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TRANSCRIPT
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Spr ing / Summer 2n This I s sue :
Also Inside :
he evolution of Gulf Coast habitats
was heavily inuenced by incredibly
destructive forces of nature. Between oods
and res, droughts and hurricanes, and a
number of other historically recurring events,
our coastal prairies and marshes have adapted
to life in a very harsh environment, to such
an extent that the native landscape cannot
properly function without some natural or
articial reset of the plant community.
As urban areas expand and the natural
processes that formed coastal habitats
are altered, special management practices
must be applied to maintain the health
and diversity of native wildlife habitats. The
Galveston Bay Foundation has teamed up with
natural resource agencies to take proactive
measures that ensure preserves and other
environmentally sensitive lands are manag
to provide ecosystem services that benet
people and wildlife.
One of the most signicant threats to nativ
biodiversity and ecosystem function along t
Gulf Coast is the introduction and spread o
invasive plant species. The warm Gulf clima
and abundant annual rainfall of the upper
Texas coast provides conditions amenable
to harbor plants from all over the world. Two
non-native species that have been especia
prolic and problematic are the Chinese ta
and Brazilian peppertree. These plants not
have the ability to easily out compete native
coastal plants, but can also reproduce at a
alarming rate.
How GBF has been committed to preventing the spread ofinvasive plant species in the Galveston Bay estuarine system
The FighTAgAinsTinvAsives
T
Continued on page
Oyster Shell Recycling
and Reef Restoration
Project Updates
Letter From Our President
Collecting Trash to Save Our Bay
Get Hip to Habitat Finishes
Successful Year
GBF Launches First Clean Water
Partnership
Living Shorelines Program Going
Strong
Birding For A Cause
Spotlight on: Star Fleet Yachts
Celebrating 25 Years at GBF
Luncheon
Bay Gazer Photo Contest Results
GBF Welcomes Newest Staff
1
2
3
6
7
10
10
11
11
13
Backing the Bay at
Bay Day 2012
Bike Around the Bay
Improves for 2012
Four Acres Planted a
Marsh Mania
PAGE 3 PAGE 8 PAGE 12PAGE 9
THE MISSION OF THE GALVESTON BAY FOUNDATION IS TO PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND ENHANCE THE NATURAL
RESOURCES OF THE GALVESTON BAY ESTUARINE SYSTEM AND ITS TRIBUTARIES FOR PRESENT USERS AND FOR POSTER
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s you know, the mission of the Galveston
Bay Foundation is to preserve, protect,and enhance the natural resources of the
Galveston Bay system. Through our twenty-
ve year history, we have always tried to bring
together all the users of Galveston Bay to work
in the best long-term interests of the Bay. That
includes the recreational users, the commercial
users, and the industrial users. We work with
the multiple users of Galveston Bay and attempt
to balance those uses so that no one use
overwhelms any other.
As I write this piece, we are working to resolve
a controversial issue in which we believe one
use of Galveston Bay is unfairly being sacriced
for another. The Port of Houston is working
to dredge the Bayport Ship Channel to 45
feet-- as deep as most of the rest of the main
Houston Ship Channel. This deepening will
accommodate some of the
post-Panamax ships at the
Bayport Container Terminal
that will come through the
expanded Panama Canal
in 2014. The Port bills this
project as a jobs creator for
the Houston region, and it
undoubtedly is.
However, the Ports plan for disposing of the
material dredged out of the Bayport Channel is
a cause of major concern for the recreationalusers of Galveston Bay. The Port wants to
build a large new benecial dredge island in
Upper Galveston Bay, west of the Houston
Ship Channel and just east of the Houston
Yacht Club (HYC), in an area of the Bay that
has traditionally been reserved exclusively for
recreational use. It is the one area of the Bay
that is void of even oil and gas structures due to
historical deference to recreational use.
This initial decision
to place the newbenecial use island
in this controversial
area has the support
of an entity called
the BUG, or the
Benecial Use Group,
an entity made up of
representatives from
multiple state and
federal environmental agencies. It would create
over 400 new acres of marsh for Galveston Bay
and have a smaller impact on existing oyster reef
than some other possible locations for the mater
But the Galveston Bay Foundation believes that
the plan unfairly substitutes an industrial use in
place of a recreation use in the area, and that
the option to create a new benecial use island
in front of HYC should be dropped.
Sailors from across the world come t
this area to compete in regattas. The
area even held the US Olympic Sailin
Teams Trials less than 10 years ago.
