Texas Coastal Bend Ecosystem Health Report Card 2023

Current condition: vulnerable

Coastal Bend bays are vibrant ecosystems

The Coastal Bend bays are part of the National Estuary Program established by the Environmental Protection Agency to protect estuaries of national significance. They include Corpus Christi and Nueces Bays, the Upper Laguna Madre with Baffin Bay, and the Mission-Aransas bay complex, which includes Aransas, Copano, St. Charles, Mesquite, and Redfish Bays.

Together the Coastal Bend bay systems support vibrant communities of people and wildlife. Coastal Bend habitats attract thousands of species, including the endangered Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle. The Port of Corpus Christi is an important crude oil refinery hub and exporter of energy products. The Port is also a major employer in the region, supporting 98,000 jobs in 2020.

About this Report Card

This Report Card uses local, state, and national datasets alongside stakeholder input to evaluate how current conditions compare to long-term trends. This is meant to give a high-level summary of the health of bay ecosystems to inform management decisions for the Texas coast.

A healthy score represents a well-balanced system that supports current uses. score indicates that negative influences from human and natural pressures are being observed. An unhealthy score means that measured values are balanced, healthy system.

Unhealthy Healthy Vulnerable

Prioritize immediate actions

Prioritize proactive solutions

Prioritize balanced growth

This symbol indicates a priority call to action

Corpus Christi NUECES

Balanced levels of nutrients, like nitrogen and phosphorus, support life in our bays. Nutrient conditions in the Coastal Bend are generally good. One notable exception is Baffin Bay, where too many nutrients from surface runoff have upset the balance of the ecosystem.

The amount and timing of freshwater inflow to estuaries helps regulate salinity and nutrient supply. Fewer high flow events and more frequent low flows are occurring in the Coastal Bend region than in the past, which increases salinity and negatively affects sensitive species.

Nutrients Freshwater inflow

Beach bacteria

The Texas Beach Watch program measures harmful bacteria in the water at recreational beaches to protect human health. In 2021, elevated bacteria levels triggered periodic swim advisories at several beaches around Corpus Christi Bay.

1. Increase freshwater delivery to moderate stressful salinity levels during droughts.

2. Identify and implement pollution controls to sustain a healthy ecosystem.

Habitat

Coastal habitats provide feeding grounds and shelter for fish, birds, crabs, sea turtles, and shrimp. They protect the coast from damaging waves and erosion and store carbon.

Wetlands in the Coastal Bend are vulnerable to losses from sea level rise and erosion, while coastal development limits space for adaptation. Decreasing freshwater inflow and changing vegetation types may be affecting how remaining wetland habitats support the species that rely on them.

Seagrass beds in Aransas Bay and Upper Laguna Madre are becoming less densely covered. Poor water quality is a common driver for seagrass loss, but there are not enough data to fully understand this loss in the Coastal Bend.

Increase monitoring of coastal habitats to identify stressors and support decision making.

Wetland area

Seagrass coverage

Tidal flats area

Insu cient data

Photo by Jace Tunnell

Colonial waterbirds are iconic species that gather in dense colonies to nest on small islands within the bays. Some species, like the Black Skimmer, Great Egret, and Caspian Tern, are showing up in fewer numbers than they have in the past, largely because of erosion of nesting islands and changing feeding habitats.

Colonial waterbirds

Assessed waterbird species: Black Skimmer, Great Egret, Reddish Egret, Roseate Spoonbill, Tricolored Heron, Great Blue Heron, Brown Pelican, Caspian Tern, Forster’s Tern

Black Drum, Redfish, and Spotted Seatrout have recovered from historic lows to support an economically important recreational fishing industry in the region. Shrimp are still within acceptable ranges, but populations should be closely monitored to ensure sustainability. Populations of Southern Flounder, Atlantic Croaker, Blue Crab, and oysters are declining throughout the Coastal Bend.

Restore and manage rookery islands and other coastal habitats to benefit bird populations.

Finfish

Blue Crab

1. Assess fishing and environmental pressures to support sustainable management strategies.

2. Restore oyster reef structure and encourage responsible harvest practices to ensure resources for the future.

*Oysters score represents Aransas and Copano Bays

Shrimp Oysters*

Assessed finfish species: Spotted Seatrout, Black Drum, Red Drum, Atlantic Croaker, Southern Flounder

People are part of the ecosystem. Coastal communities affect and are affected by the environment and the natural resources that define ways of life. Healthy bays support healthy communities.

Coastal economies provide local jobs, tax income, and ways of life in the Coastal Bend. In 2021, tourism and recreation activities in the 5 coastal counties earned nearly $500 million and commercial fisheries were worth about $21 million. These industries have grown more quickly in the Aransas Bay area than in other Coastal Bend bays. Coastal economies in the Upper Laguna Madre and Corpus Christi areas have grown more slowly than in other Texas coastal regions.

Community resilience

Risk factors include income to poverty ratio, single or no caregiver, crowding, communication barrier, unemployment, disability, no health insurance, age 65+, no vehicle access, no internet access.

Coastal economies

Community resilience is the ability to adapt to environmental changes and recover from disasters. Coastal communities depend on a healthy ecosystem for food, income, coastal protection, and a sense of place. Habitat loss, unsustainable use, storms, and spills can cause damages to property and livelihoods, increase inequality, and reduce quality of life. Approximately 28% of the people in the 5 coastal counties of the Coastal Bend region have 3 or more risk factors that make them more vulnerable, compared to the US average of about 22%.

1. Take actions to improve equity, invest in resources for vulnerable populations, and promote proactive disaster planning to create more resilient communities.

2. Support efforts to install living shorelines to reduce erosion and protect coastal communities.

Conservation Success Stories

Oyster reefs provide habitat for fish and crabs and protect coastal areas from damaging waves and erosion. The Harte Research Institute’s Sink Your ShucksTM Oyster Recycling Program has reclaimed millions of pounds of oyster shells from local restaurants and returned them to our bays to restore over 40 acres of oyster reef.

Baffin Bay is valued for its world-class fishing but is experiencing poor water quality due to nutrient pollution. The Bringing Baffin Back Initiative is a partnership dedicated to restoring and protecting Baffin Bay.

Plastic pollution is unsightly and harmful to marine life. Citizen science programs like Nurdle Patrol and Texas Litter Database are helping to raise awareness and understand hot spots for plastic pollution on the Texas coast.

Acknowledgments

This Report Card was developed in partnership with many stakeholders and organizations. This report was made possible in part through a grant from the Texas General Land Office (TGLO) providing Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 funding to the State of Texas and awarded under the Texas Coastal Management Program. The views contained herein are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as representing the views of the TGLO or the State of Texas.

Suggested citation: West, A., Wetz, M., Beseres Pollack, J., Stanzel, K., Tunnell, J., Tunnell, K., 2023. Texas Coastal Bend Ecosystem Health Report Card. Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.

Photo by Jace Tunnell