The State of Texas Wetlands: A Review of Current and Future Challenges

Abstract

With roughly 3.9 million acres of wetlands, 2.3% of its total land area, Texas has the fifth largest wetland acreage in the United States. As of 1990, there was an estimated 52% reduction in the state’s original wetland acreage, but there has been no recent assessment of statewide wetland loss or gain since then. Wetlands provide critical ecosystem services, including wildlife habitat, flood storage and control, aquifer recharge, water quality improvement, pollutant breakdown, and storage of greenhouse gases, as well as human recreational opportunities including boating, paddling, fishing, hunting, birdwatching, hiking, and nature photography. However, Texas wetlands face intensifying challenges in the coming decades. Forward-facing regulatory and legislative actions that anticipate effects of climate change, sea level rise, and urban expansion will likely aid in addressing ongoing and complex challenges. Incorporating new technologies will allow for more timely and cost-efficient large-scale monitoring of wetland loss and gain. The residents of Texas are largely in support of active management of the state’s water resources, and we envision that the success of conservation initiatives will be strengthened when academic institutions, state and federal agencies, and conservation-minded private entities work together to ensure the wetlands of Texas persist for wildlife and generations to come.