Posted in Uncategorized, tagged conservation, Green Stormwater Infrastructure, Gulf Coast Bird Observatory, placemaking, runoff, stormwater wetlands, water quality, WaterSmart Landscapes, wetland restoration, wetlands, wildlife habitats on July 26, 2016| Leave a Comment »
Our bayous and bays are greatly impacted by the quality of the stormwater flowing into them, and now is a great time to start improving it with practices we can implement at home, work, or beyond.
Join us in a beautiful setting–the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory’s new LEED-certified building in Lake Jackson, TX.
Posted in stormwater wetlands, tagged children in nature, Exploration Green, native plants, parks, stormwater wetlands, volunteers, water quality, wetlands on July 6, 2016| Leave a Comment »
Creating a wetland from what looks like a construction site has been a lot of fun. We began with the planting of water lilies, and there were some full-body immersions as we planted in 3’-4’ feet of cool groundwater on a hot day.
Danny indicates the depth where he is planting water lilies. Photo: Jerry Hamby
Posted in stormwater wetlands, tagged Exploration Green, native plants, parks, stormwater wetlands, volunteers, water quality, wetlands, wildlife habitats on July 6, 2016| Leave a Comment »
Community members plant the wetland area on June 25. Photo: Jerry Hamby
We passed a major milestone and it was composed of water, mud, plants and volunteers. After years of community meetings, planning, hydrology studies, waiting on permits, excavating, and raising plants, the first portion of the first lake at Exploration Green is ready for a stormwater wetland.
Posted in stormwater wetlands, tagged Exploration Green, native plants, runoff, stormwater wetlands, volunteers, water quality on June 2, 2016| Leave a Comment »
Saturday, June 18 and Saturday, June 25 from 9 am to noon, adults and kids ages 12 and up are invited to help plant a stormwater wetland for the new lake at Exploration Green. The Texas Coastal Watershed Program will coordinate the installation of native wetlands plants cultivated in the on-site nursery at Exploration Green. Enter the park at the bridge at 1800 Reseda. Tools will be provided and volunteers should be prepared to get wet and dirty!
Located on 200 acres of natural beauty, Exploration Green will feature a series of five connected finger lakes, 12 miles of hike-and-bike trails, safe play areas, multi-use athletic fields and inspiring gathering spaces. Complementing these amenities will be water-cleansing stormwater wetland areas; habitat islands for indigenous wildlife, including resident and migrating birds, amphibians and butterflies; and a reforested, more natural environment for native grasses, flowers and trees.
For more information about volunteering for this event, contact mcedwards@tamu.edu
Posted in Galveston Bay, native plants, runoff pollution, stormwater, stormwater wetlands, Uncategorized, tagged Exploration Green, native plants, parks, runoff, stormwater wetlands, texas master naturalist, volunteers, water quality, wetlands on September 8, 2014| Leave a Comment »
Smiles from Jerry Dollinger of the Gulf Coast chapter, Chris Kneupper of the Cradle of Texas chapter, and Ray Rottman and Nancy Saint of the Galveston Bay Area chapter of Texas Master Naturalists light up a cloudy summer day.
The wetland plant nursery at Exploration Green conservation area is up and running! We held our first volunteer morning on Thursday, September 4, with the able assistance of the Texas Master Naturalists. We loved the cooler overcast weather, even if it meant waiting out a 20 minute tropical downpour. About a hundred sprigs each of Maidencane (Panicum hemitomon)and Marsh hay cordgrass (Spartina patens) were potted up and added to the nursery ponds you can see in the background here.
The nursery will provide plants for the stormwater-cleansing wetlands planned for Exploration Green. These stormwater wetlands will be a model for naturally managing water pollution in our region.
Thursday mornings in the nursery will be a regular event and will be open to all interested volunteers in October. Contact Mary Carol Edwards for more information.
John Jacob
Steven Mikulencak
Charriss York
Watershed Texas 