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What: More than 160 volunteers will restore wetlands in Galveston County as part of Galveston Bay Foundation’s 21st annual Marsh Mania event on Saturday, April 13, 2019. Marsh Mania engages local citizens in hands-on marsh restoration activities while increasing their awareness and appreciation of wetland habitats and functions. Marsh Mania volunteers will transplant smooth cordgrass to the intertidal shorelines of the Texas City Prairie Preserve and at Virginia Point. In its 20 years, Marsh Mania has involved more than 8,000 community volunteers in the restoration of roughly 210 acres of vital estuarine marsh habitat at 93 sites around Galveston Bay. The estuarine marsh being restored is important to the life cycles of ecologically and economically significant marine species, including federally-managed red drum, brown and white shrimp, and regionally-managed blue crab. Marsh Mania 2019 is made possible through a number of local partners and sponsors including Cabela’s Outdoor Fund, Citgo, CenterPoint Energy, John P. McGovern Foundation, ExxonMobil, Port Houston, RES, Odfjell, NRG, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, CCA Texas, Texas General Land Office, Shell, Scenic Galveston, The Nature Conservancy, NRCS, Texas Parks and Wildlife, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Where: It is suggested that media attend the Virginia Point planting site. Parking is at John M. O’Quinn Nature Preserve, 2441 Highway 6, Hitchcock, TX 77563. Shuttles to the site itself will be available between 8am and 9 am. Please arrive at the parking location between these times. When : Saturday, April 13, 2019 Timeline of activities: 8am – 9am: Shuttles will run to the planting site 9am – 11:30am: Planting at Virginia Point 11:30 – 1pm: Shuttles back to the parking location, lunch and event shirt distribution Who: Emily Ford, Galveston Bay Foundation Volunteer Programs Coordinator will be available for interviews

Galveston Bay Foundation collects water samples in response to Deer Park Fire (HOUSTON, TX – March 25, 2019) Galveston Bay Foundation collected 14 samples over four days starting on Friday, March 22, from areas both upstream and downstream from the ITC fire. All the samples showed less than one part per billion of benzene in the water, other than one sample from Saturday, March 23, which showed a spike of 46.8 parts per billion of benzene. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality surface water quality standard for fish and shellfish is 581 parts per billion. However, the EPA recommends a National Water Quality standard of 16 parts per billion for fish and shellfish exposure. Therefore, this sample comes in below TCEQ’s standards, but above the recommended EPA level. Benzene volatizes in the water column, which means it evaporates to the air. By Monday, all sample levels were back down to less than one part per billion. Galveston Bay Foundation intends to continue its independent water sampling in the coming weeks and will coordinate with agency partners to communicate those results. Galveston Bay Foundation’s water sampling data has been published in partnership with Environmental Defense Fund: Results from Friday, March 22 nd Results from Saturday, March 23 rd Results will be formatted in an interactive map as soon as Monday evening. “We began taking these samples to ensure there was good data available to help in the overall response and cleanup effort from the ITC fire,” said Bob Stokes, Galveston Bay Foundation President. “In addition to our data, we know the State of Texas and contractors from ITC are now taking water quality samples in the area. We are hopeful these collective efforts will provide a good road map for continued response and cleanup of the discharge of product and firewater into the Houston Ship Channel.” About the Galveston Bay Foundation Established in 1987,Galveston Bay Foundation is a 501(c)(3)non-profitorganization. Its mission is to preserve and enhance Galveston Bay as a healthy and productive place for generations to come. For more information, call (281)332-3381,visit www.galvbay.org, like us onFacebook,or follow us on Twitter @GBayFoundation

One thing that unites us as a nation is land: Americans strongly support saving the open spaces they love. Since 1987, Galveston Bay Foundation has been doing just that around the Bay. Now, its land trust accreditation has been renewed by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission. This five-year term affiliates Galveston Bay Foundation with a network of more than 400 accredited land trusts across the nation and helps ensure the permanence of its land conservation efforts. “We are a stronger organization than ever as a result of the rigorous accreditation renewal process,” said Matt Singer, Galveston Bay Foundation Director of Land Conservation. “Our strength means special places such as Turtle Bayou Nature Preserve will be protected forever.” Galveston Bay Foundation underwent extensive evaluation to achieve this accreditation distinction, signifying a commitment to maintaining the public’s trust in its conservation work. Accredited Land Trusts now steward approximately 20 million acres – the size of Denali, Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Glacier, Everglades and Yosemite National Parks combined. And Galveston Bay Foundation contributes to that number through protection of 8,065 acres of land via conservation easements and fee simple properties around Galveston Bay, ensuring it remains a healthy and productive place for generations to come. About the Galveston Bay Foundation Established in 1987, Galveston Bay Foundation is a 501(c)(3)non-profitorganization. Its mission is to preserve and enhance Galveston Bay as a healthy and productive place for generations to come. For more information, call (281) 332-3381,visit www.galvbay.org, like us onFacebook,or follow uson Twitter @GBayFoundation

