Port Houston employees celebrated this year’s Earth Day by joining Galveston Bay Foundation and dozens of other local volunteers at the 2017 Marsh Mania event. The program, now in its 18th year, is a nationally recognized Texas Parks and Wildlife project focused on restoring marsh habitats.
The goal of Marsh Mania is to encourage local citizens to become involved in hands-on wetlands restoration activities while increasing their awareness and appreciation of wetland habitats and functions. Since its creation in 1999, Marsh Mania has involved more than 7,700 community volunteers in the restoration of over 207 acres of vital salt marsh habitat at 89 sites around Galveston Bay.
Port Houston teams had a muddy good time as volunteers successfully planted over 6,250 stems of cordgrass on the banks of the Dickinson Bayou. Volunteers often found themselves up to their knees in mud, but ultimately worked to create and restore nearly 27 acres of marshland.
“Our team had a great time working with Galveston Bay Foundation and the Texas General Land Office to create new beneficial use sites and restore dozens of acres of local marshland,” said Garret Berg, Assistant Community Relations Manager for Port Houston.
Coastal wetland loss in the Galveston Bay system is a significant and continuing concern because of the essential roles that wetlands perform. Wetlands loss in the Galveston Bay system is greater than in many other areas of the State of Texas, according to the Texas Commission for Environmental Quality.
Port Houston completed the Earth Day festivities that evening at Armand Bayou Nature Center’s “Party for the Planet.” The event celebrated Earth Day and proceeds from the event go to support future Armand Bayou Nature Center activities and programs.