Search Results

Summer Camp Get ready to explore, imagine, and create during Galveston Bay Foundation’s S ummer  Camp  Opportunities ! Week-Long Adventures Camper s  will explore a variety of ecosystems, participate in hands-on lessons, and learn how they can help the Bay during this 5-day camp.  Camp agenda does include time for lunch  (parent provided) . COVID-19 Safety Procedures and more details  will be sent to registrants prior to camp attendance. Dates: June 14-18, 2021 | Ages 8-10 - Registration is now full for this session. Please email cwilems@galvbay.org if you would like to be added to our waitlist for this session. June 21-25, 2021 | Ages 11-13 Time: 8:30 am-12:30 pm (drop off at 8:15 am) Cost: $150 per week. Participants  will receive a camp  backpack and nature journaling supplies. Location:  1725 Highway 146, Kemah TX 77565 * Registration is only open  for full-week participants. Single-day registration is not available at this time. June 14 - 18, 2021 | Session Full REGISTER June 21 - 25, 2021 15 Campers max Registration deadline: May  28, 2021 Nature Explorations Register  your  camper for  one or more of these  morning camp sessions  that introduce native habitats in a  fun and engaging way. Activities include hands-on explorations,  games, crafts, and more!  Camp agenda does include time for snack (parent provided). C OVID-19 Safety Procedures and more details  will be sent to registrants prior to camp attendance. Ages: 5-7 Dates: June 28, 2021: Pond Exploration June 29, 2021: Prairie Exploration June 30, 2021: Wetland Exploration Time: 8:30 am-1 1 :30 am (drop off at 8:15 am) Cost: $ 30  per  day Location: 1725 Highway 146, Kemah TX 77565 REGISTER June 28, 2021 REGISTER June 29, 2021 REGISTER June 30, 2021 15 Campers max Registration deadline: May 28, 2021

Come Shellabrate With Us! This April, Galveston Bay Foundation is hosting our inaugural Oyster Month. We have several opportunities for you to enjoy some delicious oysters at one of our partner restaurants starting at $50. Sign up for restaurant discounts, cooking classes, VIP tastings, and more. LEARN MORE / PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS!

Media Contact: Claire Everett 832-536-2259 ceverett@galvbay.org (Kemah, TX – February 11, 2021) – Construction is underway to add 73 acres of wetland restoration and shoreline protection in Dollar Bay – Moses Lake. The joint conservation effort between Galveston Bay Foundation and local, state, and federal partners will add 47 marsh grass terraces of intertidal marsh complex to protect and restore an area that has suffered from harmful erosion impacts. The new project is directly adjacent to Galveston Bay Foundation’s recently acquired 106-acre coastal prairie tract which will serve as a buffer for the wetlands. “We are working together to restore marsh in an area that was historically marsh, but became open water because of subsidence and erosion,” said Bob Stokes, president of Galveston Bay Foundation. “Fundamentally, more habitat creates more fish. And we are proud to work with such great partners on the effort.” First, breakwater structures will be constructed to trip waves, halt shoreline erosion, and accrete sediments shoreward of the structures. Next, marsh terraces will be constructed to restore elevations suitable to support estuarine emergent marsh vegetation. And post-construction, project sites will be planted with native marsh vegetation. “This project speaks to the power of partnership in restoring and enhancing our shared coastal bays and estuaries,” said Pat Murray, president of Coastal Conservation Association. “We are excited to be a part of this initiative and look forward to watching this important marsh area flourish again.” This project builds upon years of tried and developed techniques for marsh protection and restoration along the Gulf Coast and within the same project area. Successful and existing erosion response measures already in place in other areas of Moses Lake include a 1,600-foot section of rock breakwater structures constructed in 2002, a 2,400-foot section constructed in 2012, and a 1.3-mile section completed in 2018. Following all three projects, Galveston Bay Foundation volunteers planted smooth cordgrass to reestablish fringing marsh and the organization plans to host marsh grass plantings at the Dollar Bay project as well. Project partners hope to see similar results when this project is complete. The transformative effort is being funded by Galveston Bay Foundation, CCA Texas, Building Conservation Trust, Shell, Ducks Unlimited, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, NOAA, and the City of Texas City. ### Download Photo About Galveston Bay Foundation Established in 1987, the Galveston Bay Foundation is a conservation non-profit organization. Its mission is to preserve and enhance Galveston Bay as a healthy and productive place for generations to come. It implements diverse programs in land preservation, habitat restoration, water quality and quantity, STEM education, and advocacy. To learn more, visit galvbay.org or follow @GBayFoundation on Twitter. Download Press Release (PDF)

