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CENTER FOR COASTAL & MARINE STUDIES

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Image of CCMS Lab

Lamar University is located in Beaumont, Texas, and the Center for Coastal and Marine Studies (CCMS) is located 35 km southeast of campus on Pleasure Island, situated between the Sabine-Neches River Estuary which flows directly into the Gulf of Mexico.

This location offers students a unique opportunity to work in a wide variety of aquatic ecosystems, including marsh, riverine, estuarine, and marine habitats, all of which are in close proximity to the Center for Coastal and Marine Studies. The Sabine-Neches River Estuary is unique in having the highest freshwater input of all Texas estuaries.

Image of students in field

Image of field research

The nearby McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge, Sea Rim State Park, and Keith Lake marsh system provide >16,000 acres of wetlands, seagrass beds, and marshes. Facilities at the CCMS include 12,000 sq. ft. of classroom/laboratory space and research vessels.

Additional space and equipment is available in the Hayes Biology Building located on the main campus. The Mary and John Gray Library allows access to more than 800,000 volumes including most of the marine-related journals.

Image of snails in mud

TX BeachWatch logo CCMS is also the home base of the Jefferson County Beach Watch Program.  The program samples the waters of Sea Rim State Park and MacFaddin Beach for bacterial contaminants.  The status of the beach can be accessed on the GLO BeachWatch site .

 

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