But more importantly, generations
of local sailors have learned to sail
in this area, and its conversion to
an industrial use should be avoided. The Port of
Houston has other options for storing this materi
and should nd an option that does not have
the signicant impact on recreational sailing the
current option has. We are currently working witha broad group of concerned citizens and meeting
with the Port to let it know of our concerns. I am
hopeful that by the time you read this, the issue
could even be resolved. But if not, we will continu
to work for another option, so that the use of
this area is not permanently converted from a
recreation area. For more information and to see
the full statement from GBF, visit our website at
galvbay.org.
The BAyporTDreDging projecT
From Our President:
We are currently working
with a broad group of
concerned citizens and
meeting with the Port
to let it know of our
concerns.
Bob Stokes, Galveston Bay
Foundation President
A
Galveston Bay Foundation1
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nce a year, thousands of volunteers
gather along the Texas waterways
to do their part in cleaning up theenvironment and participate in the largest
statewide event to educate the public about
the importance of our water resources
(www.trashbash.org). The Galveston Bay
Foundation sponsors one of the many
sites associated with the annual River,
Lakes, Bays N Bayous Trash Bash. This
year, on Saturday, March 31, GBF hosted
748 volunteers in cleaning up trash
along the banks, tributaries, trails, androadways around Armand Bayou. Many
covered much ground and collected trash
on foot, while others used their personal
kayaks or canoes to collect from the water.
Through the efforts of these volunteers, an
estimated 7,480 pounds of trash, 25 tires,
and 2,440 pounds of recyclable materials
were removed from the Armand Bayou
watershed.
GBF wishes to thank all those who came
out to the Armand Bayou site for Trash
Bash 2012 on Saturday, March 31!
Collectively, GBFs Armand Bayou volunteer
efforts contributed to those of the overall
one-day event: 6,274 volunteers collecting61,452 pounds (31 tons) of trash, 634
tires, and 7,113 pounds of recyclable
materials from 176 miles of shoreline at 17
sites surrounding Galveston Bay.
Trash and debris thrown into streets,
gutters, and ditches quickly reaches
our regions waterways and, after
rainfall, much of it nds its way intoGalveston Bay. These large discharges
of water cause thousands of pounds
of litter to become a nasty eyesore for
Bay users, can be life threatening to Bay
organisms, and pollute the water in the
Bay making it unsafe for certain uses in
many areas. The goal of Trash Bash is not
only to clean up litter in our Bay system
but also to grow awareness of the negat
effects this contamination can have on of us. Just as harmful as the litter that w
can visibly see and pick up are the unse
threats to our Bay within the water. Whi
is important for us to not discard trash a
litter carelessly, its equally as importan
to prevent chemicals or waste runoff fro
polluting the water that we all use. Visit
www.galvbay.org to see what you can
do at home to help keep Galveston
Bay clean for everyon
7,480 pounds of trash collected at Trash Bash 2012 at Armand Bayou
collecTing TrAshTo sAve our BAy
Some volunteers such as Tim Gessner used
kayaks to collect trash in areas inaccessible
by foot.
DATES TO REMEMBER
O
Spr ing / Summer 2012
Oyster TastingSaturday, Nov. 3, 2012 3:00 - 6:00 pm
Tommys Restaurant & Oyster Bar
Redfish Raft-UpSunday, Sept. 2, 2012 11:00 am - 3:30 pm
Star Fleet Yachts Marina
Visit www.galvbay.org for
more information on events
Guardian of the Bay LuncheonTuesday, Oct. 2, 2012 11:30 am - 1:00 pm
River Oaks Country Club
Marsh ManiaSaturday, Sept. 29, 2012 8:30 am - 12:30 pm
Moses Lake
Bike Around the BaySaturday, Oct. 13-14, 2012 7:00 amRide Starts at Barbers Hill ISD
New for Bike Around the B
2012: a fully enclosed rou
Visit bikearoundthebay.org
more information.
Where does trash come from?
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Galveston Bay Foundation3
n March 2011, GBF initiated our Oyster
Shell Recycling Program with the goal of
collecting discarded oyster shells from local
seafood restaurants and stockpiling, curing,
and eventually reusing the shells in future
oyster reef restoration projects around
Galveston Bay. The pilot program began as
a partnership between GBF and Tommys
Restaurant & Oyster Bar in Clear Lake.
