Major Donation To Boost J.D. Murphree WMA

Dallas-based Energy Transfer announced it’s making a $250,000 commitment with Ducks Unlimited (DU) to support wetland conservation efforts in the J.D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Jefferson County, Texas. It’s the most recent contribution made in Energy Transfer’s continued partnership with DU, which has provided $5 million for wetland restoration and protection along Louisiana’s Gulf Coast and Ohio’s Great Lakes region over the past four years.

“Energy Transfer and DU have a shared commitment to environmental stewardship,” said Mike Birkett, Senior Director of Operations at Energy Transfer’s Nederland Terminal. “This project is particularly important to us because of its proximity to our Nederland Terminal, our largest facility on the Gulf Coast. The opportunity to help facilitate wetland restoration in our own backyard that will benefit waterfowl, wildlife and the people who use this area for recreation is one we feel passionate about.”

Project work will take place on the J.D. Murphree WMA, which is owned and managed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and part of DU’s Gulf Coast Initiative.

“Working in partnership with the TPWD, we will replace existing, deteriorated water control structures, refurbish levees, install a new re-lift pump and remove floating marsh mats and sediment,” said Chad Manlove, DU Managing Director of Development. “Thanks in part to the generous $250,000 contribution from Energy Transfer, the work on the J.D. Murphree WMA will help enhance wetland habitat on 1,700 acres of coastal marsh.”

After completion, the project will also improve water quality and support community resilience.

“The J. D. Murphree WMA has been challenged by aging habitat management infrastructure in need of repair or replacement,” said John Silovsky, TPWD Wildlife Division Director. “Over the past 60 years, normal wear and tear, as well as numerous tropical storms and hurricanes have damaged many of the water control structures and levees to where they are not functioning to meet current management needs. This generous donation from Energy Transfer will allow the TPWD to repair and replace much of this infrastructure, in turn improving our ability to manage habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife resources, while providing quality public recreation opportunities well into the future.”

Additional Gulf Coast Initiative project partners include the TPWD, the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Project work is scheduled to begin in 2023.