Galveston Bay Foundation Permanently Protects 450 Acres Near National Wildlife Refuge

CHAMBERS COUNTY, TEXAS — Galveston Bay Foundation (GBF) has finalized the Onion Bayou Conservation Easement, permanently protecting 450 acres of wetland habitat in southern Chambers County, directly north of the Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge within the East Galveston Bay watershed.  

The property, which the landowner will continue to own, is actively managed for rotational rice farming and wildlife habitat, connecting agricultural heritage to critical ecological functions that will be secured for generations to come. The conservation easement represents a partnership between the landowner and GBF to ensure conservation values remain preserved. 

The Onion Bayou Conservation Easement safeguards vital migratory corridors for shorebirds and waterfowl while protecting frontage along Onion Bayou and its tributaries. The conservation easement not only enhances regional water quality and coastal resilience but also preserves the rural landscape and traditions that have defined this part of the Texas coast for decades. 

“This project is a great example of how conservation and agriculture can work hand in hand,” said Bob Stokes, President of Galveston Bay Foundation. “By partnering with a dedicated landowner and our conservation allies, we’re helping sustain working lands that are also vital to the ecological health of Galveston Bay.” 

The Onion Bayou Conservation Easement was made possible in part through funding from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) - Texas Coastal Prairie Initiative, administered by the Coastal Prairie Conservancy, along with critical support from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Texas Farm and Ranch Lands Conservation Program, the Knobloch Family Foundation, and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation. 

The Onion Bayou Conservation Easement is part of the 19,000 acres of land GBF has conserved across the Galveston Bay watershed. These coastal habitats support the region’s wildlife, water quality, and community resilience. 

About Galveston Bay Foundation Founded in 1987, Galveston Bay Foundation is a nonprofit organization that preserves and enhances Galveston Bay as a healthy and productive place for generations to come through programs in advocacy, habitat restoration, land conservation, water quality, education, and research. 

Media Contact: Kimberly Meza, Communications and Marketing Manager  

Kmeza@galvbay.org | 281-923-3278