GBF staff worked with Tommys owner, Tom
Tollett, to develop an efcient way to store
the shell in preparation for transportation
to GBFs shell recycling facility. Therecycling process starts with restaurant
wait staff separating the used oyster shells
and placing them into collection bins. The
bins are picked up approximately twice a
week and transported to GBFs collection
area in Texas City, where they are left
to cure in the sun for a minimum of six
months. This bleaching helps to ensure that
no unwanted organisms are introduced into
Galveston Bay. Once the shell is cured, it is
then ready to be used in various oyster reef
restoration projects throughout Galveston
Bay. Since March 2011, GBF has recycled
over an estimated 35 tons of oyster shell
from Tommys Restaurant. We have plans
to expand the program, beginning this
fall, to allow for the participation of more
restaurants in the area and to collect more
oyster shell for use in future reef restoration
projects.
Over the past 18 months, GBF has
spearheaded community-based oyster
reef restoration in Galveston Bay. Project
sites in San Leon and Kemah were funded,
in part and respectively, by grants from
the Texas General Land Ofces Coastal
Management Program and the National
Partnership between NOAAs Community-
based Restoration Program and Restore
Americas Estuaries. The projects involved
education and outreach to the general
public, volunteers,
and interestedstakeholders
about Galveston
Bay oysters, their
importance, and
various restoration
projects around
the bay as well as
oyster gardening
for the purposes
of enhancing
oyster habitat in
Galveston Bay.
Outreach efforts
consisted of presentations to the public,
website development, booth exhibits, and
the development and printing of program
brochures, oyster fact sheets, and oyster
gardening how-to guides.
Oyster gardening occurred throughout the
summer of 2011,
and involved
residents of
the San Leon,
Bayview,
and Kemah
communities.
The oyster gardening process involves
hanging mesh bags of oyster shell from
piers, docks, or bulkheads in the bay
to collect free-oating oyster larvae
(spat). Residents volunteered 15
piers to use for hanging gardening bags
and also volunteered over 680 hours
of their time preparing, hanging, and
maintaining the gardening bags , and
placing the gardened oysters onto the
reefs. Maintenance includes pulling the
bags, removing algae and predators, an
checking and maintaining the ropes and
bag material. The gardening project was
a huge success, and in September 201
the gardened oysters were used to see
reef pads along the San Leon and Kem
waterfronts. The San Leon gardening an
reef restoration project was conducted
partnership between GBF and Texas Pa
& Wildlife Department (TPWD).
The interest in gardening oysters for ree
restoration has continued in 2012. On
June 2, GBF presented the program to t
Jamaica Beach commun
and Pelican Rest Marina
both on Galveston Island
Oyster Shell Recycling Community-based Oyster Reef Restoration
oysTer shellrecyclingAnD reeF resTorATion
I
Young oysters gardened during the
project in San Leon in August 2011
Residents of Jamaica Beach listen
to an oyster restoration
presentation in June 2012
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Spr ing / Summer 2012
Jamaica Beach resident Fred Grube
initiated the rst by contacting both GBF
and TPWD about the potential for an
oyster gardening and restoration project in
Jamaica Beach. TPWD oyster biologist, Bill
Rodney, and GBF project manager, Matthew
Abernathy, presented the program to over30 Jamaica Beach residents and assisted
residents in hanging 100 oyster gardening
bags from residents docks. These bags
will be monitored and maintained over the
summer, and in September, will be emptied
out to seed a nearby reef project managed
by TPWD. Also on June 2, GBF assisted the
owners of Pelican Rest Marina in hanging
20 oyster shell bags along one of the piers
to help determine if oyster spat is present
in the area. These
bags are also
being monitored
and maintained
throughout the
summer.
GBFs Community-
Based Oyster
Reef Restoration
program partners include: the National
Partnership between NOAAs Community-
based Restoration Program and Restore
Americas Estuaries, Texas General Land
Ofce Coastal Management Program,
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department,
ConocoPhillips, Dow, ERM Foundation,
Hillcrest Foundation,
KBR, and Samson.
GBFs Oyster Shell
Recycling program
partners include
Tommys Restaurant
and Oyster Bar in
Clear Lake, the National Partnership
between NOAAs Community-based
Restoration Program and Restore Ameri
Estuaries, and Sea Scout Ship1659.Thanks to all of these supporters and to
of the hardworking volunteers who have
dedicated their time to both projects!
For more information on GBFs oyster
shell recycling and reef restoration effor
please contact Matthew Abernathy by
e-mail mabernathy@galvb
org, or phone (281) 332-
3381 x203.
GBF staff member and Pelican
Rest Marina employee hanging
oyster bags at the marina pier inearly June 2012
Students from College of the Mainlandin Texas City assisting with GBFs ShellRecycling operations
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In 2005, GBF initiated a project to eradicate
the Brazilian peppertree from Galveston
Island. The Galveston Bay Estuary
Program, Texas Coastal Management
Program, and the USFWS Coastal Program
have generously contributed substantial
funding to support these ongoing efforts.
