Conservation Committee

Wednesday, 9:00 a.m., Aug. 25, 2004

Commission Hearing Room
4200 Smith School Road
Austin, TX 78744
Item
No.
Subject Public Hearing
Agenda Item No.
  Approve previous Committee Meeting Minutes.  
1. Chairman's Charges (Oral Presentation) Committee Only
2. Seagrass Conservation
Staff: Larry McKinney
Committee Only
3. Land Donation - Status Report
- Hamilton County
Staff: Robert Cook
Executive Session
(Oral Presentation)
4. Land Acquisition - Presidio County
Staff: Jack Bauer
Executive Session
17 (Handout)
5. Land Exchange - El Paso County
Staff: Corky Kuhlmann
Executive Session
18 (Handout)
6. Other Business  

Committee Agenda Item No. 2
Presenter: Larry McKinney

Conservation Committee
Seagrass Conservation
August 2004

I. Executive Summary: This briefing will provide an update on the seagrass conservation initiative in the Redfish Bay State Scientific Area and results of the mandatory "No Run" zone in the Nine-Mile Hole State Scientific Area.

In 2000, three areas of Redfish Bay-Estes Cove, Terminal Flat and Brown and Root Flat (also referred to as South Harbor Island) -- were designated and marked as voluntary "No-Prop" zones. These areas were designated as part of ongoing research projects regarding prop-scarring in Redfish Bay which also included efforts to replant seagrasses in prop scars, provide public education, create new angling opportunities and evaluate the efficacy of voluntary no-prop zones as a conservation tool. The results of these findings, and recommendations regarding changes in voluntary "No Prop" zones, will be presented in the briefing.

Also in 2000, much of the northern half of "Nine-Mile Hole" was designated as a mandatory "No Motor" zone in an effort to assess this strategy as a means of improving the angling experience of bay fishing in shallow water. Results of this strategy will also be presented in this briefing.