Projects: Habitat Protection
Habitat protection projects conserve key parcels of coastal lands, such as important habitats around National Wildlife Refuges and State Coastal Preserves, in order to protect those habitats in perpetuity. Projects may directly purchase private lands through fee simple acquisition, or work with landowners to purchase conservation easements. Involving landowners in conservation easement purchase programs often allow additional restoration and enhancement opportunities on the property.
Dickerson Bay/Bald Point Protection
This project would acquire properties containing uplands around Dickerson, Levy, and Ochlockonee Bays in the area known as Bluffs of St. Teresa. The uplands are an intricate mosaic of lakes, depression marshes, mesic flatwoods, scrubby flatwoods, and scrub habitats that are connected to the Gulf by numerous tidal creeks, salt flats, and salt marshes. These habitats adjoin similar communities in St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge to the north and west.
Project Status:
Conceptual > Feasibility & Planning > Engineering & Design > In Progress > Completed
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Jourdan River Coastal Preserve
This effort seeks to permanently protect lands adjacent to the Jourdan River Coastal Preserve. The project would add 1,472 acres to the preserve’s existing 573 acres, adding frontage along the Bay of St. Louis and the Jourdan River. This would allow for the improved management of coastal wetlands and adjacent upland areas. The targeted acres lie within the Coastal Preserve boundary in Hancock County. The property consists of open saline marshes containing saltgrass, needle rush, and cordgrass; maritime forests; and tidal brackish marsh. The area is a feeding, resting, and overwintering ground for a variety of migratory birds and would benefit coastal and freshwater aquatic species.
Project Status:
Conceptual > Feasibility & Planning > Engineering & Design > In Progress > Completed
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Grand Bay Land Acquisition
The Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge and Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve collectively protect a diversity of important coastal habitats, including some of the last remaining wet pine savanna in the country. This project will add up to an additional 1,686 acres identified by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the State of Mississippi as critical for acquisition and long-term management to these protected lands. This acreage contains a diversity of habitats including wet pine savanna, maritime forests, tidal and non-tidal wetlands, salt marshes, salt pannes, bays and bayous.
Project Status:
Conceptual > Feasibility & Planning > Engineering & Design > In Progress > Completed
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