At the beginning of 2026, Texas Water Trade received support from Google to ensure that over 1,000 acres of freshwater wetlands were available for spring shorebird migrants who stop on the Texas coast as they travel from overwintering grounds in Central and South America to their Arctic breeding grounds. This work is part of a larger effort on the upper Texas coast that builds upon years of learning to deliver targeted freshwater to key coastal habitats in partnership with Manomet Conservation Sciences and Galveston Bay Foundation and additional support from PepsiCo, Keurig Dr. Pepper, and the Knobloch Family Foundation.

This spring, our partners at Manomet Conservation Sciences observed 68 bird species using seasonally flooded project fields, 21 of which were shorebird species. Shorebirds are rapidly declining due to factors such as habitat loss from development and drought. The Partners in Flight Avian Conservation Assessment Database lists 14 of the 21 observed shorebird species at tipping points due to declining or limited populations and other risks.
Over the next 10 years, Texas Water Trade, Galveston Bay Foundation, and Manomet Conservation Sciences will track regional habitat needs each year and work with landowners, producers, and land managers to ensure that these vital habitats will continue to support the vulnerable species that rely on them. This project is expected to support tens of thousands of shorebirds each spring and fall. See Audubon Texas’ recent video on this year’s projects to learn more. 

See Coastal Program Manager Kevin De Santiago talk more about this project and how support from our partners helps Texas Water Trade create innovative projects across the state to protect our people, natural beauty, and economic opportunity for Texans.