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.