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Project Summary

Galveston Bay Oyster Reef Creation

Regional Map


1. Project Identification

Name Galveston Bay Oyster Reef Creation
Region Gulf of Mexico
State TX
Location  
Date of this update  

2. Problem(s) addressed (check one or more)

Habitat Restoration/Protection  
Wetlands
River systems
Beaches/Dunes
Offshore areas X
Mangroves
Assisting Species at Risk
Pollution Mitigation
Non-Point Source Pollution
Other (describe)  

3. Project Description (100 words or less. Please include qualitative information, e.g. acres of habitat restored, miles of steam reopened to migration, and legislative authorization, e.g. WRDA, ISTEA, CWA/NEP, CZMA, etc.)

Over two million pounds of Eastern oysters are harvested from Galveston Bay each year. This harvest, however, has recently been in a state of flux. Changes in the water circulation patterns of Galveston Bay, resulting from development on land and in the bay itself have resulted shifting salinity regimes. These changed salinity patterns have, in turn, led to a decline in oyster production due to increased sedimentation over some historical oyster reefs and a decreased amount of suitable reef material upon which the juvenile oysters (called spat) will attach. At the same time, the opportunity for new reefs has been created in other areas because of the shifting salinity patterns. These optimal salinity conditions for oyster growth, however, now exist in areas where the substrate is soft and not conducive for oyster spat settlement.

Houston Lighting & Power runs two plants, the Limestone Electric Station and W.A. Parish plant, which together produce 4,000 megawatts of electricity, that helps support the large population and business/industrial complex in the Houston, Texas region. These coal fired power plants produce 2.2 million tons of combustion byproduct annually in the form of fly ash, over 50% of which is landfilled. Regionally, coal-fired power plants in Texas produce about 9 million tons of flyash annually, which places an enormous burden upon landfills within the state.

In response to these two evolving problems, the loss of suitable substrate for oyster production and the increase in fly ash production, the idea to construct oyster reefs using pellets made of fly ash was developed. The pellets provide a hard substrate which encourages oyster spat settlement and benefits the power industry by using a waste product in a productive manner. Additionally, it is anticipated that populations of various fisheries and the commercial and sport fishing industry which rely upon these populations will also benefit. Several small demonstration reefs using fly ash pellets have been tested in soft substrate areas of Galveston Bay. Encouraged by negative toxicity results and successful dense accumulations of oysters on small demonstration reefs, a five acre reef was constructed in the summer of 1993 and has shown significant oyster recruitment since its establishment. Depending on the continued realization of positive environmental results and the demand for fly ash pellet reefs in other bays and estuaries, the potential exists for fly ash generators to convert a costly waste disposal problem into a profit making venture with positive environmental consequences.

Numerous partners have participated in this venture: EPA, through the Galveston Bay National Estuary Program, provided planning funds; Houston Lighting & Power and the Port of Houston provided major funding contributions and project development activities; NMFS aided in the development of the proposal and conducted monitoring and testing activities along with Texas A&M University; and the COE and the FWS provided technical assistance and the necessary permit and project review.

4. Goals/Benefits (quantify where possible using measures of success list) Was a cost-benefit study conducted for this project? yes/no If yes, provide a summary of findings.

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5. Partners (include each participant's responsibilities - funding, permitting, etc.)

6. Funding/Contributions (organization and amount)

7. Legislative authorities used by each participant

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8. Value added by Coastal America Partnership including Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) goals achieved through this collaboration (500 words or less)

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9. Project Status

Initiation date  
Completion date  
Current stage  

10. Contacts

11. Any additional information/comments

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This page was last updated on Saturday, 24-Jun-2000 11:48:47 EDT
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