Media Contacts: Claire Everett or Carson Sartain 832-536-2259 | 214-335-5836 ceverett@galvbay.org or carson.sartain@TNC.org (Houston, TX – January 27, 2021) – 40 acres of new oyster habitat were recently constructed in the Upper Galveston Bay/Trinity Bay area and it’s the first restoration project of its kind in Galveston Bay. The partnership project between conservation organizations Galveston Bay Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department aims to demonstrate the Bay’s oyster population can be sustainably managed without completely restricting commercial harvest. After a two-year closure to allow oysters to populate the reefs, 25 acres of reef will be open for commercial harvest while the other 15 acres will be preserved as a broodstock sanctuary reef to provide larvae to the harvestable sites, providing a sustainable approach to commercial oyster harvest. “In the past, reefs have been restored either to enhance oyster harvest or to enhance the ecological benefits of oysters and their habitats,” said Bill Rodney, Coastal Ecologist at Texas Parks and Wildlife. “The combination of both concepts in one project is a novel approach that few other states have tried.” Project partners established the sanctuary reef as a larval source reef between the two harvestable sites. The sanctuary reef will function as a larvae factory, delivering high-density larvae clouds to the adjacent harvestable reefs via prevailing tidal currents—which were measured and then modeled by the Texas Water Development Board. This will help the harvestable reefs recover more quickly from the effects of oyster harvest activities. To maintain a high-density population of large oysters on the sanctuary reef, this section was constructed out of larger materials that are resistant to the effects of oyster dredges, another novel aspect of the project’s design. “Oysters are a vital component of a healthy estuary and we are particularly excited that this innovative reef will provide ecosystem service benefits to Galveston Bay and also sustainably support our commercial fishing industry,” said Bob Stokes, Galveston Bay Foundation President. The new oyster habitat in the 40-acre reef complex will help filter coastal waters, enhance water quality, and provide food and shelter for over 300 different species of fish, shrimp and crabs, and other invertebrates. Although oysters provide a wealth of benefits, approximately 50 percent of the oyster reefs in Galveston Bay have been lost due to pressure from commercial fishing combined with extreme weather events, such as Hurricanes Ike and Harvey. Existing efforts through Galveston Bay Foundation’s Oyster Shell Recycling Program , the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Oyster Shell Recovery Fund, and The Nature Conservancy , place hard substrate in the form of recycled shell, limestone, and other natural stone to the Bay to provide much needed oyster habitat. And in this new reef project, over 20,000 tons of limestone were placed on the bay bottom to establish oyster habitat in the southwestern region of Trinity Bay. The Nature Conservancy completed a similar project in Matagorda Bay with RESTORE Act funding in 2014. Today, the reef is teeming with marine wildlife and oysters can be found on 70 percent of the reef’s surface. It has also become a hot spot for anglers and has helped to generate an additional $1.27 million in annual economic activity for the state of Texas through tourism, fishing guide excursions and recreational fishing. The Trinity Bay project team hopes to see similar results in the coming years. “The innovative model we’ve leveraged with this reef restoration is a strategy that’s replicable all over the world because it’s a solution everyone can see themselves in,” said Lauren Williams, Resilient Coast Program Director at The Nature Conservancy in Texas. “Instead of reef-by-reef restoration work moving forward, we can think more broadly about restoring whole bays and estuaries, all while working with fisheries to meet their needs.” Funding for the Galveston Bay Sustainable Oyster Reef Restoration Project was provided by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation through the Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund. Texas Water Development Board provided additional support for this project. ### About Galveston Bay Foundation Established in 1987, the Galveston Bay Foundation is a conservation non-profit organization. Its mission is to preserve and enhance Galveston Bay as a healthy and productive place for generations to come. It implements diverse programs in land preservation, habitat restoration, water quality and quantity, STEM education, and advocacy. To learn more, visit galvbay.org or follow @GBayFoundation on Twitter. About The Nature Conservancy The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world's toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. In Texas and across the globe, we are conserving lands, waters and oceans at an unprecedented scale while mitigating and adapting to a changing climate. Since 1964, The Nature Conservancy in Texas has protected nearly one million acres of land, established 38 nature preserves and worked with state and federal agencies to create and expand state parks, national parks and wildlife refuges. These protected public lands include Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, Big Bend Ranch State Park, Caddo Lake State Park, and national wildlife refuges along the Texas Gulf Coast. Our freshwater program has protected more than 200 miles of stream and river habitat. To learn more, visit www.nature.org or follow @nature_press on Twitter. About Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is the State of Texas’ primary agency for the management and conservation of the state’s natural and cultural resources. The agency strives to provide hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation opportunities for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations of Texans. While working to achieve this lofty goal, TPWD has been recognized as a national leader in implementing effective natural resources conservation and outdoor recreational programs. The agency’s goals are: To serve the state of Texas, its citizens, and its employees with the highest standards of service, professionalism, fairness, courtesy, and respect; Rely on the best available science to guide our conservation decisions; Responsibly manage agency finances and appropriations to ensure the most efficient and effective use of tax-payer and user fee resources; Attract and retain the best, brightest, and most talented workforce to successfully execute its mission. Since 2007 TPWD’s Coastal Fisheries Division has restored more than 400 acres of oyster habitat along the upper Texas Coast.   Download Photo Download Photo Download Press Release (PDF)

