The Migratory Bird Conservation Commission approved $61.3 million in funding to protect, restore and enhance more than 205,000 acres of wetlands and associated uplands in the United States, Canada and Mexico, including at three Texas national wildlife refuges.
The commission approved $54.7 million in grants through the North American Wetlands Conservation Act to protect, restore and enhance 200,069 acres of habitat for migratory birds in the United States, Mexico and Canada, leveraging an additional $92.6 million in matching funds.
The commission also approved nearly $6.6 million for fee and easement land acquisitions of 5,072 acres on five national wildlife refuges. The funds were raised largely through the sale of Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamps, commonly known as duck stamps.
The commission-approved refuge projects in Texas are:
- Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge, Chambers County; boundary addition and price approval for a high-priority 1,227-acre tract for $1,718,200.
- San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge, Brazoria County; boundary addition and price approval for 30 acres for $138,500.
- Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge, Liberty County; boundary addition and price approval for 234 acres for $162,399.
