Energy Transfer Supports Conservation Work in Texas

Salt Bayou Unit of J. D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area, Port Arthur, Texas. Lost Lake, in center of photo and surrounded by a levee, is a major wintering site for canvasback. Photo courtesy of Texas Parks & Wildlife.

Ducks Unlimited (“DU”) has announced a $250,000 commitment by Dallas‐based Energy Transfer to wetland conservation efforts on J.D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area (“WMA”) in Jefferson County, Texas. This most recent commitment is a continuation of Energy Transfer’s partnership with DU, having provided $5 million for wetland restoration and protection along Louisiana’s Gulf Coast and Ohio’s Great Lakes region over the past four years.

“Energy Transfer and DU have a shared commitment to environmental stewardship,” said Mike Birkett, Senior Director of Operations at Energy Transfer’s Nederland Terminal. “This project is particularly important to us because of its proximity to our Nederland Terminal, our largest facility on the Gulf Coast. The opportunity to help facilitate wetland restoration in our own backyard that will benefit waterfowl, wildlife, and the people who use this area for recreation is one we feel passionate about.”

Project work will take place on J.D. Murphree WMA, which is owned and managed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (“TPWD”) and part of DU’s Gulf Coast Initiative. “Working in partnership with TPWD, we will replace existing, deteriorated water control structures, refurbish levees, install a new re‐lift pump and remove flotant marsh and sediment,” said Chad Manlove, DU Managing Director of Development. “Thanks in part to the generous $250,000 contribution from Energy Transfer, the work on J.D. Murphree WMA will help enhance wetland habitat on 1,700 acres of coastal marsh.” Once completed, this project will enhance wildlife habitat, improve water quality and support community resilience.

“The J. D. Murphree WMA has been challenged by aging habitat management infrastructure in need of repair or replacement. Over the past 60 years normal wear and tear as well as numerous tropical storms and hurricanes have damaged many of the water control structures and levees to where they are not functioning to meet current management needs,” said John Silovsky, Wildlife Division Director Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. “This generous donation from Energy Transfer will allow TPWD to repair and replace much of this infrastructure, in turn improving our ability to manage habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife resources while providing quality public recreation opportunities well into the future.” Additional Gulf Coast Initiative project partners include TPWD, the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, and TCEQ. Project work is scheduled to begin in 2023.

J.D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area photo courtesy of Ducks of Unlimited.