Sustainable Sasha here with Christmas tree recycling info for the community around Galveston Bay to keep these beloved trees out of the landfill! Many recycling centers and programs across the Houston-Galveston region have stepped up to help repurpose them into mulch, park landscaping materials, and more. You can also often get free mulch at recycling centers if you bring your own receptacle. If you want to repurpose a tree in your own yard, use the branches as a base for a compost pile, trunk slices as landscaping edging, or chop it up to use as firewood in your firepit. Don’t use it in your fireplace or wood stove, however, as pine burns at too high of a temperature to be safe indoors! No matter what you do with Christmas trees, remember to remove all decorations, including tinsel, before recycling or repurposing them. WHERE TO RECYCLE A CHRISTMAS TREE: *Some facilities require that you are a resident of that city, so bring a water bill and driver’s license along just in case!* Baytown accepts bare trees for recycling all year at Baytown Green Center (city water bill and driver’s license required): 1601 West Main Street, Baytown, TX 77520. Questions: (281) 420-5300. Chambers County accepts trees year-round at their Citizen Collection Stations to mulch. Residents must have Chambers County Solid Waste Disposal Permit on their vehicle at drop-off but can get free mulch at any time! Galveston will be collecting trees curbside where trash bins are normally placed this Friday, January 8th (residents West of 51 st  Street) and Saturday, January 9th (residents East of 51 st Street). Houston is accepting trees at its recycling centers through January 31 st Kemah picks up and recycles yard waste weekly, on the 3rd Wednesday of each month. They make a special exception for Christmas trees, so they do NOT need to be cut down or bundled for curbside pick-up. Questions: (281) 334-1611. La Porte collects trees all year on your zone’s designated “heavy trash” day and mulches them for use in city parks and nature trails! Pasadena residents can place Christmas trees in their yard waste bin, trimmed to fit, for recycling on their regular collection day. Pearland is accepting trees at the Stella Roberts Recycling Center now through January 9 th from 9am-1pm (closed Sundays and Mondays). OR If you live in a single-family dwelling in the Pearland city limits, you can set your tree out curbside on your assigned green waste day for recycling . Texas City Biosphere Recycling accepts trees and branches at any time (water bill and driver’s license required). Dickinson, League City, and San Leon collect bundled yard waste next to trash bins on your designated trash day but, unfortunately, we could not confirm if they recycle it. And bundles must be under 4’ in length, 18” in diameter and less than 50 lbs. If your city isn’t listed here, look up your nearest recycling center and don’t be afraid to call them and ask. They are usually happy to help answer your recycling questions! You can also check with local garden centers or urban farms to see if they accept trees for compost or mulching. For questions about the Brazoria County Parks Department Surfside dune project along the Gulf, visit their website .

