County of Nueces

ROBERTO G. HERNANDEZ JOHN MAREZ

Commissioner Commissioner
Precinct 1 Precinct 3

JOE A. GONZALEZ BARBARA CANALES BRENT CHESNEY

Commissioner County Judge Commissioner
Precinct 2 Nueces County Courthouse, Room 303 Precinct 4
901 Leopard Street
Corpus Christi, Texas 78401-3697

COMMISSIONERS COURT RESOLUTION

“In Support of the Division of Sea Turtle Restoration Under the Direction of Dr. Donna Shaver”

WHEREAS, Nueces County is the gateway to the Padre Island National Seashore and generations of local residents
and tourists have enjoyed the opportunity to recreate and participate in conservation efforts on Padre Island
National Seashore; and,
WHEREAS, the Kemp’s Ridley is the most endangered of all sea turtle species and the Padre Island National
Seashore is the most important nesting beach in the United States; and,
WHEREAS, the Division of Sea Turtle Restoration of the National Park Service is led by Dr. Donna Shaver, a
dedicated public servant who has dedicated her life to saving the most endangered sea turtles, serving the public and
this community; further, she is admired and serves as a successful role model to young children, especially girls who
wish to be like her; and,
WHEREAS, the Padre Island National Seashore hatchling releases remain high on the public's bucket list of things
to see, providing a significant amount of eco-tourism dollars as people travel to the park to see public releases as
thousands of tourists and local residents frequently line up to see a single turtle release; and,
WHEREAS, the National Park Service is considering dismantling this legacy sea turtle conservation program with
the intention of using the program specific funds for other purposes within Padre Island National Seashore and
such an action is the result of a flawed and biased report which attempts to save money and seek consistency with
sea turtle programs on the east coast and Florida while differences in the nesting and hatching habits of the Kemps
Ridley make this disastrous for the recovery efforts of the most critically endangered sea turtle in the world;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OF NUECES
COUNTY, TEXAS, hereby supports the continuation of the Division of Sea Turtle Restoration in its current form
under the direction of Dr. Donna Shaver, and further asks the United States Department of the Interior to support
such continuation of this educational and economically successful conservation effort for the critically endangered
Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle and other endangered species.
DULY ADOPTED BY VOTE OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OF NUECES COUNTY, TEXAS, ON THIS THE
11th DAY OF AUGUST, 2021.

_______________________
_________________________ BARBARA CANALES _________________________
ROBERTO G. HERNANDEZ County Judge JOHN MAREZ
Commissioner, Precinct 1 Commissioner, Precinct 3

_________________________ _________________________
JOE A. GONZALEZ ATTEST: BRENT CHESNEY
Commissioner, Precinct __________________________ Commissioner, Precinct 4
KARA SANDS, County Clerk