These funds have allowed GBF to treat
over 2,250 acres with targeted herbicide
applications to control these noxious
plants. The initial results are promising,
but additional work is needed to address
regrowth from established seed sources
and untreated infestations.
Simultaneously, GBF is working to eliminate
Chinese tallow infestations on several
conservation properties surrounding
Galveston Bay. Tallow has drastically
altered the plant community structure
and composition in many coastal habitatsincluding coastal prairie, one of the nations
most imperiled habitats. Controlling
Chinese tallow infestations is one of ma
steps in the process of restoring native
coastal prairie, one of GBFs conservati
priorities.
Learn more about invasive plants and G
efforts to control their spread throughothe Galveston Bay region at www.galvba
org /conservation_invasive.html
The Fight Against Invasives(Continued from cover)
Galveston Bay Foundation5
The Brazilian peppertree
a noxious, invasive specie
of concern along the Texa
Gulf Coast.
BFs Get Hip to Habitat program
just closed a very productive 2011-
12 school year, with fourteen public
and private schools from all around the
Houston-Galveston area participating in
the program. This represents double the
number of schools that participated in
the program during the 2010-11 school
year! Participating schools came from
Galveston ISD (KIPP Coastal Village,
Weis Middle School, Crenshaw School);
Houston ISD (Clifton Middle School, Ryan
Middle School); Pasadena ISD (San Jacinto
Intermediate, Dobie High School); Clear
Creek ISD (Westbrook Intermediate, Clear
Springs High School); Bryan ISD (Davila
Middle School); and other local public and
private schools (YES Prep North Central
and Monarch School in Houston, Our
Lady of Fatima in Texas City, Chinquapin
Preparatory in Baytown). Approximately
450 students from these schools raised,
monitored, and cared for marsh vegetation
on their school campuses throughout the
school year and concluded by planting a
total of 8,480 pots of smooth cordgrass
at local marsh restoration sites around
Galveston Bay. Students planted their
marsh grasses at several sites on West
Galveston Island and at the Baytown
Nature Center, totaling an area nearly
two acres in size. One school on Boliva
grew dune plants instead of marsh
plants to help restore some of the dune
system lost during Hurricane Ike. Also a
part of the program, students received
GBFs Bay Ambassador presentation
and participated in Education Stations
featuring ID of wetland ora and fauna
and analysis of water quality paramete
To learn more about getting your schoo
involved in the Get Hip to Habitat progr
during the 2012-13 school year, please
contact Rani Henderson at rhenderson
galvbay.org.
geThipTo hABiTATFinishes successFulyeAr
G
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Sol marina manager.
Marina Del Sols partnership will be driven
by the marina staff and boaters through
regular Bay Ambassador meetings with
GBF staff, where they will guide the types
of workshops and activities that will take
place. In addition, volunteers will collect
water quality data through the Texas
Stream Team program and survey data
through a volunteer Dockwalker program
in order to measure behavior, attitude,
he Galveston Bay Foundation recently
launched its new Clean WaterPartnership program, a community-led
effort to create change towards improved
water quality. The rst partner organization,
Marina Del Sol, is leading the way with the
help of its proactive marina management
team and supportive local businesses like
Maritime Sanitation and Redsh Island
Marine. Marina Del Sol recently sponsored
the ofcial launch party for GBFs Clean
Water Partnership program, giving GBF theopportunity to introduce marina tenants
to the program with a festive crawsh boil,
blues band, and rafe prizes.
The program attempts to address the
impaired water quality in Galveston Bay,
specically, high bacteria levels in several
portions of the Bay which has led them to
be deemed restricted shellsh harvesting
areas. Through collaboration with Marina
Del Sol and various other organizations,
GBF aims to decrease the amount of
bacteria reaching Galveston Bay and to
keep our waters clean for present and
future enjoyment. Partnering with GBF
has allowed us to reach out to many of
our marina members, because like GBF,
Marina Del Sol is committed to keeping
Galveston Bay clean. We will continue to
work with GBF in hopes of reaching more
organizations to support our clean marina
efforts, stated Marissa Ochoa, Marina Del
Spr ing / Summer 2012
and knowledge change throughout the
partnership. Charlene Bohanon, GBFsWater Quality Outreach Specialist, feels
that this program will allow GBF to build
valuable relationships around the Bay an
provide an avenue for carrying out effect
outreach that will benet Galveston Bay,
and ultimately the community. Please vi
www.galvbay.org if your organization wou
like to learn more about how it can help
preserve, protect, and enhance Galvesto
Bay through the Clean Water Partnership
program.
