04-02 | Texas General Land Office Awards TPWD More Than $3 Million for Coastal Restoration Projects

April 2, 2026

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These funds will benefit projects for the Coastal Fisheries, State Parks and Wildlife divisions

AUSTIN- The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has recently been awarded more than $3 million by the Texas General Land Office (GLO) for coastal restoration projects along the Texas Gulf Coast. GLO awarded approximately $84.6 million to 14 coastal counties through two major coastal protection programs, including several projects on TPWD lands.

At check presentations in Corpus Christi and League City in February and March, Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham awarded $2.9 million in funds for three grants relating to shoreline protection and coastal restoration projects to the TPWD Coastal Fisheries Division. Additionally, TPWD’s State Parks and Wildlife divisions were presented $453,802 in grant awards to support shoreline protection and marsh restoration projects at Goose Island State Park and Powderhorn State Park and Wildlife Management Area.

Coastal Fisheries Projects

The $2.9 million in grants awarded to TPWD’s Coastal Fisheries Division will help fund projects addressing coastal erosion, habitat restoration for shore birds and land acquisition for Matagorda Peninsula Coastal Management Area (CMA).

“The support for these projects from the General Land Office certainly leads to greater overall protection of coastal aquatic habitats along the Texas coast,” said Robin Riechers, Director of Coastal Fisheries. “The additions to the Matagorda Peninsula Coastal Management Area will continue the effort to protect and preserve some unique coastal habitats”

Through the Coastal Erosion Planning and Response Act (CEPRA) Cycle 14 program, $500,000 is earmarked for projects addressing coastal erosion and preferred erosion response solutions, demonstration projects and related studies to understand and reduce effects associated with coastal erosion.

The newly awarded CEPRA-funded project protects the shoreline and restores a bird nesting ridge named Giraffe Head, and its associated intertidal marsh complex in Dickinson Bay to prevent continued erosion and habitat loss. The funding will complete the engineering and design phases of the project for the 6,000-foot breakwater and habitat features. This work will allow the project to be shovel-ready for future funding sources to complete construction of the breakwater and halt further erosion of the habitat. This effort will also complete the first phase in a multiphase effort to protect and enhance this vital shoreline.

Additionally, two other grants were awarded through the Coastal Management Program (CMP) Cycle 31 Projects of Special Merit funding program for a total of $2.43 million.

These two grant projects involve acquiring land to add to the Matagorda Peninsula Coastal Management Area, which, when combined, will add about 2,000 acres of coastal wetlands to the more than 11,000 acres of land already part of the CMA. CMAs are created to preserve and protect these coastal areas, providing essential habitat for various birds, reptiles, shrimp, fish and plants. The areas are open to the public, and individuals can experience nature through bird watching, hiking, kayaking, fishing and other low-environmental-impact recreational opportunities.

CMP projects focus on preserving, restoring and improving coastal habitats and increasing opportunities for the public to enjoy them. These projects receive grant money from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA) and Gulf of America Energy Security Act, with partners matching funds.

State Parks and Wildlife Division Projects

TPWD’s State Parks and Wildlife divisions received $453,802 in CEPRA Cycle 14 funds to support the continuation of two coastal conservation projects along the Texas mid-coast.

Since 2021, TPWD has worked with the GLO CEPRA program on a multi-phased project to address coastal erosion along 5 miles of Matagorda Bay shoreline at the Powderhorn Wildlife Management Area and future Powderhorn State Park in Calhoun County. The project aims to conserve important estuarine marshes, sandy beaches and coastal live oak woodlands that support a variety of native and endangered wildlife, along with protecting the rich cultural resources and recreational opportunities present at the site. Additional match funding has been provided by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation and the Matagorda Bay Mitigation Trust.

During Phase 1, project engineers have completed field data collection and habitat surveys and are working on coastal engineering analysis for a proposed offshore breakwater feature and marsh restoration site. Preliminary design will soon be developed for the permitting phase. This year’s Phase 2 funding will go toward completing the engineering and design phase to prepare the project for construction in future phases.

In addition, the State Parks Division received CEPRA funds for the ongoing Newcomb Marsh Wetland Protection and Shoreline Stabilization Project at Goose Island State Park in Aransas County. The project began in 2023 to protect key estuarine marsh habitat in Copano Bay utilized by the federally endangered Wood Buffalo-Aransas population of whooping cranes as well as other species of conservation concern.

The project was selected by the GLO as a Tier 1 project in the 2023 Texas Coastal Resiliency Master Plan and has received match funding and support from Aransas County, Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program, Coastal Conservation Association Texas, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Aransas First Land Trust and the International Crane Foundation. Objectives include protection of 2.5 miles of bay shoreline through an offshore breakwater and shoreline stabilization features as well as conservation and restoration of 280 acres of estuarine wetlands. Funds received this year will continue the design and engineering phase to develop the most effective solutions to protect and enhance this crucial marsh site on the Texas coast.