Coastal Prairies Restoration Practitioners Forum - Co-hosted by the University of Houston Coastal Center and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
Date: Wednesday, April 9th and Thursday, April 10th
Location: Port Aransas, TX. Indoor presentations will be held at the Port Aransas University of Texas Marine Science Institute located at 750 Channel View Dr, Port Aransas, TX 78373. Optional Tuesday evening April 8th field tour at the Port Aransas Nature Preserve at Charlie’s Pasture for early arrivals. There will also be facilitated prairie restoration discussions during tours of Mustang Island State Park , the Welder Wildlife Refuge, and the Fennessy Ranch Reserve.
We are aiming the presentations and discussions to people who manage and restore coastal prairie, so sessions are structured to allow presenters time for an in-depth discussion with attendees in the auditorium and in the field.
The registration fee of $50.00/person includes registration for the optional April 8th early arrival tour, April 9th and 10th of the forum, field site visits, Wednesday Social & Dinner, Thursday lunch, and break refreshments.
Registration will be capped at 50 people so we can ensure successful interaction between presenters, attendees, and to facilitate effective field tours.
Wednesday, April 9th sessions include topics of drone vegetation mapping and herbicide application, how coastal prairie restoration has both ecological and economic benefits, and coastal prairie restoration case studies.
The speaker list is being finalized, and the detailed agenda will be available when registration opens later in February. We will send out an e-mail with a link to the website and registration form when registration goes live. Below is a summary schedule that can be used for planning your calendar.
Lodging accommodations are plentiful in the Port Aransas area. However, you will need to decide whether you want to stay on the island of Port Aransas or the mainland. Keep in mind that to get to the Port Aransas University of Texas Marine Science Institute you will have to take the ferry. Generally, the wait for the ferry is shorter on weekdays. If you stay on the mainland, it will be a shorter trip timewise on Thursday morning to our first field trip location at Fennessey Ranch. We are arranging for block rates at local hotels for registrants.
As co-hosts of the forum, we hope that you will be able to attend - and most of all participate in the exchange of information – at our fourth Coastal Prairies Restoration Practitioners Forum.
Please contact either Tim or Evelyn if you have questions about the forum.
Evelyn L. Merz Tim Siegmund
Program Director Private Lands Program Leader
UH Coastal Center TPWD - Wildlife Division
elmerz@central.uh.edu Tim.Siegmund@tpwd.texas.gov
713-201-4061 903-426-1834
Summary Schedule
Tuesday, April 8, 2025
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM Early arrival tour of Port Aransas Nature Preserve at Charlie’s Pasture, Beverages & Snacks
Wednesday, April 9, 2025
11:00 AM – NOON Registrant Sign-in at Port Aransas University of Texas Marine Science Institute, Beverages & Snacks (Please eat lunch beforehand or arrive early with your lunch and eat with a bay view!)
NOON – 5:00 PM Presentations & Discussion and Break Beverages & Snacks
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM Social and Dinner on-site
6:00 PM Leave for Mustang Island State Park Facilitated Field Tour and Sunset
8:15 PM Return to lodging
Thursday, April 10, 2025
8:00 AM- 8:45 AM Registrant Sign-in at Fennessey Ranch (Bring your cup of coffee. We will have breakfast pastries.)
8:45 AM – 11:30 AM Facilitated tour of Fennessey Ranch by hay wagon
11:30 AM Leave for Welder Wildlife Refuge
NOON – 1:00 PM Buffet sandwich lunch at Welder Wildlife Refuge
1:00 – 3:30 PM Facilitated tour of Welder Wildlife Refuge
3:30 PM END of 2025 Forum and departure