The Clean Water Partnership launched in April 2012 with Marina Del Sol as the firstpartnering organization.
gBF lAunches FirsTcleAn WATer pArTnersh
T
This program will ...provide
an avenue for carrying out
effective outreach that will
benefit Galveston Bay, and
ultimately the community.
-Charlene BohanonGBF Water Quality Outreach Specialist
Marina Del Sol managers, Marissa Ochoa
(left) and Amber Treybig (right), accept
a certificate from GBFs Water Quality
Outreach Specialist, Charlene Bohanon,
signifying their official participation in
GBFs Clean Water Partnership program.
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Galveston Bay Foundation7
he Galveston Bay Foundations
Living Shorelines program is going
strong with ve projects in the permitting
phase, one currently under construction,
and several on a waiting list for funding
approval. Living Shorelines are an attractive
shoreline erosion solution that create
and enhance important intertidal marsh
habitat while protecting property from
loss due to boat wakes and wind driven
waves. Bulkheads protect property, but
they do not provide any habitat value. The
Galveston Bay system has lost up to 80%of its marsh in some areas, and restoration
of this important habitat is instrumental in
maintaining a healthy bay.
Last year, the Galveston Bay Foundation,
with funding from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (USFWS) and plants donated by
NRG Energy in Baytown, constructed a
300-foot rock breakwater on a portion of
Warren Sullivans property on Trinity Bay
and planted marsh grass behind it. Mr.
Sullivans property has been in his family
for generations, but the shoreline had been
eroding at a rapid rate, causing Mr. Sullivan
much concern. Mr. Sullivan is also a huge
supporter of the bay and the environment,
and so was concerned as well about the
loss of healthy marsh habitat he had seen
over the years. In the one year since the
breakwater was constructed, the protected
area behind has seen an impressive
amount of soil accretion and the marsh
grass that has been planted there has
taken off. In addition, oysters have begun
colonizing the breakwater.
Tom and Joetta Scarborough on the
Hitchcock Diversionary Canal approached
GBF about installing a living shoreline
on their property because of concerns
about erosion and habitat loss. Again,
with funding from the USFWS and plants
donated by NRG, Galveston Bay Foundation
assisted them with developing a plan,
permitting, technical assistance, and
planting. Because the Scarboroughs
property is on a calmer body of water,
dense planting without the installation
of hard structure was sufcient to stop
the erosion
and restore
habitat. Almost
immediately
after the grass
was planted,
herons and
egrets began
shing off of
their shore.
Three years later,
their grass looks
great, and thegrass is doing
its job to harbor
little sh that
the big sh
like, and the
Scarboroughs are shing, too!
If you or someone you know has waterfr
property and wishes to enhance habitat
well as protect their property from erosio
the Galveston Bay Foundation can help,
even in front of existing bulkheads or
armoring. Please dont hesitate to call u
visit our website for more information.
Two Successful Case Studies
living shorelines progrAm going sTrong
T
Living shorelines are attractive shoreline managem
options that provide erosion control benefits while working w
nature to enhance the existing natural shoreline habitat. Liv
shorelines often allow for natural coastal processes to rem
through the strategic placement of plants, stone, sand fill a
other structural and organic materials, as the seen here wit
healthy marsh developing behind Mr. Sullivans breakwa
Redfish caught off the
Scarboroughs shoreli
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Spr ing / Summer 2012 8
Bike ArounDThe BAy regisTrATion conTinue
egistration remains open for Bike
Around the Bay as the Foundation
gears up for another great ride! Last years
ride drew more than 900 cyclists, and this
years registration is expected to surpass
that amount.
Bike Around the Bay is a fully supported
two-day, 180-mile bicycle ride around
Galveston Bay showcasing the Bays natural
beauty and beneting the Galveston Bay
Foundation. During Bike Around the Bay,
cyclists tour Texas Upper Gulf Coast bays,coves, and inlets and visit several bay
area towns. Cycling enthusiasts and ride
volunteers enjoy a weekend of camaraderie
amidst the beautiful natural environment of
Galveston Bay.
This year, Bike Around the Bays route
has been modied, allowing the
ride to be 180 miles in length and
a complete loop AROUND the Bay!
This years ride starts in Mont
Belvieu, Texas, at Barbers Hill
High School, and continues
down the east side of
Galveston Bay. Riders
spend the night in
Galveston, where they
enjoy a casual dinner
with other cyclists
and friends and family.