Galveston Bay Foundation protects 106 Acres on Dollar Bay in Texas City (Kemah, TX – December 17, 2020) This week, Galveston Bay Foundation acquired 106 acres in Galveston County as part of its continued effort to protect coastal habitat through property acquisitions and conservation easements. The newly conserved property is directly adjacent to a planned marsh restoration site on Dollar Bay. Preserving the property will preserve a buffer next to the wetland restoration area and conserve native coastal grasslands and wetlands that support resident and migratory wildlife and fisheries species common to the area. It will now enhance the conservation benefit to the area by protecting native prairie habitat, mima mounds, and coastal wetlands. Galveston Bay Foundation partnered with the landowners Byron and Holly Davis to protect the land. The Davis family initially planned to develop the property as residential canal subdivision but learned over time of the property’s value for conservation. “Once we understood the uniqueness of the property, we began to imagine a new vision for the land, a vision that will be shared for many generations under the leadership and conservancy of The Galveston Bay Foundation,” said Byron Davis. After completing the purchase, Galveston Bay Foundation transferred the property to the City of Texas City and placed a conservation easement on the tract that will perpetually protect the land and restrict future land uses. Galveston Bay Foundation will retain a management role and lead stewardship and restoration efforts that will enhance the habitat on the property. Funding for the acquisition was provided primarily by a Gulf of Mexico Energy Securities Act (GOMESA) grant administered by the General Land Office as part of the Coastal Management Program. Additional support for this effort was also provided by the Brown Foundation and the Galveston Bay Estuary Program through the Conservation Assistance Program. Since its establishment in 1987, Galveston Bay Foundation has conserved more than 8,000 acres of coastal habitat through property acquisitions and conservation easements. The Foundation is a member of the Land Trust Alliance (LTA) and was accredited by the Land Trust Alliance Accreditation Commission in 2013 and re-accredited in 2019. The Foundation is also a participating member of the Texas Land Trust Council (TLTC). Galveston Bay Foundation continues to actively expand its land conservation efforts within the Galveston Bay Watershed, focusing on protecting a wide range of habitats and land uses including freshwater and estuarine wetlands, tallgrass prairies, coastal forests, and various agricultural lands. Conservation easements are an excellent tool for private landowners who wish to conserve natural resources on their land in perpetuity, but also wish to retain ownership of the land to enjoy and pass on to future generations. Learn more about Galveston Bay Foundation’s land conservation efforts. Download High-Resolution Photo Download High-Resolution Photo Property Map 1 Property Map 2 About the Galveston Bay Foundation Established in 1987, the Galveston Bay Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Its mission is to preserve and enhance Galveston Bay as a healthy and productive place for generations to come. It implements diverse programs in land preservation, habitat restoration, water quality and quantity, youth education, and advocacy. ###

By Cindy Wilems, Director of Education Have you ever been inspired by a group of teenagers? I was recently when The Kinkaid School’s marine science classes joined Galveston Bay Foundation educators for part 2 of our Environmental Leadership virtual workshop. This workshop is a two-part series in which students learn how to be leaders for the environment, research local issues in their watershed by investigating the Galveston Bay Report Card website, and then create action plans to help solve local environmental issues. To give you a little more background, the Houston region is made of 22 watersheds that are all part of the larger Galveston Bay watershed, which drains into Galveston Bay. Whatever happens in these sub-watersheds, either good or bad, will affect the Bay in some fashion. The goal of this workshop is to have students identify environmental issues in their own community and find real, tangible, solutions. Solutions that they can actually implement during the school year. Oftentimes we think of environmental solutions being someone else’s job or something that we aren’t equipped to do.  This workshop aims to defeat that notion, proving to students that they can make a difference in their community. Kinkaid students researched and worked on their action plans for two weeks prior to presenting to their teachers (Sarah Shea & Tatum Branaman), peers, and Galveston Bay Foundation educators. When the presentation day arrived, we were all anxious, excited, and a little nervous. This was the first time we’ve done this workshop virtually and the students were all working from home as well. The workshop could be a hit or a flop – we wouldn’t know until the presentations started! Fortunately, it worked out perfectly and the students went above and beyond our original concept! We were completely blown away by the thoughtfulness, thoroughness, and creativity that came from these students. They not only came up with plans but already started implementing them. The work that each group accomplished is highlighted below. We look forward to checking back in with Kinkaid at the end of the school year to see how their plans turned out. If you’re interested in participating in the Environmental Leadership virtual workshop or any of our other virtual workshops, check them out here . We can host schools, homeschool groups, scouts, youth groups, and more. Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have.   Group plans (in no particular order)

Visit savethebay.causevox.com to Save the Bay this holiday season!

