Over the past half-century, the Dollar Bay and Moses Lake area on the Texas Gulf Coast experienced a significant loss of intertidal marsh, likely due to regional subsidence from groundwater and oil and gas extrusion. We partnered with the Galveston Bay Foundation to restore 72 acres of salt marsh complex, including 6,700 linear feet of breakwater, to provide shoreline protection to the new marsh and existing shoreline habitats. 

Site investigations and condition assessments at six areas within the bay identified two locations for development of restoration alternatives, including intertidal marsh options and shoreline protection features. The project’s final design consisted of marsh terraces protected by a series of graded riprap breakwaters.  

The marsh component consists of terraces created by excavating and grading material from the bay bottom using specialized marsh excavators. The terraces were laid out to maximize space within the project area and create multiple habitat conditions. The breakwaters were placed to support the existing oyster reef and now provide shore protection to both the new marsh and adjacent upland habitat.    

Construction of the marsh features and breakwaters began in late 2020 and was completed in May 2021. Since project completion, the vegetation has firmly taken hold with nearly 100% coverage of the fringe area, bringing back critical habitat to the bay. The Phase 1 project also led to the acquisition and conservation of over 100 acres of coastal lands adjacent to the project site, and the subsequent Phase 2 breakwater project to protect this asset.  

The nearly fully vegetated project site serves as a nursery to juvenile fish, crabs and other fauna, which supports many other species in the revitalized ecosystem.