GALVESTON, TEXAS - The Beneficial Uses Group (BUG), established in 1990, evaluates and plans the best ways to use materials dredged during the expansion of the Houston Ship Channel. After extensive research, the BUG determined that the best way to help Houston, Galveston and surrounding communities is to restore wetlands in Galveston Bay. Wetlands provide a number of benefits to many species.

• Wetlands aid wildlife by providing food, protection from predators, and spawning and nursery habitats for many fish and wildlife species.

• Wetlands improve water quality by filtering out pollutants in the water, helping to produce high-quality fish populations.

• Wetlands prevent erosion by absorbing wave energy in areas prone to loosing land to the ocean.

• Wetlands form buffer zones during storms and protect lands from flooding by intercepting storm runoff and gradually releasing floodwaters to downstream systems.

• Wetlands provide many recreational activities, such as opportunities for bird and wildlife observation, hiking, hunting and fishing.

Despite these benefits, wetlands throughout the United States are being destroyed by either natural threats or human impact. Wetlands restoration is essential to maintaining the delicate ecological balance along the coastlines in the United States and around the world. Organizations such as the Beneficial Uses Group are working to combat the destruction of wetlands and restore those that have been lost.

The Beneficial Uses Group is a subcommittee of the Interagency Coordination Team. The ICT, formed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the Houston-Galveston Navigation Channel expansion project, is a problem-solving group involved in the planning, engineering and post-project monitoring of materials dredged during the Ship Channel expansion.

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