The Galveston Bay Foundation announced Sunday it is expanding its wetlands restoration work at Sweetwater Nature Preserve, adding 120 acres of shoreline near Clear Lake in a project aimed at protecting coastal habitats and strengthening community resilience.
The $8 million project, funded through a combination of private donations and grants from the Texas General Land Office, will construct oyster-shell breakwaters and plant marsh grasses behind them to rebuild shoreline marshlands. Construction is expected to begin in early 2026, with completion slated for later that year.
“Healthy wetlands are our first line of defense against hurricanes and flooding,” said Bob Stokes, president of the Galveston Bay Foundation. “This project will protect both the environment and our communities, while also providing outdoor learning spaces for local schools.”
The Sweetwater Preserve restoration effort is part of a broader initiative by the foundation to combat wetland loss in the Galveston Bay region. According to GBF, the area has lost more than 8,000 acres of saltwater wetlands and over 80,000 acres of freshwater wetlands in the past two decades. Wetlands serve as natural nurseries for fish, filter polluted runoff, reduce erosion, and buffer storm surge, making them critical to both wildlife and human communities.
The restoration strategy involves building offshore reef structures using recycled oyster shells to slow wave action, allowing marsh grasses to take root and thrive. To date, the foundation has restored nearly 1,000 acres of wetlands in the bay area through similar projects.
Volunteers will be engaged throughout the project, and the foundation emphasizes the importance of community involvement for long-term conservation success. The expansion also aligns with broader efforts to enhance climate resilience as rising sea levels and erosion threaten Texas’s coastal regions.
“This is an investment in our environment and in the future of Southeast Texas,” Stokes said.