2023S0137-1 02/15/23
By: Hinojosa, Alvarado, Bettencourt, CreightonHuffman, Kolkhorst, LaMantia, Whitmire S.R. No. 286
SENATE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to
celebrate March 7, 2023, as Texas Bays and Estuaries Day at the
State Capitol; and
WHEREAS, Home to almost seven million people and
comprising 18 counties, the Texas coast is treasured by countless
Texans; the coastline spans over 3,000 miles of bay shorelines
and includes coastal prairies, saltmarsh wetlands, beaches,
dunes, estuaries, and other ecosystems that are crucial to the
physical, recreational, and economic landscape of the Lone Star
State; and
WHEREAS, The eight major bay systems in Texas, which are
Sabine Lake, Galveston Bay, Matagorda Bay, San Antonio Bay,
Aransas Bay, Corpus Christi Bay, Upper Laguna Madre, and Lower
Laguna Madre, connect inflows from inland streams and rivers with
oceanic tidal waters from the Gulf of Mexico, creating estuaries
made of freshwater mixed with saltwater; and
WHEREAS, The state's bays and estuaries are home to
numerous species of fish and other wildlife, and those waters act
as safe havens for endangered species and habitats under the
Coastal Zone Management Act; noted for its picturesque beauty,
the coast's diverse natural environments provide outstanding
opportunities for nature enthusiasts and preservationists from
all over the world; and
WHEREAS, Ranching, farming, fishing, and petroleum remain
important economic resources on the Texas coast; the bays and
estuaries help sustain waterborne commerce, energy and chemical
industries, military operations, commercial fishing, and
recreational activities and tourism, all of which contribute
significantly to the economy of the State of Texas; and
WHEREAS, The bays and estuaries of the Texas coastline
offer tremendous resources for the well-being and health of the
state's citizens and wildlife; the ecosystems protect
communities on the coast from storms and floods, provide
shoreline stabilization and erosion prevention, present
countless opportunities for economic growth, and offer priceless
scenic beauty for every Texan to enjoy; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th
Legislature, hereby recognize March 7, 2023, as Texas Bays and
Estuaries Day and commend all who work to protect and preserve
the bays and estuaries of the Texas coast; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared in
honor of this special occasion.