Day two brings cyclists
north along the west side
of Galveston Bay, where they
ultimately nish the ride
back in Mont Belvieu. The
rides scenic route features
many highlights, including
riding around the Anahuac
National Wildlife Refuge, atop
Galvestons famous seawall,
and across both the Galveston
Causeway and the Fred
Hartman Bridge. Proceeds
from the ride benet projects
that preserve wetlands, protect
natural habitats, and enhance
the water quality of the bay for
present users and for posterity.
Bike Around the Bay is the premier local
cycling event in the Houston region. Its a
fun, unique ride that brings riders to the
edge of Galveston Bay at multiple points
and allows them to see the true beauty of
the Bay, stated GBF President Bob Stokes.
We hope you will join us for Bike
Around the Bay 2012 sponsored by
Shell! Please visit the Bike Around
the Bay webpage for all the
details and to register today!
Changes to the event in 2012 make the route 180 miles and a complete loop around the Bay
R
Use your
smart
phone to
register
today!
The new route for 2012 is a complete loop
around Galveston Bay.
Register today at:www.bikearoundthebay.org
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Galveston Bay Foundation9
ay Day 2012 drew in people from
across the region who came to
celebrate Galveston Bay! Thousands of
attendees, over forty exhibitors, and more
than one hundred volunteers helped make
Bay Day 2012 a big success.
Festival sponsor Reliant, an NRG company,
had its Smarter Home on WheelsTM on-site
to demonstrate new tools, technologies,
and services that give consumersinnovative ways to better manage their
electricity usage. Children enjoyed learning
about the importance of Galveston Bay
in our everyday lives at exhibitor booths
including those hosted by Artist Boat,
Baytown Nature Center, Buffalo Bayou
Partnership, Gulf Coast Bird Observatory,
Pew Environmental Group, Texas Marine
Mammal Stranding Network, Texas Parks
and Wildlife Department, and more.
The theme of this years Bay Day Festival
was Back the Bay. Back the Bay is an
education and awareness campaign
created in 2011 by the Galveston Bay
Estuary Program. Back the Bay was
chosen as the theme because both the
Back the Bay campaign and the Bay Day
Festival celebrate all that Galveston Bay
has to offer from recreation to shing to
serving as a beautiful tourist attraction.
Back the Bay educates residents about
protecting Galveston Bay, a nationally
signicant estuary. The campaign
offers simple tips and resources for the
4.5 million residents in the Houston-
Galveston region who affect the health
of the Bay. A key message of the Back
the Bay campaign reminds residents,Youre more connected to Galveston Bay
than you think. The campaign works to
improve the environmental quality of the
Bay through three main pillars: habitat
preservation, water conservation, and
water quality.
The Bay Day Festival is made possible
through generous support from local
sponsors, Reliant Energy, Dow Chemical,
KBR, John P. McGovern Foundation,
Teekay Shipping USA, Inc., and the Port
of Houston Authority. Participation from
many partner agencies and organizations
such as Galveston Bay Estuary Program
and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
also help to make the Bay Day Festival a
success.
BAckingThe BAyATBAy DAy 2012!
B
Over 5,000 festival attendees participated in hands-on bay-related activities organized bymore than 40 exhibitors.
Bay Day is made possible thanks
to the following sponsors:
Visitors participate in interactive exhibits(above)Representatives from Back the Baypartners held kick-off the campaign at BayDay 2012 (below).
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Spr ing / Summer 2012 1
BF extends a HUGE thanks to the
Curlew Cousins, a local birding
team who presented us with a $2,250
donation collected from individual andcorporate sponsors for the Dickinson Bay
Island II restoration project. The team of
cousins raised the money by identifying
128 species of birds during their 8-hour
birding competition on April 21. Were very
appreciative to have such young advocates
raising funds to help in our mission, all
while having a great time outdoors!
BirDing ForA cAuse
G
The Galveston Bay Foundation ispleased to spotlight Star Fleet Yachts,
the premier charter cruise company in the
Galveston Bay area and a major advocate
of GBF over the past several years. Located
in Kemah, a few blocks from the Boardwalk,
is where Star Fleet Yachts calls home to its
eet of ve vessels. All of its boats are built
with entertaining in mind, with wide open
decks, dance oors, and dining rooms.
These rst class features, specically those
on the 100-foot Star Gazer, make it an ideal
location for Redsh Raft-Up, an annual
Weekend Party Cruise to Redsh Island
featuring Kelly McGuire and band and
beneting the Galveston Bay Foundation.
