The first material deployments into the new HI-54 Shallow site occurred on June 27 and June 28. Photo by Ellen Ohmstede
By John Blaha, CCA Texas, Director of Habitat
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Artificial Reef Program, Friends of Sabine Reefs, and CCA Texas are excited to announce that the first material deployments into the new HI-54 Shallow site occurred on June 27 and June 28. This recently permitted 20-acre site is located approximately 9 miles from the Sabine Pass jetty and 1.9 miles from the coastline in front of Sea Rim State Park.
This reef will be a haven for speckled trout, red drum, mackerel, jackfish, and sharks. This deployment consisted of concrete culverts, granite blocks, and old oil rig structure pieces. This new site provides an area easily accessible for recreational anglers fishing the Upper Coast.
“Since 2018 when Friends of the Sabine Pass Reefs was created using the Friends of the Rio Grande Valley Reef as our model, we have been able to create two artificial reefs, HI-20 and HI-54 Shallow,” commented Friends of Sabine Reefs representative Mic Cowart. Cowart continued, “Our first experience with HI-20 experienced a lot of growing pains but, with the collaboration of groups including Friends of Sabine Reefs, CCA Texas, TPWD Artificial Reef Program, Laredo Construction, and others that came together for the HI-54 Shallow deployment, I know we have assembled a team that has the expertise, assets, and most importantly, the passion for creating and sustaining marine ecosystems in the Gulf of Mexico. With this team, the future of artificial reef development is unlimited!”
Now that the first deployment into HI-54 Shallow is complete, plans are in the works for the next deployment in late summer of this year. Also, tentative plans are being discussed to deploy an additional 5,000 tons of rip rap rock to the reef site. Additionally, another new site, HI-54 Deep, is currently in the planning stages with hopes of being permitted sometime in 2025. This new site will be in approximately 45 feet of water and located 24 miles from the Sabine Pass jetty and 9 miles offshore.
A major part of the success enjoyed by Friends of Sabine Reefs and Friends of RGV Reef has been their ability to gather support from the local community. Friends of Sabine Reefs and CCA Texas are immensely thankful for the contributions from local industry including Cheniere Energy, Port Arthur LNG (Sempra), Valero, Motiva, and Golden Pass LNG. Other partners and supporting organizations include Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Artificial Reef Program, CCA Texas, the Building Conservation Trust, Sabine Pass Port Authority, and Eldridge Construction. The Sabine Reefs Initiative has exemplified success based on strong grassroots efforts and community support.
CCA Texas teamed up with Texas Parks and Wildlife’s Artificial Reefing Program to carry out the vision of ensuring recreational anglers the opportunity to fish nearshore habitat out of every port in Texas. To date, CCA Texas has committed more than $3,990,000 to nearshore reefing efforts through the support of local chapter banquets, community industries, and private donors since 2009. Geographically, this covers every port in Texas from South Padre Island to Sabine Pass, achieving the vision set forth for this program.
For more information about the Texas Parks and Wildlife’s Artificial Reef Program, please be sure to visit https://tpwd.texas.gov/landwater/water/habitats/artificial_ reef/ and click on the Nearshore Reefing tab.
