building Training
  • Wilderness First Aid/CPR
  • Chainsaw Certification and Training
  • Tree Felling Training
  • Coastal Prairie Ecosystems and Rookery Dynamics Educational Training
  • SeaGrant Marine Mammal Oil Spill Response Seminar
  • Risk Management; Group Dynamics; Conservation Ethics; Diversity and Inclusion.
  • Crew activities began again in September 2018. See specific information on all the NOAA-selected projects.
See above for updates on the latest Bucket 2 activities.

Spill Impact Component (Bucket 3)

Under Bucket 3, 30% of RESTORE Funds is divided among the five Gulf Coast states based on a RESTORE Council approved funding allocation formula. Under this formula Texas receives 7.58% of the 30%. The eligibility requirements to receive Bucket 3 grant funds are similar to Bucket 1; ecological and economic projects for restoration of the Texas Gulf Coast region. To receive grant funds, the states are required to submit a State Expenditure Plan (SEP) for Council approval. The SEP submitted by Baker on behalf of the state was approved by the RESTORE Council Chair in March 2019. See above for updates on the latest Bucket 3 activities.

Centers of Excellence Component (Bucket 5)

Texas was the first state in the nation to receive money from the RESTORE Trust Fund through an award from the U.S. Treasury to fund two Centers of Excellence. The two centers, Texas OneGulf, at Texas A&M, Corpus Christi and Subsea Systems Institute, at the University of Houston, equally share an initial $4,038,000. The establishment of the centers is part of Texas’ ongoing implementation of the RESTORE Act which requires that the five Gulf States affected by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill establish centers to conduct research on the Gulf Coast Region. An amended award for Bucket 5 funds was issued by Treasury. The amended award provides an additional $1,000,000 to each of the two Texas Centers of Excellence through 2020, for a total of $3,018,000 each. The additional funds will support both the projects conducted by the Centers, as well as the Centers’ administrative expenses. The Texas OneGulf Center of Excellence, established in January 2015 and led by Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, is a consortium of Texas marine oriented science and human health institutions. Their efforts focus on research activities that emphasize sustainable and resilient growth, as well as economic and commercial development in the coastal region. For more information on the Texas OneGulf Center of Excellence, visit the Texas OneGulf website at http://www.texasonegulf.org/ The Subsea Systems Institute was established in 2015 under collaboration between the University of Houston, Rice University and the Johnson Space Center (NASA). Their focus is offshore energy development, including research and technology to improve the sustainable and safe development of energy resources in the Gulf of Mexico. For more information on the Subsea Institute, visit http://www.uh.edu/uh-energy/research/subsea-institute/

Public Participation

Please check this website periodically for opportunities for public participation, as well as updates on on-going activities.

Links to Past RESTORE Documents

Click on a link below to download the document:

Bucket 2 Planning Presentation

Executive Director Baker’s Bucket 2 Public Meeting presentation provides background information on the RESTORE funds and outlines the purpose and goals of the public meetings

HRI’s Bucket 2 Planning Presentation

Dr. James Gibeaut’s Bucket 2 Public Meeting presentation provided information on the status of the Texas Gulf coast.

Press Release

Commissioner Baker Announces MIP Acceptance by Treasury (December 2017). View the Press Release

MIP Acceptance Letter

View the Acceptance Letter

Final MIP (December 2017)

View the Final MIP

“CONSERVE, RESTORE, RENEW”

The Framework Document outlines the importance of the Texas coast and Texas’ implementation of the RESTORE Act. View the FRAMEWORK Document.

Commissioner Baker’s presentation to Golden Triangle Days (March 2017)

View the presentation

Deepwater Horizon (February 2017)

View the Deepwater Horizon presentation

Commissioner Baker Testifies at House Natural Resources Committee Hearing (April 26, 2016)

View Commissioner Baker’s presentation

Commissioner Baker’s Editorial on the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, “From Destruction, Restoration” (March 14, 2016)

View the editorial

Direct Component “Bucket 1” Workshops (February 2016)

View the presentation

RESTORE Listening Sessions (September 2015)

View the presentation
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