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Archive for the ‘Bay-friendly’ Category

Floating an new idea

Posted in Bay-friendly, children in nature, freshwater inflows, Galveston Bay, native plants, runoff pollution, stormwater, tagged , , , , , , on September 6, 2013| 1 Comment »

We are moving closer to installing floating wetland islands in what may be the first such project at a school in Texas, and one of the first public installations anywhere in the state. The floating wetlands will be in the storm water detention basin (aka “the pond”) of the Education Village campus in League City TX, part of the Clear Creek Independent School District (CCISD).

islands composite

Left: Floating wetland islands in Canada. Source: Biohavens International. Right: A pilot project in Baltimore Harbor. Source: Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore.

What is a floating wetland? It’s a small buoyant man-made island that grows wetland plants. CCISD’s islands will be made of a dense mesh of recycled plastic fibers produced by Martin Ecosystems. These floating wetlands have plant, soil and root interactions similar to a natural wetland and provide surfaces for colonies of beneficial water-cleaning microorganisms. (more…)

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Septic System Maintenance

Posted in Bay-friendly, Galveston Bay, runoff pollution, stormwater on July 21, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Last month I shared about the connection between septic systems and degraded water quality.  I wanted to follow up with some simple this you should and should not do to keep your septic system in good working order.

Roll

Do!

  • Have your septic tank pumped every 3-5 years
  • Keep a map of where you septic system is located
  • Divert roof drains and surface runoff away from your septic system, excess water can overwhelm your system and cause backups into your home
  •  Use your garbage disposal sparingly, excess solids sit in your tank an increase the frequency of pumping

(more…)

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Eating your way through the Bay

Posted in Bay-friendly, Galveston Bay, tagged , , , , , , , , on July 15, 2013| Leave a Comment »

My colleagues at work know that I love to eat oysters. I enjoy them raw, but fried or grilled oysters are tasty too. A light soup made with leeks, cream, stock, and shucked oysters is an all-time favorite and proves the point that simple is often better. But the simplest preparation is oysters on the half-shell, which is perhaps the best way to appreciate how local conditions shape these bivalves. And when I take my seat at the oyster bar, I’m thinking specifically of oyster flavor and texture.

Oysters thrive where fresh and salt water mix, conditions that make Galveston Bay suitable for numerous oyster reefs. The Bay’s shape and in-flowing rivers means that salinity, temperature, depth, and currents change from point to point. These highly localized conditions within the Bay can produce two seemingly different oysters harvested only miles apart. A Pepper Grove Reef oyster from East Bay may taste bright and salty, while the Lone Oak oyster from nearby Trinity bay can have a creamy texture and a briny sweetness. These local conditions also shape the shell’s surface (smooth or ribbed) and the color and tenderness of the plump morsel inside. What this all means is that Galveston Bay produces as many oyster varieties as it has reefs. For foodies and oyster lovers, this is something to celebrate.

Oyster Reef Appellations

Oyster Reef Appellations

Two years ago, I had the opportunity to work in partnership with the Galveston Bay Foundation and Tommy’s Oyster Bar to draft a map illustrating the location of reefs in the Galveston Bay. 
 (more…)

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Bay-friendly Landscaping Begins at Your Watershed Address

Posted in Bay-friendly, drought, freshwater inflows, Galveston Bay, native plants, rain garden, Resilience, runoff pollution, stormwater, watersmart on January 7, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Planted wetlands help protect Brays Bayou

Planted wetlands help protect Brays Bayou

Over-watering causes runoff.

Over-watering causes runoff.

Armand Bayou leads to Galveston Bay

Armand Bayou leads to Galveston Bay

What is your watershed address? If you do not have an answer then it probably means you are not sure how or even if you are connected to Galveston Bay. Actually, everyone lives in a watershed whether or not a body of water is in view. Simply put, a watershed is the land from which water drains on its way to the nearest bayou, river, lake or bay. Your watershed address bears the name of that accepting water body. For example, I live in the White Oak Bayou Watershed. Water from my yard makes its way into the stormdrain and flows, unfiltered, to White Oak Bayou and ultimately empties into Galveston Bay.
Galveston Bay is a complex mixture of salt and fresh water and is teaming with life. On the land, it is surrounded by prairies and marshes which form rich estuaries, or nurseries, for marine species like crabs, shrimp and oysters. The entire area supports a vibrant, diverse wildlife population. Galveston Bay also ends up being a repository for pollutants found in urban runoff. Stormwater, or rainwater, flows from surfaces that cannot absorb water—impervious surfaces like roofs, streets and parking lots—and from our own landscapes carrying with it substances like motor oil, litter, fertilizers, pesticides and pet waste that all end up in the bay. One way we can make a difference in the health of our watershed and of Galveston Bay is to use landscaping practices that are bay-friendly—working with, not against nature. (more…)

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