Spr ing / Summer 2012In This I s sue :

Also Inside :

he evolution of Gulf Coast habitats was heavily influenced by incredibly

destructive forces of nature. Between floods and fires, droughts and hurricanes, and a number of other historically recurring events, our coastal prairies and marshes have adapted to life in a very harsh environment, to such an extent that the native landscape cannot properly function without some natural or artificial reset of the plant community.

As urban areas expand and the natural processes that formed coastal habitats are altered, special management practices must be applied to maintain the health and diversity of native wildlife habitats. The Galveston Bay Foundation has teamed up with natural resource agencies to take proactive measures that ensure preserves and other

environmentally sensitive lands are managed to provide ecosystem services that benefit both people and wildlife.

One of the most significant threats to native biodiversity and ecosystem function along the Gulf Coast is the introduction and spread of invasive plant species. The warm Gulf climate and abundant annual rainfall of the upper Texas coast provides conditions amenable to harbor plants from all over the world. Two non-native species that have been especially prolific and problematic are the Chinese tallow and Brazilian peppertree. These plants not only have the ability to easily out compete native coastal plants, but can also reproduce at an alarming rate.

How GBF has been committed to preventing the spread of invasive plant species in the Galveston Bay estuarine system

The FighT AgAinsT invAsives

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Continued on page 5

Oyster Shell Recycling and Reef RestorationProject Updates

Letter From Our President

Collecting Trash to Save Our Bay

Get Hip to Habitat Finishes Successful Year

GBF Launches First Clean Water Partnership

Living Shorelines Program Going Strong

Birding For A Cause

Spotlight on: Star Fleet Yachts

Celebrating 25 Years at GBF Luncheon

Bay Gazer Photo Contest Results

GBF Welcomes Newest Staff

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Backing the Bay at Bay Day 2012

Bike Around the Bay Improves for 2012

Four Acres Planted at Marsh Mania

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“THE MISSION OF THE GALVESTON BAY FOUNDATION IS TO PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND ENHANCE THE NATURAL RESOURCES OF THE GALVESTON BAY ESTUARINE SYSTEM AND ITS TRIBUTARIES FOR PRESENT USERS AND FOR POSTERITY.“

s you know, the mission of the Galveston Bay Foundation is to preserve, protect,

and enhance the natural resources of the Galveston Bay system. Through our twenty-five year history, we have always tried to bring together all the users of Galveston Bay to work in the best long-term interests of the Bay. That includes the recreational users, the commercial users, and the industrial users. We work with the multiple users of Galveston Bay and attempt to balance those uses so that no one use overwhelms any other.

As I write this piece, we are working to resolve a controversial issue in which we believe one use of Galveston Bay is unfairly being sacrificed for another. The Port of Houston is working to dredge the Bayport Ship Channel to 45 feet-- as deep as most of the rest of the main Houston Ship Channel. This deepening will accommodate some of the post-Panamax ships at the Bayport Container Terminal that will come through the expanded Panama Canal in 2014. The Port bills this project as a jobs creator for the Houston region, and it undoubtedly is.

However, the Port’s plan for disposing of the material dredged out of the Bayport Channel is a cause of major concern for the recreational users of Galveston Bay. The Port wants to build a large new beneficial dredge island in Upper Galveston Bay, west of the Houston Ship Channel and just east of the Houston Yacht Club (“HYC”), in an area of the Bay that has traditionally been reserved exclusively for recreational use. It is the one area of the Bay that is void of even oil and gas structures due to historical deference to recreational use.

Bob StokesPresidentExt. 211

Matthew AbernathyConservation ProgramsOutreach SpecialistExt. 203

Trey BartschMarketing Coordinator & Gazette EditorExt. 208

Charlene BohanonWater Quality OutreachSpecialistExt. 215

Jessica CurranMembership CoordinatorExt. 213

Rani HendersonManager of EducationProgramsExt. 212

Scott A. JonesDirector of AdvocacyExt. 209

Julie MintzerDirector ofCommunity ProgramsExt. 207

Daniella O’ConnorDatabase and Administrative AssistantExt. 208

Sharon RoarkDirector of DevelopmentExt. 204

Clint SchubertGrants Billing SpecialistExt. 202

Matt SingerConservation LandsManagerExt. 206

Courtney SmithVice President of OperationsExt. 214

Philip SmithDirector of ConservationExt. 210

Justine TownsendAccounting ManagerExt. 202

Lee Anne WildeSpecial ProjectsCoordinatorExt. 205

This initial decision to place the new beneficial use island in this controversial area has the support of an entity called the “BUG,” or the Beneficial Use Group, an entity made up of representatives from multiple state and federal environmental agencies. It would create over 400 new acres of marsh for Galveston Bay and have a smaller impact on existing oyster reefs than some other possible locations for the material.

