Events
Marsh Mania 
GBF's Marsh Mania is the nationally-recognized, signature community-based wetlands restoration and education event of the Galveston Bay area. The goal of Marsh Mania is to involve local citizens in hands-on wetlands restoration activities while increasing their awareness and appreciation of wetland habitats and functions. The first Marsh Mania was held in 1999, that year known as "Marsh Bash." This one-day event set a national record when 1,500 volunteers planted nearly 70,000 stems of smooth cordgrass to create 14.5 acres of new habitat at 8 sites around the bay. In 11 years, Marsh Mania has involved more than 5,450 community volunteers in the restoration of roughly 132 acres of vital salt marsh habitat at 54 sites around Galveston Bay.
Marsh Mania 2010 is scheduled for Saturday, May 1, and Saturday, June 5. Stay tuned for details!
Marsh Mania 2009 kicked off on Saturday, April 25, at four sites around Galveston Bay including Nassau Bay Peninsula, Isla del Sol, Snake Island Cove and the Texas City Prairie Preserve. At all sites, volunteers were faced with the challenge of exceptionally high water due to heavy rains and wind driven tides.
At Nassau Bay Peninsula approximately 40 volunteers planted 24 buckets of smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) on the north end of the site. Another 15 volunteers were taken to the interior of the peninsula to pick up trash and debris left by Hurricane Ike.
At Isla del Sol on West Galveston Island roughly 30 volunteers planted the adjacent marsh restoration site. Volunteers planted 15 buckets of smooth cordgrass on three marsh mounds and on the eroding natural shoreline.
At Snake Island Cove in West Bay, approximately 30 volunteers were led in the transplanting of sea-grasses (Halodule wrightii) on the bay bottom behind geotextile tube breakwaters. Since the geotextile tubes were installed in 2007, GBF and partners at the National Marine Fisheries Service have been monitoring the site for naturally recruiting sea-grasses. Substantial patches were found earlier this year and those were used as harvesting sites for the 1260 plugs transplanted by volunteers at Marsh Mania. Harvested plugs were placed in peat pots, and volunteers planted the 1260 peat pots around 15 stations within Snake Island Cove.
At the Texas City Prairie Preserve 66 volunteers, mainly from Hogg Middle School and the University of St. Thomas, planted 15 buckets of smooth cordgrass on a shell island adjacent to the Preserve. The scheduled planting of a nearby small island in Dickinson Bayou was put off a week due to high water levels and strong currents in the bayou. GBF, TCPP and TPWD staff planted 5 buckets of smooth cordgrass on the south side of the island on Monday, May 4.
On May 30, a second planting event was held at Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge. Seventy-two volunteers gathered to pick up trash washed up by Hurricane Ike and to plant 30 buckets of smooth cordgrass in an area damaged by the storm. The weather was beautiful and the tides were cooperative making for a a great day for volunteering. Afterwards, lunch was served, t-shirts were given out and door prizes drawings were held. Additionally, the North Shore Surf Club educated volunteers on special attributes of the Bay as part of our Bay Ambassadors program.
Galveston Bay Foundation thanks our
2009 Marsh Mania Sponsors!
