U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Aransas National Wildlife Refuge Manager Dan Alonso (in uniform at podium) gave background information about the 115,000 acre refuge that was established in 1939. The refuge fresh water comes from the San Antonio River which flows by the historic Alamo down to the south east, to where it meets with the Guadalupe River at the estuary of San Antonio Bay, the primary body of water for the refuge. State Conservationist Salvador Salinas covered the recent announcement of the USDA-NRCS Gulf of Mexico Initiative (GoMI) efforts to improve water quality, habitat, and the health of the Gulf ecosystem.“Launching this initiative is a top priority for NRCS in Texas because the Gulf of Mexico is one of our state’s premier natural resources. It provides vital habitat for wildlife, and creates jobs in industries that depend upon them. The health of this resource is essential to Texas as well asto the nation,” said Salvador Salinas. The Texas initiative focuses on three watersheds in Refugio, Calhoun, Victoria and Aransas counties and ultimately the Gulf of Mexico. “What is really compelling about GoMI and other similar conservation efforts is that they prove that Texas farmers and ranchers not only feed and clothe us and power our vehicles, but they can also help protect and restore our rivers and provide more habitat for wildlife,” stated Salinas. “That’s why it is important that this conservation project is not about taking productive farm land out of production. This is a working lands initiative, so that not only are we helping to restore the health of the Gulf, but we’re also helping to sustain and enhance the productivity of the Gulf’s farms and ranches.” Nationally, USDA-NRCS is dedicating up to $50 million over three years to this effort.