Are Whooping Cranes in Danger?

The evaluation phase for a proposed luxury housing development near a whooping crane habitat near Seadrift continues as bird enthusiasts wait for the now-migrating birds to make it to South Texas.

Nearly 500 people signed an online petition against building near Welder Flats, a feeding ground for 25 whooping cranes. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers asked for public comment as part of the evaluation phase.

It’s possible for project designs to be changed based on those comments, said Kimberley Benavides, spokeswoman for the Corps of Engineers in Galveston.

The Corps is waiting for Seadrift Ranch Partners, the development company, to respond to the public comments.

Seadrift Ranch Partners applied to the Corps for a permit to build about 600 housing lots on 700 acres and provide access to the Victoria Barge Canal and the bay.

According to the permit application, the plan calls for dredging two marinas and canals upland and three channels for boat access to the bay and canal.

"We’re making a very comprehensive response, particularly to false information which was spread by the Audubon Society," said Bill Ball, managing general partner for the developers.

Little undisturbed marshy coastline is left for the birds, and a lot of people are concerned, said David Newstead, president of the Coastal Bend Audubon Society.

Ball said 130 acres of the proposed development are in critical whooping crane habitat and the company is going to great lengths to ensure the cranes won’t be impacted.

He also said he plans to leave some land undeveloped and would build 30 acres of freshwater ponds.

"We want our residents to be able to see and enjoy the whooping cranes and all the wildlife in the area," Ball said.

In response to claim that dredging the canals will kill food sources for the cranes, Ball said he spent more than $30,000 on an engineering study to ensure there would be no oxygenation problems in the canals that could kill fish.

"We love the coast for its beauty and productivity and, unfortunately, sometimes we love it to death by moving into it and altering it," Newstead said.

The birds are expected to arrive at their wintering grounds this month.

Tara Bozick is a reporter for the Advocate. Contact her at 361-580-6504 or tbozick@vicad.com or comment on this story at www.VictoriaAdvocate.com.