Latest news with #DawnBuckingham
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Texas Coastal Restoration Project Wins National Beach Award
A major Texas coastal restoration project has earned national recognition. The McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge Beach and Dune Ridge Restoration Project has won the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association's 2025 Best Restored Beaches Award. The award highlights Texas's efforts to protect vulnerable coastlines from storm damage while preserving critical wildlife habitats along the Gulf Coast. Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham praised the recognition for what she called the state's largest beach nourishment project. 'As a Texan who grew up near our coast and lived on Galveston Island for over a decade, safeguarding our beaches is a mission near to my heart,' Buckingham said. The restoration spans Jefferson and Chambers counties within the Salt Bayou ecosystem. This 139,000-acre complex represents Texas's largest contiguous estuarine marsh system. Still, the project's significance extends beyond size. The American Shore and Beach Preservation Association evaluates winners based on economic and ecological benefits, project success, and obstacles overcome during completion. Multiple agencies collaborated on the effort, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Jefferson County, and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Funding came partly from the Deepwater Horizon settlement through the Natural Resources Damage and Assessment program. 'The McFaddin Beach and Dune Restoration project is located where erosion and storm surges have scoured beaches and dunes and introduced saltwater to adjacent freshwater wetlands within the Salt Bayou ecosystem, the largest contiguous estuarine marsh complex in Texas,' the U.S. Department of the Interior stated in January. 'The project partially restores damage to beaches and dunes caused by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.' The project included pumping sediment from offshore to fill gaps and breaches along the dunes and planting more than 150,000 native dune plants to stabilize the sand dunes. That said, the work isn't finished. The Texas General Land Office has committed to monitoring the project for at least five years to measure its effectiveness and identify future management needs. Buckingham, who became Texas's first female Land Commissioner in 2022, emphasized the project's dual purpose. 'I thank our Coastal Erosion Planning and Response Act Project managers and collaborating GLO divisions for their hard work to complete the largest beach nourishment project in Texas and protect the wildlife and Texans who call the coast home,' she said. The restored area encompasses various habitats ranging from freshwater marshes to coastal grasslands and tidal flats. These diverse ecosystems provide crucial storm protection for inland communities while supporting local wildlife populations.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Galveston's Jamaica Beach Gets $5.1M Boost for Hurricane Protection
Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham has announced a $5.1 million beach restoration project for Jamaica Beach on Galveston Island. The Texas General Land Office will add 61,000 cubic yards of sand across 3,300 feet of shoreline. The project aims to protect coastal communities and wildlife habitats from future hurricane damage. Federal emergency funds are expected to cover 90% of costs. 'As a proud Texan who called Galveston Island home for more than a decade, ensuring these beautiful beaches are strong and resilient is one of my top priorities,' said Buckingham. She emphasized the project would 'fortify this essential stretch of the Texas coast against damage from future hurricanes, making communities safer and wildlife habitats more secure.' Construction crews will build the beach to 5 feet elevation with an average 150-foot width. These specifications should help withstand severe storms. The work originated as a repair response to Hurricane Ike damage. Still, it's evolved into a forward-looking resilience effort. Construction began on the beach's west end and moves eastward. Crews avoid nights, weekends, and holidays to minimize disruption. Beach sections reopen as work completes in each area. The entire project should wrap up by late August 2025. Jamaica Beach sits adjacent to Galveston Island State Park. The area serves both tight-knit residential communities and recreational visitors. Buckingham made history in 2022 as Texas' first female Land Commissioner. Her priorities include disaster recovery, energy support, and border security.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Texas Approves $12 Million For Urgent Disaster Recovery Projects
Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham announced that $12 million in disaster recovery funds will be approved for infrastructure and housing projects across four Texas communities. The money comes from reallocated federal grants originally designated for previous disasters. The funding represents a last chance for cities still rebuilding from the 2015 floods. Federal deadlines loom for spending these disaster recovery dollars, creating urgency for communities with unfinished projects. 'Texans impacted by disasters deserve real solutions,' said Commissioner Buckingham. 'The GLO is making sure every dollar is put to work for the people who need it most.' Harris County will receive the largest share, with a $7.35 million split between Jacinto City and Tomball. Newton County secured $3.95 million for street and sewer improvements, while Brazoria was awarded $700,000 for sewer line replacement. The money comes through the Disaster Recovery Reallocation Program, which repurposes unused federal disaster funds. The Texas General Land Office received $1.4 billion in project requests but had only $140 million available across six disaster programs. Jacinto City's $6 million allocation addresses critical infrastructure needs from the 2015 flooding. The city will upgrade sewer lines, improve emergency communications systems, and enhance its wastewater treatment plant. Newton's projects focus on street repairs and sewer improvements in flood-damaged areas. Tomball will use its $1.35 million for channel improvements to reduce future flood risks. Federal regulations impose strict completion deadlines on these projects. Communities that fail to finish work on time must repay the funds to Washington. Still, the program offers vital support for Texas cities struggling with disaster recovery costs. The selected projects underwent rigorous eligibility reviews based on federal grant requirements and completion feasibility. That said, the funding falls far short of the requested needs. The $1.4 billion in submissions highlights the extensive damage Texas communities still face from multiple disasters spanning more than a decade.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Texas Secures $382K Grant To Boost Beach Water Quality Monitoring
Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham announced Wednesday that her agency has secured $382,000 in federal funding to monitor bacterial levels at Texas beaches. The EPA grant will support the state's Texas Beach Watch program through the 2025 swimming season. The funding comes as millions of Texans prepare for summer beach trips along the Gulf Coast. Rising concerns about water quality have made bacterial monitoring increasingly critical for public health officials. 'The GLO is proud to monitor the water quality up and down our beautiful Texas coast for the well-being of beachgoers, our shoreline communities, and the marine life across various beach habitats,' said Buckingham. 'As someone who lived on the coast for over a decade, I want to thank President Trump's EPA for the issuance of this grant that will assist the Texas Beach Watch program in keeping Texans informed as they visit our beaches this summer.' The program tests specifically for Enterococcus bacteria, which naturally occurs in warm-blooded animals. While normal in coastal ecosystems, elevated levels can signal potential health risks. Heavy rainfall and stormwater runoff often drive bacterial spikes. When levels exceed safety thresholds, the GLO issues water quality advisories to warn swimmers. Still, the actual risk remains relatively low. Last year, only 797 of 8,237 samples triggered advisories—roughly 9% of all tests conducted. The GLO does not close beaches during advisories. That decision rests with local authorities who weigh multiple factors beyond bacterial counts. The grant stems from the federal BEACH Act, which mandates coastal water quality monitoring nationwide. EPA officials framed the funding as part of their 'Powering the Great American Comeback' initiative. That said, bacterial monitoring represents just one piece of coastal management. The GLO simultaneously oversees beach nourishment projects and hurricane recovery efforts across the Texas coast. Buckingham, who became Texas's first female Land Commissioner in 2022, has prioritized coastal issues. Her agency recently completed what officials describe as the state's largest beach nourishment project. The Texas Beach Watch program encourages visitors to help maintain water quality. Officials specifically request proper pet waste disposal and trash management at beach sites.
The Hill
05-06-2025
- Business
- The Hill
Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham discusses Chinese threats
With the focus on the White House's tariff talks with China, you might have missed an issue between the two countries that's playing out in our back yards— U.S. land owned by citizens of our adversaries. The Texas legislature just passed a bill that would prevent Texas land sales to people from certain countries. Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham told me the state took up the issue when a Chinese official purchased property too close to a U.S. military site. 'We realized that that was really a mechanism for destabilizing our grid, causing problems for our bases,' Buckingham told me. Think this concern is bipartisan? Not necessarily. A couple states away in Arizona, the Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs just rejected a similar bill. While we watch President Trump deal with Xi Jinping, a reminder that issues involving China rest in the states as well.