But the Galveston Bay Foundation believes that the plan unfairly substitutes an industrial use in place of a recreation use in the area, and that the option to create a new beneficial use island

in front of HYC should be dropped. Sailors from across the world come to this area to compete in regattas. The area even held the US Olympic Sailing Teams Trials less than 10 years ago. But more importantly, generations of local sailors have learned to sail in this area, and its conversion to

an industrial use should be avoided. The Port of Houston has other options for storing this material and should find an option that does not have the significant impact on recreational sailing the current option has. We are currently working with a broad group of concerned citizens and meeting with the Port to let it know of our concerns. I am hopeful that by the time you read this, the issue could even be resolved. But if not, we will continue to work for another option, so that the use of this area is not permanently converted from a recreation area. For more information and to see the full statement from GBF, visit our website at galvbay.org.

The BAyporT DreDging projecTFrom Our President:

We are currently working with a broad group of

concerned citizens and meeting with the Port

to let it know of our concerns.

Bob Stokes, Galveston Bay Foundation President

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Galveston Bay Foundat ion1

nce a year, thousands of volunteers gather along the Texas waterways

to do their part in cleaning up the environment and participate in the largest statewide event to educate the public about the importance of our water resources (www.trashbash.org). The Galveston Bay Foundation sponsors one of the many sites associated with the annual River, Lakes, Bays ‘N Bayous Trash Bash. This year, on Saturday, March 31, GBF hosted 748 volunteers in cleaning up trash along the banks, tributaries, trails, and roadways around Armand Bayou. Many covered much ground and collected trash on foot, while others used their personal kayaks or canoes to collect from the water. Through the efforts of these volunteers, an estimated 7,480 pounds of trash, 25 tires, and 2,440 pounds of recyclable materials were removed from the Armand Bayou watershed.

GBF wishes to thank all those who came out to the Armand Bayou site for Trash Bash 2012 on Saturday, March 31!

Collectively, GBF’s Armand Bayou volunteer efforts contributed to those of the overall one-day event: 6,274 volunteers collecting 61,452 pounds (31 tons) of trash, 634 tires, and 7,113 pounds of recyclable materials from 176 miles of shoreline at 17 sites surrounding Galveston Bay.

Trash and debris thrown into streets, gutters, and ditches quickly reaches our region’s waterways and, after rainfall, much of it finds its way into Galveston Bay. These large discharges of water cause thousands of pounds of litter to become a nasty eyesore for Bay users, can be life threatening to Bay organisms, and pollute the water in the Bay making it unsafe for certain uses in many areas. The goal of Trash Bash is not

only to clean up litter in our Bay system, but also to grow awareness of the negative effects this contamination can have on all of us. Just as harmful as the litter that we can visibly see and pick up are the unseen threats to our Bay within the water. While it is important for us to not discard trash and litter carelessly, it’s equally as important to prevent chemicals or waste runoff from polluting the water that we all use. Visit

www.galvbay.org to see what you can do at home to help keep Galveston

Bay clean for everyone!

7,480 pounds of trash collected at Trash Bash 2012 at Armand BayoucollecTing TrAsh To sAve our BAy

Some volunteers such as Tim Gessner used kayaks to collect trash in areas inaccessible by foot.

DATES TO REMEMBER

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Spr ing / Summer 2012 2

Oyster TastingSaturday, Nov. 3, 2012 3:00 - 6:00 pmTommy’s Restaurant & Oyster Bar

Redfish Raft-UpSunday, Sept. 2, 2012 11:00 am - 3:30 pmStar Fleet Yachts Marina

Visit www.galvbay.org for more information on events

Guardian of the Bay LuncheonTuesday, Oct. 2, 2012 11:30 am - 1:00 pmRiver Oaks Country Club

Marsh ManiaSaturday, Sept. 29, 2012 8:30 am - 12:30 pmMoses Lake

Bike Around the BaySaturday, Oct. 13-14, 2012 7:00 amRide Starts at Barbers Hill ISD

New for Bike Around the Bay 2012: a fully enclosed route! Visit bikearoundthebay.org for more information.

Where does trash come from?

