BAFFIN BACK
BACKGROUND
Ba in Bay, located south of Corpus Christi, is one of the most isolated estuaries in the Gulf of Mexico and part of the world’s largest hypersaline lagoon. Its iconic and ancient reefs, built over thousands of years by tiny tube-dwelling worms, attract anglers from near and far.
Known as the “jewel of the Texas Coast,” Ba in Bay has traditionally supported world-class fishing for spotted seatrout, redfish, and black drum. This fishery contributes over $75 million annually to the economy of surrounding communities in South Texas, but over the last three to four decades, the bay’s water quality and overall ecosystem health experienced a significant decline, threatening its fishery. Local stakeholders such as anglers, fishing guides, landowners and bay-dependent businesses have noticed these negative trends and detrimental impacts, and since 2013 have been partnering with researchers at the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (HRI) as “citizen scientists” to collect water quality data that will guide e orts to reverse the decline. This data has determined that the primary cause of the decline in Ba in Bay’s health is excessive nutrient (nitrogen, phosphorus) pollution from the bay’s 1.5-million-acre watershed, mostly attributed to human activities.
INITIATIVE
Utilizing the unique HRI Model of integrating science with economic, policy and sociological expertise, HRI launched the Bringing Ba in Back™ initiative in 2022 in partnership with the Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program (CBBEP) and the 250-member Ba in Bay Stakeholder Group (BBSG). BBSG is comprised of individuals representing scientists, citizen groups, landowners, philanthropists, policymakers, local municipalities, state o icials, nonprofit organizations, and private businesses. This approach is engaging stakeholders who have a vested interest in the bay and will ultimately develop solutions that address the challenges impacting the bay. The overarching goals of Bringing Ba in Back™ are to:
Find solutions to the water quality problems contributing to the decline in the health of Ba in Bay
Restore key watershed and bay habitat that has been lost
Foster a stewardship ethos, especially among younger generations of residents
Advance e orts to educate the public on the relationship between watershed and bay health
Bringing Ba in Back™ integrates land, water, and wildlife management strategies in a way that provides additive multi-benefit conservation practices and promotes sustainable use.
SAN DIEGO
FREER ALICE
ORANGE GROVE BISHOP KINGSVILLE RICARDO PREMONT
FALFURRIAS
HEBBRONVILLE BAFFIN BAY
BENAVIDES RIVERA
DRISCOLL
PHASES OF BRINGING BAFFIN BACK™
PHASE 1
Phase I – Research and Data Collection (Watershed and Bay)
2013 – Present: More than 65,000 water samples have been collected through 1,100+ volunteer hours to determine pollutant sources contributing to water quality degradation. Water quality sampling is on-going.
Phase 2 – Watershed Restoration and Management
PHASE
PHASE
2 3
2018 – 2037: The Ba in Bay Stakeholder Group was formed in 2018 and with their leadership and input a Watershed Protection Plan was created (https://ba in.twri.tamu.edu/resources/) Moving forward, the initiative is focusing on projects to address pollution sources such as failing municipal wastewater infrastructure, residential septic tanks, stormwater ows and agricultural non-point sources.
Phase 3 – Bay Habitat Restoration and Conservation
2027 – 2042: Scientists and restoration practitioners will characterize and restore vital habitat (i.e., seagrass, serpulid reefs) that has been lost in Ba in Bay due to poor water quality or other human activities.
IMPACT/ACCOMPLISHMENTS
More than $3 million dedicated to research and monitoring in Ba in Bay and $6.5 million dedicated to watershed restoration
More than 65,000 water samples collected
Watershed Protection Plan created for the 65,000-acre Ba in Bay and the 1.5 million-acre Ba in Bay watershed
Technical assistance to 7 municipal wastewater plants to reduce pollution discharge
Design of a 240-acre constructed wetland to remove pollutants from Petronila Creek, located in the Ba in Bay watershed
Assistance to 90 homeowners for septic inspection/replacement
Improving community awareness and reducing illegal dumping into watershed streams through the Up2U Plus program
Founded in 2000, the mission of Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi is to create science-driven solutions™ for the Gulf of Mexico’s most pressing issues.
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During all Phases, the Bringing Ba in Back initiative will continue its community outreach to foster a culture of conservation for the bay and its watershed.