LAND GOES BACK TO NATURE
Alcoa creates marsh that will be donated to Aransas refuge

Completed Marsh Restoration - Credit: Ken Rice, USFWS.

By Louise Popplewell - Victoria Advocate
Reprinted by permission.

PORT LAVACA - In giving back what it took away so many years ago, Alcoa on Wednesday showed off its latest project to restore Lavaca Bay, and federal, state, county and local officials were on hand to celebrate with Calhoun County residents.

The culmination of 15 years of work by so many drew to a close with completion of Alcoa's creation of a 70-acre inter-tidal marsh on 730 acres near Indianola the industrial giant acquired and will transfer to the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge.

The addition to the 3,400-acre Myrtle Foester Whitmire Unit of the refuge consists of marsh habitats and Powderhorn Lake that are viewed from a 30-foot man-made elevation.

The improvements were made as part of the terms of a settlement to resolve the company's liability for damages stemming from releases of mercury and hydrocarbons into the bay in the late 1960s.

While the elevation makes a nice observation platform, that is not its purpose, explained Bill Quast, president of Benchmark Ecological Services, the mound was created by topsoil removed to create the marsh and raise the level of the lake. He explained that dirt is stockpiled and will be used as needed for maintenance. Quast estimated that more than 100,000 cubic yards of dirt went into making the mound. In addition, to protect against erosion, a 4,900-foot limestone breakwater was build around the marsh. The 729-acre parcel consists of 70 acres of marsh habitat, about 205 acres of coastal prairie and shrubland, 78 acres of freshwater marsh and about 370-acre shallow freshwater lake.

Quash discussed working on the project during the winter.

"This is a terrific inter-tidal system," he said. "There was a parade of birds in here ... it was just amazing. Reddish egrets, there were more than I've ever seen in my life. I've seen a lot of fish up there. It's an ideal habitat for trout and flounder. We've seen a few alligators. This is a complete system."

He said there were also ducks and geese. "This was a real attraction this winter."

The marsh will be monitored for growth over the next two years, followed by three years of monitored maintenance. Meanwhile, the refuge is not open to the public.

"Let it function first," said Charles Holbrook, manager of Aransas. "Until it is functional and viable, it is closed." Although it isn't open to the public, there are many benefits for the public, said Roger Helm of the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service.

"It will provide more nursery habitat and therefore more birds for hunters and birdwatchers," he said. "It is a protected area for the survival of rare and critically endangered species, for bird populations in general. They need this refuge."

Remediation projects

In a brief ceremony before the tour to the marshlands, state and federal officials presented Alcoa with an award "for its active and cooperative role in resolving the site's contamination problems and in restoring Lavaca Bay."

In addition to the new marshland habitat, Alcoa created 11 acres of oyster reef at the mouth of Keller Bay; built new fishing piers at Six Mile Park, Point Comfort Park and Port Lavaca Bayfront Peninsula; built a dock and dredged the channel at Port Lavaca Lighthouse Beach; and widened and extended the existing jetty at Magnolia Beach.

The improvements were made as part of the terms of a settlement to resolve the company's liability for damages stemming from releases of mercury and hydrocarbons into the bay in the late 1960s.

A small part of the bay was closed to the harvest of finfish and crabs in 1988 after mercury levels were found to exceed those considered safe for human consumption. In 1994, the site was added to the National Priorities List for clean up.

Alcoa began remedial and feasibility studies and in cooperation with state and federal agencies, the clean up plans were finalized in 2001.

Alcoa has spent about $110 million in clearing the bay and the restoration projects. "This is a great example of government and a responsible party working together to investigate and plan for clean up and restoration of the environment simultaneously," said William Corso, deputy assistant for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "We consider this to be a national model for achieving full and efficient restoration of our nation's coastal resources."

Larry McKinney, director of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's coastal fisheries, who served as master of ceremonies for Wednesday's ceremony added, "It's important to seize every opportunity to restore and enhance fish and wildlife habitat whenever and wherever we get the chance, since so much of it has been lost or damaged in Texas."

Alcoa's Ron Weddell, who has been the remedial manager from the beginning said, "Over the last decade, developing and implementing sound environmental solutions has been the focus for many in Calhoun County." He especially noted the dedication provided by Alcoa's Advisory Committee made up of citizens. He said that during the years of planning and making decision, members attended 50 three-hour meetings.

Louise Popplewell is a reporter for the Victoria Advocate. Contact her at 361-552-2803 or ptlavadv@vicad.com.