Galveston Bay Foundat ion3

n March 2011, GBF initiated our Oyster Shell Recycling Program with the goal of

collecting discarded oyster shells from local seafood restaurants and stockpiling, curing, and eventually reusing the shells in future oyster reef restoration projects around Galveston Bay. The pilot program began as a partnership between GBF and Tommy’s Restaurant & Oyster Bar in Clear Lake. GBF staff worked with Tommy’s owner, Tom Tollett, to develop an efficient way to store the shell in preparation for transportation to GBF’s shell recycling facility. The recycling process starts with restaurant wait staff separating the used oyster shells and placing them into collection bins. The bins are picked up approximately twice a week and transported to GBF’s collection area in Texas City, where they are left to cure in the sun for a minimum of six months. This bleaching helps to ensure that no unwanted organisms are introduced into Galveston Bay. Once the shell is cured, it is then ready to be used in various oyster reef restoration projects throughout Galveston Bay. Since March 2011, GBF has recycled over an estimated 35 tons of oyster shell from Tommy’s Restaurant. We have plans to expand the program, beginning this fall, to allow for the participation of more restaurants in the area and to collect more oyster shell for use in future reef restoration projects.

Over the past 18 months, GBF has spearheaded community-based oyster reef restoration in Galveston Bay. Project sites in San Leon and Kemah were funded, in part and respectively, by grants from the Texas General Land Office’s Coastal Management Program and the National Partnership between NOAA’s Community-based Restoration Program and Restore America’s Estuaries. The projects involved education and outreach to the general public, volunteers, and interested stakeholders about Galveston Bay oysters, their importance, and various restoration projects around the bay as well as oyster gardening for the purposes of enhancing oyster habitat in Galveston Bay. Outreach efforts consisted of presentations to the public, website development, booth exhibits, and the development and printing of program brochures, oyster fact sheets, and oyster gardening “how-to” guides.

Oyster gardening occurred throughout the summer of 2011, and involved residents of the San Leon, Bayview, and Kemah communities.

The oyster gardening process involves hanging mesh bags of oyster shell from piers, docks, or bulkheads in the bay to collect free-floating oyster larvae (“spat”). Residents volunteered 15 piers to use for hanging gardening bags and also volunteered over 680 hours of their time preparing, hanging, and maintaining the gardening bags , and placing the gardened oysters onto the reefs. Maintenance includes pulling the bags, removing algae and predators, and checking and maintaining the ropes and

bag material. The gardening project was a huge success, and in September 2011 , the gardened oysters were used to “seed” reef pads along the San Leon and Kemah waterfronts. The San Leon gardening and reef restoration project was conducted as a partnership between GBF and Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD).

The interest in gardening oysters for reef restoration has continued in 2012. On June 2, GBF presented the program to the

Jamaica Beach community and Pelican Rest Marina, both on Galveston Island.

Oyster Shell Recycling Community-based Oyster Reef Restoration

oysTer shell recycling AnD reeF resTorATion

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Young oysters gardened during the project in San Leon in August 2011

Residents of Jamaica Beach listen to an oyster restoration presentation in June 2012

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Jamaica Beach resident Fred Grube initiated the first by contacting both GBF and TPWD about the potential for an oyster gardening and restoration project in Jamaica Beach. TPWD oyster biologist, Bill Rodney, and GBF project manager, Matthew Abernathy, presented the program to over 30 Jamaica Beach residents and assisted residents in hanging 100 oyster gardening bags from residents’ docks. These bags will be monitored and maintained over the summer, and in September, will be emptied out to seed a nearby reef project managed by TPWD. Also on June 2, GBF assisted the owners of Pelican Rest Marina in hanging 20 oyster shell bags along one of the piers to help determine if oyster spat is present

in the area. These bags are also being monitored and maintained throughout the summer.

GBF’s Community-Based Oyster Reef Restoration program partners include: the National Partnership between NOAA’s Community-based Restoration Program and Restore America’s Estuaries, Texas General Land Office Coastal Management Program, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, ConocoPhillips, Dow, ERM Foundation,

Hillcrest Foundation, KBR, and Samson. GBF’s Oyster Shell Recycling program partners include Tommy’s Restaurant and Oyster Bar in

Clear Lake, the National Partnership between NOAA’s Community-based Restoration Program and Restore America’s Estuaries, and Sea Scout Ship1659. Thanks to all of these supporters and to all of the hardworking volunteers who have dedicated their time to both projects!