What : Philippe Cousteau, Jr’s EarthEcho International, a leading environmental youth leadership organization, YES Prep Public Schools, Galveston Bay Foundation and local Xylem Watermark volunteers are joining forces for clean and healthy local waterways as part of the 2019 EarthEcho Water Challenge . Open to all citizens, students, families and organizations worldwide, the Water Challenge helps anyone to test, monitor and improve the quality of water in their communities. Taking place on March 22 – United Nations World Water Day – a special kick-off event in Houston, TX, will engage approximately 150 YES Prep Public School students in water quality monitoring during a field experience in Kemah, TX, allowing students to learn about water quality and conservation on Galveston Bay. Who: Philippe Cousteau, Jr., Co-Founder and President, EarthEcho International Mark DiBella, CEO, YES Prep Public Schools Bob Stokes, President, Galveston Bay Foundation Where : 1725 State Highway 146, Kemah, TX 77565 When : Friday, March 22, 2019 9:30 – 9:45 AM : Opening remarks and introduction by Philippe Cousteau, Jr. 9:45 AM – 1:50 PM : Students and host organizations rotate through different water monitoring and conservation stations. Interview and photo opportunities are available during this time. 11:35 AM – 12:05 PM: Press conference with Philippe Cousteau, Jr. and host organizations. 1:50 PM: Program concludes Visuals: Philippe Cousteau, , YES Prep Public Schools, Galveston Bay Foundation representatives and students in the field with water monitoring kits, entering data and exploring ways to improve local water quality. Spokespersons can address: How the EarthEcho Water Challenge will engage youth around the world to test, monitor and improve the quality of water in their How anyone can participate in the Water Challenge with a water testing kit provided via the Water Challenge website . What can be done to improve the quality of community water sources through the involvement of local organizations like YES Prep Public Schools and Galveston Bay Foundation . The growing global issue of poor water quality including waste water, pollution and development and the related significant local About the EarthEcho Water Challenge The EarthEcho Water Challenge is an international education and outreach program, run by EarthEcho International and sponsored by Xylem Watermark . The Challenge builds public awareness and involvement in protecting water resources around the world by engaging citizens to conduct basic monitoring of their local waterbodies, share their findings and protect our most precious resource. The challenge runs annually from March 22 (United Nations World Water Day ) until December 31. For more information, visit www.monitorwater.org and follow us on social media: Facebook: www.facebook.com/earthecho Instagram: @EarthEcho Twitter: @EarthEcho Join the conversation using hashtag #MonitorWater About YES Prep Public Schools For twenty-one years, YES Prep has increased the number of students from underserved communities who graduate from college prepared to lead. With 18 schools serving 13,300 students, YES Prep leads Houston forward by redefining what is possible in public education when children have access to excellent schools. YES Prep received the inaugural Broad Prize for Public Charter Schools, is nationally ranked by the U.S. News and World Report, The Washington Post, and others, and has consistently been named one of Houston’s “Best Places to Work” by the Houston Business Journal. To learn more, visit: www.yesprep.org . About 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. For further information, contact the Foundation at (281) 332-3381, visit www.galvbay.org, like us on Facebook, or follow us on twitter @GBayFoundation

In partnership with  Texas Parks and Wildlife Department , GBF will facilitate a crab trap removal event in Anahuac and Bolivar on  Saturday, February 22, 2020 from 9am to 1pm . Volunteers can bring their own boat to help pull traps out of the water, or they can wait on land for boats to come in and help unload and smash the traps. Our crab trap removal events take place in Anahuac and Bolivar. Spaces are very limited, so sign up to volunteer now!

What : Galveston Bay Foundation invites you to its upcoming membership meeting titled The Coastal Barrier: Galveston Bay Foundation’s Observations, Concerns and Comments. The presentation will provide the latest on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer’s plans to design and build an Upper Texas Coast storm surge coastal barrier and Galveston Bay Foundation’s position on the barrier. Date : Thursday, January 24th Time : Reception: 6 – 6:45pm, Program: 6:45 – 7:25pm, Q&A: 7:25 - 8pm Location : United Way Community Resource Center, 50 Waugh Drive, Houston, TX 77007 Speakers: Scott Jones, Galveston Bay Foundation Director of Advocacy Azure Bevington Ph.D., Coastal Ecologist, Citizens for Responsible Coastal Protection John Bartos, Advocacy Committee Chair, Houston Audubon Society