In July 2020, the National Park Service unfortunately slashed the funding for the Sea Turtle Science and Recovery (STSR) Program at Padre Island National Seashore (PINS). This is an internationally recognized program meant for the protection of the endangered Kemp's ridley sea turtle. An overview the STSR is located here. The Director of the program since 1986 is Dr. Donna Shaver, who has been working with sea turtles for 40 years. STSR is a much beloved program in the Coastal Bend area and draws thousands of people of all ages every year to view the hatchling releases. The program is also involved with protecting green and loggerhead Turtles, which are listed species. A description of the very unpopular decision to slash the STSR funding is located here.

On August 4, 2021, Teresa Klein, the Chapter Delegate for the Coastal Bend Group of the Sierra Club, spoke  to the Nueces County Commissioners Court during the public comment period. She spoke eloquently of the need to support this program and recommended that the Commissioners submit a letter in support of the program to Deb Haaland, the U.S. Secretary of the Interior. A video of Teresa's 3 minute long comments can be viewed here, starting 6:35 minutes into the recording. One week later, on August 11, 2021. the Nueces County Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution to send just such a letter. The discussion in this regard can be viewed here, starting 22:50 minutes in. It runs for 8 minutes total. A copy of the approved letter can be downloaded here.

Thanks to Teresa for speaking up in support of this program which is vital to the continuation of the survival of this wonderful species.