For more information on GBF’s oyster shell recycling and reef restoration efforts, please contact Matthew Abernathy by

e-mail – mabernathy@galvbay.org, or phone – (281) 332-3381 x203.

oysTer shell recycling AnD reeF resTorATion

www.galvbay.org

GBF staff member and Pelican Rest Marina employee hanging oyster bags at the marina pier in early June 2012

Students from College of the Mainland in Texas City assisting with GBF’s Shell Recycling operations

In 2005, GBF initiated a project to eradicate the Brazilian peppertree from Galveston Island. The Galveston Bay Estuary Program, Texas Coastal Management Program, and the USFWS Coastal Program have generously contributed substantial funding to support these ongoing efforts. These funds have allowed GBF to treat over 2,250 acres with targeted herbicide applications to control these noxious plants. The initial results are promising, but additional work is needed to address regrowth from established seed sources

and untreated infestations.Simultaneously, GBF is working to eliminate Chinese tallow infestations on several conservation properties surrounding Galveston Bay. Tallow has drastically altered the plant community structure and composition in many coastal habitats including coastal prairie, one of the nation’s most imperiled habitats. Controlling

Chinese tallow infestations is one of many steps in the process of restoring native coastal prairie, one of GBF’s conservation priorities.

Learn more about invasive plants and GBF efforts to control their spread throughout the Galveston Bay region at www.galvbay.org /conservation_invasive.html

The Fight Against Invasives(Continued from cover)

Galveston Bay Foundat ion5

The Brazilian peppertree is a noxious, invasive species of concern along the Texas Gulf Coast.

BF’s Get Hip to Habitat program just closed a very productive 2011-

12 school year, with fourteen public and private schools from all around the Houston-Galveston area participating in the program. This represents double the number of schools that participated in the program during the 2010-11 school year! Participating schools came from Galveston ISD (KIPP Coastal Village, Weis Middle School, Crenshaw School); Houston ISD (Clifton Middle School, Ryan Middle School); Pasadena ISD (San Jacinto Intermediate, Dobie High School); Clear Creek ISD (Westbrook Intermediate, Clear

Springs High School); Bryan ISD (Davila Middle School); and other local public and private schools (YES Prep North Central and Monarch School in Houston, Our Lady of Fatima in Texas City, Chinquapin Preparatory in Baytown). Approximately 450 students from these schools raised, monitored, and cared for marsh vegetation on their school campuses throughout the school year and concluded by planting a total of 8,480 pots of smooth cordgrass at local marsh restoration sites around Galveston Bay. Students planted their marsh grasses at several sites on West Galveston Island and at the Baytown

Nature Center, totaling an area nearly two acres in size. One school on Bolivar grew dune plants instead of marsh plants to help restore some of the dune system lost during Hurricane Ike. Also as part of the program, students received GBF’s Bay Ambassador presentation and participated in Education Stations featuring ID of wetland flora and fauna and analysis of water quality parameters.

To learn more about getting your school involved in the Get Hip to Habitat program during the 2012-13 school year, please contact Rani Henderson at rhenderson@galvbay.org.

geT hip To hABiTAT Finishes successFul yeAr

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Sol marina manager.

Marina Del Sol’s partnership will be driven by the marina staff and boaters through regular Bay Ambassador meetings with

GBF staff, where they will guide the types of workshops and activities that will take place. In addition, volunteers will collect water quality data through the Texas Stream Team program and survey data through a volunteer Dockwalker program in order to measure behavior, attitude,

he Galveston Bay Foundation recently launched its new Clean Water

Partnership program, a community-led effort to create change towards improved water quality. The first partner organization, Marina Del Sol, is leading the way with the help of its proactive marina management team and supportive local businesses like Maritime Sanitation and Redfish Island Marine. Marina Del Sol recently sponsored the official launch party for GBF’s Clean Water Partnership program, giving GBF the opportunity to introduce marina tenants to the program with a festive crawfish boil, blues band, and raffle prizes.

The program attempts to address the impaired water quality in Galveston Bay, specifically, high bacteria levels in several portions of the Bay which has led them to be deemed restricted shellfish harvesting areas. Through collaboration with Marina Del Sol and various other organizations, GBF aims to decrease the amount of bacteria reaching Galveston Bay and to keep our waters clean for present and future enjoyment. “Partnering with GBF has allowed us to reach out to many of our marina members, because like GBF, Marina Del Sol is committed to keeping Galveston Bay clean. We will continue to work with GBF in hopes of reaching more organizations to support our clean marina efforts,” stated Marissa Ochoa, Marina Del

Spr ing / Summer 2012 6

geT hip To hABiTAT Finishes successFul yeAr

and knowledge change throughout the partnership. Charlene Bohanon, GBF’s Water Quality Outreach Specialist, feels that “this program will allow GBF to build valuable relationships around the Bay and provide an avenue for carrying out effective outreach that will benefit Galveston Bay, and ultimately the community.” Please visit www.galvbay.org if your organization would like to learn more about how it can help preserve, protect, and enhance Galveston Bay through the Clean Water Partnership program.