Join us on November 19 at 6:00pm for a public forum to discuss the proposed Coastal Barrier project. Co-hosted by Bayou City Waterkeeper, Galveston Bay Foundation, Healthy Gulf, and Turtle Island Restoration Network. Please Register Via Zoom Here

Galveston Bay Foundation continues its Land Conservation Efforts with Acquisition of Flo Hannah Prairie in Brazoria County (Houston, TX – July 8, 2020) Last week, the Galveston Bay Foundation acquired 79 acres of remnant coastal prairie in Brazoria County, as part of its continued effort to conserve coastal habitat through property acquisitions and conservation easements. Conserved land provides clean water, recreational opportunities, scenic beauty, a refuge for wildlife, and a host of other benefits. “The Texas Coast was once home to an estimated 6 million acres of coastal prairie. Today, less than one percent of that coastal prairie remains in a relatively pristine condition,” said Bob Stokes, Galveston Bay Foundation’s president. “At this point, every acre of conserved remnant prairie in our region is important. In terms of its biological value, Flo Hannah Prairie has been compared to Nash Prairie, another large remnant coastal prairie that has been conserved, so we are excited to be able to preserve this Texas coast treasure for generations to come.” A remnant prairie is defined as an isolated prairie site with original vegetation, very little if any non-native species and undisturbed topographic features. Strategically located off County Road 213, north of the Brazoria National Wildlife Reserve, the acquisition site is adjacent to a 35-acre tract that The Galveston Bay Foundation previously acquired in 2019 — for a total of 114 acres that have now been preserved in the area. The site will be named the “Flo Hannah Prairie” after Flo Hannah, a Galveston native and a renowned conservationist and prairie enthusiast, who passed away from cancer in 2018. A steward for the environment and the Upper Texas Gulf Coast, Hannah was passionate about native grasses and did meaningful work in native prairie plant restoration through her role at Houston Audubon Society, her own nursery of Gulf Coast Prairie plants, and her involvement with several local nature conservancies. Among her many contributions, she was involved in preserving the Deer Park Prairie and Nash Prairie — two other important remnant prairie tracts that have been conserved in the Houston region in recent years. The Galveston Bay Foundation intends to have a dedication ceremony of the Flo Hannah Prairie this fall. “Mom was so quiet about her achievements and accomplishments in prairie restoration and stewardship, and she would have been overwhelmingly humbled by this honor,” said Emily Coulter, daughter of the late Flo Hannah, speaking on behalf of herself and her sisters. “She always did what she did for prairie restoration and protection for the greater community, not for the recognition. The Galveston Bay Foundation has made such an incredible effort, and we hope we speak for all of her family, friends, and colleagues when we say thank you for honoring her. She felt so passionately about prairies - far more than any possessions. This is a perfect gift to the community as a whole, and it is a gift that will keep on giving for years to come. Thank you!” Funding for the acquisition was provided primarily by the North American Wetland Conservation Act (NAWCA) grant. Private funds from friends and family of Flo Hannah, as well as the Hershey Foundation, Houston Audubon Society, the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory and several other private donors have supported the effort. Additional support for this effort was also provided by the Galveston Bay Estuary Program through a Conservation Assistance Program grant. Since its establishment in 1987, Galveston Bay Foundation has conserved more than 8,000 acres of coastal habitat through property acquisitions and conservation easements and plans to add another 4,600 acres of before the end of 2020. The Foundation is a member of the Land Trust Alliance (LTA) and was accredited by the Land Trust Alliance Accreditation Commission in 2013 and re-accredited in 2019. The Foundation is also a participating member of the Texas Land Trust Council (TLTC). The Foundation continues to actively expand its land conservation efforts within the Galveston Bay Watershed, focusing on protecting a wide range of habitats and land uses including freshwater and estuarine wetlands, tallgrass prairies, coastal forests, and various agricultural lands. Conservation easements are an excellent tool for private landowners who wish to conserve natural resources on their land in perpetuity, but also wish to retain ownership of the land to enjoy and pass on to future generations. Learn more about the Foundation’s land conservation efforts and conservation easements at: https://galvbay.org/how-we-protect-the-bay/on-the-ground/land-conservation/

