_JD Murphree.jpgDeep in Jefferson County, Texas, something exciting is happening. The J.D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area (WMA), a sprawling 24,250-acre tapestry of fresh, intermediate, and brackish marshes near Port Arthur, is getting the restoration it desperately needs.

These aren't just any wetlands. They're part of the legendary Chenier Plain, the westernmost reach of the Mississippi River delta that sweeps from Louisiana's Vermillion Bay all the way to Galveston Bay. For generations, this prairie-marsh zone has been a crucial stopover for millions of migrating birds and a lifeline for countless species.

Time has taken its toll on the area’s wetland management infrastructure, reducing management capacity and habitat quality. Internal canals were choked with sediment and flotant marsh - floating mats of vegetation – that disrupted the delicate water flow these ecosystems depend on. The levees also needed repair. The habitat that once thrived here was struggling.

Ducks Unlimited (DU) and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) are working together to complete an ambitious overhaul of managed wetland compartments 1-11, breathing life back into a system that supports diverse wildlife.

Construction on the initial phase, Compartments 1-4, began in early 2024 and took nearly a full year to complete, a testament to the scope and ambition of this restoration effort. Now complete, these compartments will once again pulse with the rhythm of natural water cycles, supporting the incredible biodiversity that makes the Texas coast a jewel of North American wildlife habitat.

This effort will support various bird populations, including bald eagles, marsh birds, wading birds, and shorebirds, by creating optimal water levels and habitats for each species. The project will enhance conditions for wildlife such as sedge wrens in the grasslands and Cajun chorus frogs, whose calls are characteristic of healthy wetland ecosystems. By restoring water management capacity, the project will provide the wide-ranging conditions these species require to flourish.

These marshes also provide critical storm surge protection for the residents and industries of Jefferson and Orange counties and are a magnet for hunters and anglers who travel from across the region to experience some of Texas's most productive marshes. The restoration of J.D. Murphree WMA’s wetland compartments represents more than habitat improvement—it's an investment in the future of Gulf Coast ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.

In addition to DU and the TPWD, restoration work on Compartments 1-4 was supported by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Energy Transfer, the Meadows Foundation, Tubal-Cain Marine Services, Sempra Infrastructure, Shell, and other Gulf Coast Initiative sponsors. Each partner recognizes that healthy wetlands benefit everyone. Work to restore Compartments 5, 6 and 11 is underway and final planning for Compartments 7-10 is nearly complete.