Environment: Brownsville

Brownsville: Port Approves Bahia Grande Wetlands Restoration Project Agreement

Imaging showing the Carl "Joe" Gayman Channel, which connects the Bahia Grande with the Brownsville Ship Channel. Widening the channel is needed to restore the Bahia Grande wetlands habitat.
Photo/Rio Grande LNG

The board of commissioners of the Brownsville Navigation District (BND) on July 5 approved a provisional commitment by Rio Grande LNG, LLC toward the restoration, enhancement and preservation of the Bahia Grande wetland complex through the expansion of a pilot channel into a permanent and enhanced source of tidal flow.

The restoration project is contingent on Rio Grande LNG’s final investment decision to construct and operate an LNG liquefaction facility and export terminal at the Port of Brownsville. NextDecade, LLC is the owner and developer of Rio Grande LNG.

As currently envisioned, the proposed facility and export terminal would require a capital investment of up to $17.3 billion and employ several thousand workers during construction. Upon completion, the complex is expected to create hundreds of permanent full-time jobs and potentially hundreds of millions of dollars in local and state tax revenues.

The agreed upon environmental project would restart restoration work that had previously stalled due to lack of funding. The effort would enhance water flow, improve water quality, enrich thousands of acres of wetlands, and expand habitat for marine life and other wildlife in the 10,000-acre wetlands area.

The BND has secured all necessary approvals and permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and now has secured the requisite construction services from Rio Grande LNG, who would bear the total cost for engineering and construction of the project in conjunction with its facility.

Under the agreement, the project would:

• Widen the Carl "Joe" Gayman Bahia Grande Restoration Channel to increase tidal exchange and restore more natural salinity to the Bahia Grande

• Enhance the natural hydrology and salinity of the Bahia Grande area to ensure the restoration and preservation of the wetlands habitat for fisheries, waterfowl and other wildlife

• Provide the local community with public recreational benefits associated with a thriving ecological zone

The BND commissioners unanimously approved the MOU with Rio Grande LNG in June. The company is working through the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission permitting process and hopes to begin construction after a final investment decision is taken next year.

"The Port of Brownsville has long recognized the vitality of the Bahia Grande as critical to the area’s environmental health," said BND Chairman John Wood. "This memorandum of understanding with Rio Grande LNG secures the future well-being of this tidal basin which in turn will re-establish balance to the ecological sanctuaries we’ve enjoyed for decades."