Environmental Concerns and Restoration Priorities for the Texas Coast Identified Through Document Content Analysis

Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act of 2012 (RESTORE Act) has set several planning and prioritization approaches for regional ecosystem-based restoration in motion. Gulf states implement a process for determining their Funded Priorities List (FPL), guided by the RESTORE Council Planning Framework (2019). In Texas, the ongoing development of FPL engages natural resource managers, non-profit organizations, state elected officials, and the public. This dataset was developed to support RESTORE Act planning efforts for Texas. A content analysis approach was used to analyze and summarize 119 documents focused on Texas Coastal ecosystems to understand the range of priorities and concerns by various organizations and groups. Document search used the Strategic Conservation Assessment of Gulf Coast Landscapes database and web-based searches guided by Managed Areas Inventory, watershed, and stakeholder lists. A codebook was developed using the goals, objectives, and priority approaches in the RESTORE Council Planning Framework. Other codes identified the county, critical habitats, and issues of concern.