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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Texas Bays and Estuaries Day at the State Capitol is |
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taking place on March 7, 2023, to raise awareness of the critical |
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importance of our state's precious coastal water resources; and |
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WHEREAS, The Texas coast is home to nearly 7 million people |
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across 18 counties; treasured by citizens throughout the state, it |
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spans over 3,000 miles of bay shorelines and includes coastal |
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prairies, saltmarsh wetlands, beaches, dunes, estuaries, and other |
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ecosystems; and |
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WHEREAS, The eight major bay systems of Texas, Sabine Lake, |
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Galveston Bay, Matagorda Bay, San Antonio Bay, Aransas Bay, Corpus |
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Christi Bay, Upper Laguna Madre, and Lower Laguna Madre, connect |
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inflows from inland streams and rivers with oceanic tidal waters |
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from the Gulf of Mexico; this process results in the creation of |
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estuaries composed of freshwater mixed with saltwater; and |
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WHEREAS, Our state's bays and estuaries serve as habitats for |
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numerous species of fish and other wildlife, including endangered |
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species, and contain coastal lands that are protected under the |
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federal Coastal Zone Management Act; the coast's diverse natural |
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environments also provide outstanding opportunities for nature |
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enthusiasts and preservationists from all over the world; and |
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WHEREAS, Ranching, farming, fishing, and petroleum are among |
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the industries that operate along the Texas coast; bays and |
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estuaries help sustain waterborne commerce, energy and chemical |
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manufacturing businesses, military operations, commercial fishing, |
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and recreational activities and tourism, all of which contribute |
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significantly to our state's economy; these areas also play a vital |
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role in protecting communities from storms and floods and in |
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providing shoreline stabilization and erosion prevention, thus |
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helping to mitigate environmental damage while safeguarding lives |
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and property; and |
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WHEREAS, The bays and estuaries of the Texas coastline are of |
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tremendous environmental, recreational, and economic value to the |
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Lone Star State, in addition to offering incomparable scenic beauty |
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for all Texans to enjoy, and Texas Bays and Estuaries Day presents a |
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welcome opportunity to highlight the necessity of preserving and |
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maintaining these areas for the benefit of future generations; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize March 7, 2023, as Texas Bays and |
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Estuaries Day at the State Capitol and commend all those who are |
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working to protect and preserve the bays and estuaries of the Texas |
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coast. |