2025 Coastal Prairies Restoration Practitioners Forum

Program Overview

Plan on joining your fellow coastal prairie enthusiasts and managers for the Fourth Annual Coastal Prairies Restoration Practitioners Forum on Wednesday, April 9^th and Thursday, April 10^th in Port Aransas, TX co-hosted by the University of Houston Coastal Center and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.   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. ----PLUS, we will have an optional Tuesday evening April 8^th 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 8^th early arrival tour, April 9^th and 10^th 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 9^th 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 detailed agenda is available at the UH Coastal Center Website.  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.  

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. 

Sincerely,

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