Redsh Raft-Up is dedicated to Tom Lober
of Star Fleet Yachts, who passed away in
2009. Tom was always kind to GBF, andit was his idea several years ago to put
together what became the annual Redsh
Raft-Up. Current owner and daughter
of Tom Lober, Amy Alton, has continued
to support GBF by partnering to host
the annual event. The Galveston Bay
Foundation looks forward to once again
working with Star Fleet Yachts to promote,
protect, preserve and enhance Galveston
Bay through Redsh Raft-Up.
This years Redsh Raft-Up on Labor Day
marks the 8th annual event. Redsh Raft-
Up has a huge following of fans that come
year after year. The Star Gazerdeparts
from Star Fleets private marina and heads
past the Kemah Boardwalk and out into
Galveston Bay. The yacht then cruises eight
miles to Redsh Island, where it dropsanchor surrounded by hundreds of boa
wanting to join in the fun.
SPOTLIGHT ON: sTAr FleeTyAchTs
To order your tickets to Redfish Raft-Up 2012, visit
www.starfleetyachts.com
Above: Star Fleet YachtsStar Gazer isthe largest boat in its fleet and hoststhe annual Redfish Raft-Up benefitingGBF. Below: Boaters cruised up to joinin the fun at Redfish Raft-Up.
Victoria Baker, Lauren Copeland, andRyan Baker take a photo with GBFPresident Bob Stokes after presentingtheir donation.
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Galveston Bay Foundation11
BF is pleased to announce the 2012
Bay Gazer photo contest winners.
Over forty photos focusing on the beauty
of Galveston Bay were entered into the
fourth annual Bay Gazer Photo Contest
in conjunction with the Bay Day Festival.
Finalists from each entry level--ages 14-
17 yrs and ages 18 plus--were carefully
selected and voted on by the public at the
Bay Day Festival at the Kemah Boardwalk
on Saturday, June 9. Congratulations to
Allison Buchtien, Vivian Griffey, and Irene
Quiroga for being this years winners!
Winners received cash prizes donated by
Centerpoint Energy, and their photos ar
being showcased in a photo tour throug
local businesses. You can view the winn
photos on our Facebook page at www.
facebook.com/galvestonbayfoundation
BAy gAzer phoTo conTesTresulTs
First place went to Irene Quirogas Last ofthe Sunlight in the 18+ category (far left) aVivian Griffeys An Eclipsed Boat in the 14 category (middle). The photos start theirtour at The Aquarium in Kemah (above)
he Galveston Bay Foundation will
celebrate our 25 year anniversary
at the 2012 Guardian of the Bay AwardLuncheon on October 2 at the River Oaks
Country Club, with The Honorable James
A. Baker, III as our keynote speaker. Bill
King and Laura and George Pontikes,
Jr. are co-chairing this years event, with
Chief Meteorologist KPRC Local 2 Frank
Billingsley once again serving as our Master
of Ceremonies.
Each year the Guardian of the BayAward honors leaders who have shown
remarkable distinction through substantial
work and commitment for the betterment of
Galveston Bay. We are proud to announce
that our 2012 award recipients are:
Industry Kirby Corporation
Community Cynthia and Don Stevenson
Government U.S. Congressman Gene
Green
We hope you will join us in celebrating
GBFs 25th anniversary by attending this
event, where we will look back at a rich
history of accomplishments and look
forward with a vision for the next 25 years
and beyond. For more information, email
Sharon Roark at [email protected] or visithttp://galvbay.org/events_luncheon.html
celeBrATing 25 yeArsATgBF luncheon
T
G
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Spr ing / Summer 2012 1
alveston Bay Foundation would like
to thank our volunteers, partners,and sponsors who participated in the 14th
annual Marsh Mania on Saturday, May 5,
2012. Over 225 volunteers planted more
than 26,650 stems of smooth cordgrass at
the Baytown Nature Center to help restore
approximately 4 acres of habitat vital to the
health of Galveston Bay.
The Baytown Nature Center occupies a
450-acre peninsula that was formerly the
site of the Brownwood subdivision. During
the 1960s through 1980s, this residential
subdivision succumbed to subsidence
in the range of 10 to 15 feet and was
eventually destroyed by Hurricane Alicia in
1983. Today, the nature center consists of
a natural area of tidal wetlands, fresh an
brackish water pools and forested islandsand a recreational area with shing piers
walking trails, and a childrens discovery
area.
Marsh Mania 2012 is supported with
funding from the national partnership
between the NOAA Community-based
Restoration Program and Restore Americ
Estuaries, as well as with funding and
donated materials and services from a
number of local partners and sponsors.
All marsh vegetation planted during
Marsh Mania is donated by NRG Energy.