The Clean Water Partnership launched in April 2012 with Marina Del Sol as the first partnering organization.

gBF lAunches FirsT cleAn WATer pArTnership

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“This program will ...provide an avenue for carrying out effective outreach that will benefit Galveston Bay, and

ultimately the community.”

-Charlene BohanonGBF Water Quality Outreach Specialist

Marina Del Sol managers, Marissa Ochoa (left) and Amber Treybig (right), accept a certificate from GBF’s Water Quality Outreach Specialist, Charlene Bohanon, signifying their official participation in GBF’s Clean Water Partnership program.

Galveston Bay Foundat ion7

he Galveston Bay Foundation’s Living Shorelines program is going

strong with five projects in the permitting phase, one currently under construction, and several on a waiting list for funding approval. Living Shorelines are an attractive shoreline erosion solution that create and enhance important intertidal marsh habitat while protecting property from loss due to boat wakes and wind driven waves. Bulkheads protect property, but they do not provide any habitat value. The Galveston Bay system has lost up to 80% of its marsh in some areas, and restoration of this important habitat is instrumental in maintaining a healthy bay.

Last year, the Galveston Bay Foundation, with funding from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and plants donated by NRG Energy in Baytown, constructed a 300-foot rock breakwater on a portion of Warren Sullivan’s property on Trinity Bay and planted marsh grass behind it. Mr. Sullivan’s property has been in his family for generations, but the shoreline had been

eroding at a rapid rate, causing Mr. Sullivan much concern. Mr. Sullivan is also a huge supporter of the bay and the environment, and so was concerned as well about the loss of healthy marsh habitat he had seen over the years. In the one year since the breakwater was constructed, the protected area behind has seen an impressive amount of soil accretion and the marsh grass that has been planted there has taken off. In addition, oysters have begun colonizing the breakwater.

Tom and Joetta Scarborough on the Hitchcock Diversionary Canal approached GBF about installing a living shoreline on their property because of concerns about erosion and habitat loss. Again, with funding from the USFWS and plants donated by NRG, Galveston Bay Foundation assisted them with developing a plan, permitting, technical assistance, and planting. Because the Scarborough’s property is on a calmer body of water, dense planting without the installation of hard structure was sufficient to stop

the erosion and restore habitat. Almost immediately after the grass was planted, herons and egrets began fishing off of their shore. Three years later, their grass looks great, and the grass is doing its job to harbor little fish that the big fish like, and the Scarboroughs are fishing, too!

If you or someone you know has waterfront property and wishes to enhance habitat as well as protect their property from erosion, the Galveston Bay Foundation can help, even in front of existing bulkheads or armoring. Please don’t hesitate to call us or visit our website for more information.

Two Successful Case Studiesliving shorelines progrAm going sTrong

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“Living shorelines” are attractive shoreline management options that provide erosion control benefits while working with nature to enhance the existing natural shoreline habitat. Living

shorelines often allow for natural coastal processes to remain through the strategic placement of plants, stone, sand fill and

other structural and organic materials, as the seen here with a healthy marsh developing behind Mr. Sullivan’s breakwater.

Redfish caught off the Scarborough’s shoreline

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living shorelines progrAm going sTrong Bike ArounD The BAy regisTrATion conTinues

egistration remains open for Bike Around the Bay as the Foundation

gears up for another great ride! Last year’s ride drew more than 900 cyclists, and this year’s registration is expected to surpass that amount.

Bike Around the Bay is a fully supported two-day, 180-mile bicycle ride around Galveston Bay showcasing the Bay’s natural beauty and benefiting the Galveston Bay Foundation. During Bike Around the Bay, cyclists tour Texas’ Upper Gulf Coast bays, coves, and inlets and visit several bay area towns. Cycling enthusiasts and ride volunteers enjoy a weekend of camaraderie amidst the beautiful natural environment of Galveston Bay.