Virtual Bay Day Festival 2020! We hosted Bay Day Festival virtually this year on our website and Facebook page on May 16th from 11:00am - 4:15pm! In case you missed it, you can still access presenter videos here. Presenters provided educational videos of their exciting exhibits and participants will learn about the importance of Galveston Bay in our everyday lives. We have a variety of videos that include Bay animals, interactive games and more! The Lineup: 11am - 12pm Welcome to Bay Day Festival 2020! Eddie V. Gray Wetlands Center | Blue Crabs Elequa | Safe Drinking Water Back the Bay | Galveston Bay Video: All About Galveston Bay MD Anderson Cancer Center | Sponsor Spot Video: What makes MD Anderson a place of hope for cancer treatment Armand Bayou Nature Center | Terrapins and Sea Turtles Galveston Bay Foundation | Oysters 12pm - 1pm Citizens Environmental Coalition | Youth Environmental Education Moody Gardens | Kemps Ridley Sea Turtles Laurel Sullivan Gold Award Girl Scout Project | Plastic Pollution Exploration Green and Urban Land Institute | Green Space Wildlife Revealed | Birds of Prey Wildlife Revealed's YouTube Channel 1pm - 2pm Texas Wildlife Rehabilitation Center | Treating Injured Wildlife Baytown Nature Center | Nature Hike Kemah Aquarium | Snakes Native Prairies Association of Texas | Wonders of Insects Green Mountain Energy | Sun Club Galveston Bay Foundation | Recycle, Compost, or Trash? 2pm - 3pm Houston Zoo | Texas Wetlands Sea Center Texas | Touch Tank Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network | Marine Mammal Rescue Consulate General of Canada | International Migratory Birds Texas A&M Sea Camp | Sea Camp Program Texas Snakes and More | Snakes! Ball High School | Get Hip To Habitat Program Gulf Coast Bird Observatory | Local Birds Miss Earth USA | Coastal Restoration & Sustainability Oppe Elementary | Protecting the Bay Galveston Bay Foundation | Eco-Storytime Bayou City Waterkeeper | Urban Bayous & Watershed Habitat Jaime | How to Make a Bug Catcher Special Thank You To Our Event Sponsors Who Made Bay Day Festival 2020 Possible:

During this 2020 Volunteer Appreciation Week, I want to reflect on the powerful, amazing work that volunteers have done, and continue to do, for Galveston Bay. Galveston Bay is one of the largest and most productive estuaries in the United States. The Bay faces many challenges such as loss of coastal habitat, reduction in wildlife populations, and insufficient freshwater inflows. At Galveston Bay Foundation, we work to preserve and protect Galveston Bay on the upper Texas coast through programs in land conservation, habitat restoration, environmental education and outreach, advocacy and research. In order to increase public awareness about Galveston Bay and combat issues it faces, we developed and implemented hands-on volunteer events and programs. Marsh Mania, one of our signature community-based restoration events, began in 1999 when a national record was set for a number of volunteers involved in a single-day marsh restoration event. Since then, more than 8,000 Galveston Bay Foundation volunteers have restored over 215 acres of marsh habitat in Galveston Bay. That is the equivalent of 165 NFL football fields! Every year, thousands of volunteers help us complete marsh restoration projects, marine debris cleanup events, oyster reef restoration, land stewardship workdays, water quality monitoring, bottlenose dolphin research, environmental education, and the list goes one. In the year 2019 alone, over 2,600 volunteers donated over 11,700 hours of their time to help the Bay.  We could not succeed in preserving and enhancing Galveston Bay without our valued, hard-working, and dedicated volunteers. During this time of the Covid-19 pandemic, we truly miss our volunteers. Though we continue to work as a staff to address the issues that Galveston Bay faces, it is just not the same without our volunteers. We are grateful for the volunteers who have helped with tasks like video editing, as we work to bring the Bay to you virtually, and the Water Monitors who are still actively and individually collecting water samples when and where they safely can. I look forward to the day that we can safely get back to protecting the Bay, together.  For now, we have a virtual Bay Day Festival to look forward to on May 16th! I hope you are safe and well and that you can join us. Sincerely, Emily Ford Community Programs Manager & Chief Safety Officer