Access to the Carl “Joe” Gayman Channel is closed to the public as of Aug. 28 as work continues to increase tidal exchange and restore the Bahia Grande as a major fish, wildlife and waterfowl nursery.

The closure occurs south of SH 48, limiting public parking and access to the channel.

The current 34-foot-wide half-mile Gayman channel connects the Bahia Grande and the Brownsville Ship Channel. It is widening to 250 feet and deepening to nine feet. This will increase tidal exchange by a factor of 13 times. It will thus restore the ecosystem as a major fish, wildlife and waterfowl nursery and habitat.

The Bahia Grande is a 10,000-acre coastal ecosystem and wetland complex. It includes three shallow basins within the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge.

The $5-million project is being implemented by the Texas General Land Office on behalf of the Deepwater Horizon Texas Trustee Implementation Group.