This year, Bike Around the Bay’s route has been modified, allowing the ride to be 180 miles in length and a complete loop AROUND the Bay! This year’s ride starts in Mont Belvieu, Texas, at Barbers Hill High School, and continues down the east side of Galveston Bay. Riders spend the night in Galveston, where they enjoy a casual dinner with other cyclists and friends and family. Day two brings cyclists north along the west side of Galveston Bay, where they ultimately finish the ride back in Mont Belvieu. The

ride’s scenic route features many highlights, including riding around the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge, atop Galveston’s famous seawall, and across both the Galveston Causeway and the Fred Hartman Bridge. Proceeds from the ride benefit projects that preserve wetlands, protect natural habitats, and enhance the water quality of the bay for present users and for posterity.

“Bike Around the Bay is the premier local cycling event in the Houston region. It’s a fun, unique ride that brings riders to the edge of Galveston Bay at multiple points and allows them to see the true beauty of the Bay,” stated GBF President Bob Stokes.

We hope you will join us for Bike Around the Bay 2012 sponsored by

Shell! Please visit the Bike Around the Bay webpage for all the details and to register today!

Changes to the event in 2012 make the route 180 miles and a complete loop around the Bay

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Use your smart

phone to register

today!

The new route for 2012 is a complete loop around Galveston Bay.

Register today at:www.bikearoundthebay.org

Galveston Bay Foundat ion9

ay Day 2012 drew in people from across the region who came to

celebrate Galveston Bay! Thousands of attendees, over forty exhibitors, and more than one hundred volunteers helped make Bay Day 2012 a big success.

Festival sponsor Reliant, an NRG company, had its Smarter Home on WheelsTM on-site to demonstrate new tools, technologies, and services that give consumers innovative ways to better manage their electricity usage. Children enjoyed learning about the importance of Galveston Bay in our everyday lives at exhibitor booths including those hosted by Artist Boat, Baytown Nature Center, Buffalo Bayou Partnership, Gulf Coast Bird Observatory, Pew Environmental Group, Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, and more.

The theme of this year’s Bay Day Festival was “Back the Bay.” Back the Bay is an education and awareness campaign created in 2011 by the Galveston Bay Estuary Program. Back the Bay was chosen as the theme because both the Back the Bay campaign and the Bay Day

Festival celebrate all that Galveston Bay has to offer — from recreation to fishing to serving as a beautiful tourist attraction. Back the Bay educates residents about protecting Galveston Bay, a nationally significant estuary. The campaign offers simple tips and resources for the 4.5 million residents in the Houston-Galveston region who affect the health of the Bay. A key message of the Back the Bay campaign reminds residents, “You’re more connected to Galveston Bay than you think.” The campaign works to improve the environmental quality of the Bay through three main pillars: habitat preservation, water conservation, and water quality.

The Bay Day Festival is made possible through generous support from local sponsors, Reliant Energy, Dow Chemical, KBR, John P. McGovern Foundation, Teekay Shipping USA, Inc., and the Port of Houston Authority. Participation from many partner agencies and organizations such as Galveston Bay Estuary Program and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department also help to make the Bay Day Festival a success.

BAcking The BAy AT BAy DAy 2012!

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Over 5,000 festival attendees participated in hands-on bay-related activities organized by more than 40 exhibitors.

Bay Day is made possible thanks to the following sponsors:

Visitors participate in interactive exhibits (above)Representatives from Back the Bay partners held kick-off the campaign at Bay Day 2012 (below).

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BF extends a HUGE thanks to the “Curlew Cousins,” a local birding

team who presented us with a $2,250 donation collected from individual and corporate sponsors for the Dickinson Bay Island II restoration project. The team of cousins raised the money by identifying 128 species of birds during their 8-hour

birding competition on April 21. We’re very appreciative to have such young advocates raising funds to help in our mission, all while having a great time outdoors!

BAcking The BAy AT BAy DAy 2012! BirDing For A cAuseG

The Galveston Bay Foundation is pleased to spotlight Star Fleet Yachts,

the premier charter cruise company in the Galveston Bay area and a major advocate of GBF over the past several years. Located in Kemah, a few blocks from the Boardwalk, is where Star Fleet Yachts calls home to its fleet of five vessels. All of its boats are built with entertaining in mind, with wide open decks, dance floors, and dining rooms. These first class features, specifically those on the 100-foot Star Gazer, make it an ideal location for Redfish Raft-Up, an annual Weekend Party Cruise to Redfish Island featuring Kelly McGuire and band and benefiting the Galveston Bay Foundation.