The Baytown Nature Center is owned and
operated by the City of Baytown.
mArsh mAniA 2012
G
Over 225 volunteers planted 26,650 stems of smoothcordgrass to help restore four acres at Marsh Mania 2012.
U.S
.
DEPARTMENT OF C
OMME
RCE
NA
TI
ONAL
OCEANIC
AND AT
MOSPHERIC
ADM
INIS
TR
ATI
ON
Marsh Mania 2012 is made possible thanks to the following sponsors:
Volunteers had fun getting downand dirty planting marsh grass(above). Planters spread out toplant across four acres at theBaytown Nature Center (below).
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Galveston Bay Foundation13
Matthew Abernathy
joined GBF as the
Conservation Programs
Outreach Specialist. He
earned his B.S. in Ocean
& Coastal Resources from Texas A&M
University Galveston in 2003 and is
working on his M.S. in Marine Resource
Management at the same institution. Prior
to joining GBF, Matt worked for the Harris
County Precinct 4 Parks Department
developing and implementing outdoor
education programs. He is glad to be back
working near the coast and is excited to
share his passion for the outdoors and
conserving the Galveston Bay ecosystem
with others!
Trey Bartschjoined
GBF as the Marketing
Coordinator. He graduated
from Louisiana State
University in May 2009
with a B.A. in Advertising and a minor
in Business Administration. Following
graduation, Trey co-founded and operated
an advertising agency where he worked
as a Creative Director in developing and
implementing advertising efforts. Trey
moved to Houston in January 2011 and
began pursuing a M.S. in Environmental
Management from the University of
Houston Clear Lake, with an anticipated
graduation of May 2013. As Marketing
Coordinator, Trey hopes to spread the
message of the foundation by utilizing his
marketing background with his interest
of protecting and restoring our coastal
environment. His goal is to raise awareness
of our Galveston Bay system and cultivate
lifelong supporters in preserving it for
future generations.
Jessica Curran joined
GBF as the Membership
Coordinator. She rst
became involved with the
foundation as a volunteer
during Clean Up Around the Bay in 2008.
She now serves as GBFs Membership
Coordinator, working to sustain and grow
membership and general support for GBF.
Jessica graduated magna cum laude and
with honors from Ohio State University and
has enjoyed a six-year career in nonprot
development. Experienced in database
management, annual fund, membership
programs, event fundraising, and grant
administration, Jessica looks forward to
helping GBF fulll its mission to preserve
and protect Galveston Bay. In addition to
membership efforts, Jessica coordinate
GBFs presence at area expos and trad
shows, manages sponsorship programs
for GBF events including Bike Around th
Bay, and serves as the staff liaison for T
Cast, GBFs young professionals group.
Daniella OConnor
joined GBF as the
Database and
Administrative Assista
Daniella graduated wi
a Bachelors of Business Administration
and a concentration in Marketing from
University of New Mexico. Since moving
Texas, she has worked with other non-
prots and their database systems. She
excited to be working with the Galvesto
Bay Foundations development team on
spreading the word on protecting the ba
future.
Clint Schubertjoined
GBF in July 2012. Clin
received a Business
Aviation degree from
Southern Nazarene
University in Bethany, Oklahoma in 200
He works part-time with GBF as the Gra
Billing Specialist and serves in a full-tim
capacity at a local engineering rm as t
operations manager and accounting lea
GBF is pleased to announce that the Reliant
EcoShare, a program that allows Reliant Energy
customers to help reduce their carbon footprints
through the purchase of carbon offsets, has bee
renewed. For each customer-purchased offset,
Reliant will make a contribution to EarthShare
of Texas. As a participating organization of
EarthShare of Texas, GBF will benet from
this program! You can nd out more at: www.
earthshare-texas.org.
gBF inTroDuces neW FAcesGBF welcomes new staff membersMatthew Abernathy, Trey Bartsch,
Jessica Curran, Daniella OConnor,
and Clint Schubert
Reliant EcoShare Program Renewe
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Spr ing / Summer 2012 1
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Photos in this issue of the
GBF Gazette
contributed by:
Eldon Dales
Gene Fisseler
Vivian Griffey
Andrew Hancock
Irene Quiroga
GBF Staff
GALVESTON BAY FOUNDATION
17330 Highway 3
Webster, TX 77598
p: 281.332.3381
f: 281.332.3153
www.galvbay.org
GBF is a 501(c)(3) organization
afliated with EarthShare of Texas and
with Restore Americas Estuaries.
GBF Gazette underwriting provided by
our valued partner, the Port of HoustonAuthority.