SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 286

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.

Hinojosa, Alvarado, Bettencourt, Creighton Huffman, Kolkhorst, LaMantia, Whitmire

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Member, Texas Senate Member, Texas Senate

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Member, Texas Senate Member, Texas Senate

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Member, Texas Senate Member, Texas Senate

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Member, Texas Senate Member, Texas Senate

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President of the Senate

I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on March 7, 2023.

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Secretary of the Senate