Redfish Raft-Up is dedicated to Tom Lober of Star Fleet Yachts, who passed away in

2009. Tom was always kind to GBF, and it was his idea several years ago to put together what became the annual Redfish Raft-Up. Current owner and daughter of Tom Lober, Amy Alton, has continued to support GBF by partnering to host the annual event. The Galveston Bay Foundation looks forward to once again working with Star Fleet Yachts to promote, protect, preserve and enhance Galveston Bay through Redfish Raft-Up.

This year’s Redfish Raft-Up on Labor Day marks the 8th annual event. Redfish Raft-Up has a huge following of fans that come year after year. The Star Gazer departs from Star Fleet’s private marina and heads past the Kemah Boardwalk and out into Galveston Bay. The yacht then cruises eight

miles to Redfish Island, where it drops anchor surrounded by hundreds of boats wanting to join in the fun.

SPOTLIGHT ON: sTAr FleeT yAchTs

To order your tickets to Redfish Raft-Up 2012, visit

www.starfleetyachts.com

Above: Star Fleet Yachts’ Star Gazer is the largest boat in its fleet and hosts the annual Redfish Raft-Up benefiting GBF. Below: Boaters cruised up to join in the fun at Redfish Raft-Up.

Victoria Baker, Lauren Copeland, and Ryan Baker take a photo with GBF President Bob Stokes after presenting their donation.

Galveston Bay Foundat ion11

BF is pleased to announce the 2012 Bay Gazer photo contest winners.

Over forty photos focusing on the beauty of Galveston Bay were entered into the fourth annual Bay Gazer Photo Contest in conjunction with the Bay Day Festival. Finalists from each entry level--ages 14-

17 yrs and ages 18 plus--were carefully selected and voted on by the public at the Bay Day Festival at the Kemah Boardwalk on Saturday, June 9. Congratulations to Allison Buchtien, Vivian Griffey, and Irene Quiroga for being this year’s winners! Winners received cash prizes donated by

Centerpoint Energy, and their photos are being showcased in a photo tour throughout local businesses. You can view the winning photos on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/galvestonbayfoundation.

BAy gAzer phoTo conTesT resulTs

First place went to Irene Quiroga’s Last of the Sunlight in the 18+ category (far left) and Vivian Griffey’s An Eclipsed Boat in the 14 - 17 category (middle). The photos start their tour at The Aquarium in Kemah (above)

he Galveston Bay Foundation will celebrate our 25 year anniversary

at the 2012 Guardian of the Bay Award Luncheon on October 2 at the River Oaks Country Club, with The Honorable James A. Baker, III as our keynote speaker. Bill King and Laura and George Pontikes, Jr. are co-chairing this year’s event, with Chief Meteorologist KPRC Local 2 Frank Billingsley once again serving as our Master of Ceremonies.

Each year the Guardian of the Bay Award honors leaders who have shown remarkable distinction through substantial work and commitment for the betterment of Galveston Bay. We are proud to announce

that our 2012 award recipients are:Industry – Kirby CorporationCommunity – Cynthia and Don StevensonGovernment – U.S. Congressman Gene Green

We hope you will join us in celebrating GBF’s 25th anniversary by attending this event, where we will look back at a rich history of accomplishments and look forward with a vision for the next 25 years and beyond. For more information, email Sharon Roark at sroark@galvbay.org or visit http://galvbay.org/events_luncheon.html

celeBrATing 25 yeArs AT gBF luncheon

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alveston Bay Foundation would like to thank our volunteers, partners,

and sponsors who participated in the 14th annual Marsh Mania on Saturday, May 5, 2012. Over 225 volunteers planted more than 26,650 stems of smooth cordgrass at the Baytown Nature Center to help restore approximately 4 acres of habitat vital to the health of Galveston Bay.

The Baytown Nature Center occupies a 450-acre peninsula that was formerly the site of the Brownwood subdivision. During the 1960s through 1980s, this residential subdivision succumbed to subsidence in the range of 10 to 15 feet and was eventually destroyed by Hurricane Alicia in 1983. Today, the nature center consists of

a natural area of tidal wetlands, fresh and brackish water pools and forested islands and a recreational area with fishing piers, walking trails, and a children’s discovery area.

Marsh Mania 2012 is supported with funding from the national partnership between the NOAA Community-based Restoration Program and Restore America’s Estuaries, as well as with funding and donated materials and services from a number of local partners and sponsors. All marsh vegetation planted during Marsh Mania is donated by NRG Energy. The Baytown Nature Center is owned and operated by the City of Baytown.

mArsh mAniA 2012

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Over 225 volunteers planted 26,650 stems of smooth cordgrass to help restore four acres at Marsh Mania 2012.

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Marsh Mania 2012 is made possible thanks to the following sponsors:

Volunteers had fun getting down and dirty planting marsh grass (above). Planters spread out to plant across four acres at the Baytown Nature Center (below).

BAy gAzer phoTo conTesT resulTs

celeBrATing 25 yeArs AT gBF luncheon

Galveston Bay Foundat ion13

Matthew Abernathy joined GBF as the Conservation Programs Outreach Specialist. He earned his B.S. in Ocean

& Coastal Resources from Texas A&M University – Galveston in 2003 and is working on his M.S. in Marine Resource Management at the same institution. Prior to joining GBF, Matt worked for the Harris County Precinct 4 Parks Department developing and implementing outdoor education programs. He is glad to be back working near the coast and is excited to share his passion for the outdoors and conserving the Galveston Bay ecosystem with others!

Trey Bartsch joined GBF as the Marketing Coordinator. He graduated from Louisiana State University in May 2009

with a B.A. in Advertising and a minor in Business Administration. Following graduation, Trey co-founded and operated an advertising agency where he worked as a Creative Director in developing and

implementing advertising efforts. Trey moved to Houston in January 2011 and began pursuing a M.S. in Environmental Management from the University of Houston – Clear Lake, with an anticipated graduation of May 2013. As Marketing Coordinator, Trey hopes to spread the message of the foundation by utilizing his marketing background with his interest of protecting and restoring our coastal environment. His goal is to raise awareness of our Galveston Bay system and cultivate lifelong supporters in preserving it for future generations.

Jessica Curran joined GBF as the Membership Coordinator. She first became involved with the foundation as a volunteer

during Clean Up Around the Bay in 2008. She now serves as GBF’s Membership Coordinator, working to sustain and grow membership and general support for GBF. Jessica graduated magna cum laude and with honors from Ohio State University and has enjoyed a six-year career in nonprofit development. Experienced in database management, annual fund, membership programs, event fundraising, and grant administration, Jessica looks forward to helping GBF fulfill its mission to preserve and protect Galveston Bay. In addition to

membership efforts, Jessica coordinates GBF’s presence at area expos and trade shows, manages sponsorship programs for GBF events including Bike Around the Bay, and serves as the staff liaison for The Cast, GBF’s young professionals group.

Daniella O’Connor joined GBF as the Database and Administrative Assistant. Daniella graduated with

a Bachelors of Business Administration and a concentration in Marketing from the University of New Mexico. Since moving to Texas, she has worked with other non-profits and their database systems. She is excited to be working with the Galveston Bay Foundation’s development team on spreading the word on protecting the bay’s future.

Clint Schubert joined GBF in July 2012. Clint received a Business Aviation degree from Southern Nazarene

University in Bethany, Oklahoma in 2006. He works part-time with GBF as the Grants Billing Specialist and serves in a full-time capacity at a local engineering firm as the operations manager and accounting lead.

GBF is pleased to announce that the Reliant EcoShare, a program that allows Reliant Energy® customers to help reduce their carbon footprints through the purchase of carbon offsets, has been renewed. For each customer-purchased offset, Reliant will make a contribution to EarthShare of Texas. As a participating organization of EarthShare of Texas, GBF will benefit from this program! You can find out more at: www.earthshare-texas.org.

gBF inTroDuces neW FAcesGBF welcomes new staff members Matthew Abernathy, Trey Bartsch, Jessica Curran, Daniella O’Connor, and Clint Schubert

Reliant EcoShare Program Renewed

Spr ing / Summer 2012 14

gBF inTroDuces neW FAces

Reliant EcoShare Program Renewed

Photos in this issue of the GBF Gazette

contributed by:

Eldon DalesGene FisselerVivian Griffey

Andrew HancockIrene Quiroga

GBF Staff

GALVESTON BAY FOUNDATION

17330 Highway 3Webster, TX 77598p: 281.332.3381f: 281.332.3153www.galvbay.orggbf@galvbay.org

GBF is a 501(c)(3) organization affiliated with EarthShare of Texas and

with Restore America’s Estuaries.

GBF Gazette underwriting provided by our valued partner, the Port of Houston

Authority.

Help us continue in our efforts of preserving Galveston Bay by making a donation or becoming a member today! www.galvbay.org/give_donate.html