Upcoming Events

Registration for the 2021 Fall Marsh Mania event on Saturday, September 25 is now closed. Please contact our Volunteer Engagement Manager at eford@galvbay.org with any questions. Please join our volunteer opportunities mailing list here for updates on future Marsh Mania events!

The Fall Marsh Mania event takes place during National Estuaries Week, a celebration of estuaries like Galveston Bay.

Thank you to Aramco for their generous support of Marsh Mania.

Sponsor Marsh Mania 2022
Marsh Mania is made possible through donations from local corporate donors, all of whom are recognized as Marsh Mania sponsors. In addition to this request for funding, Galveston Bay Foundation invites corporate employees to volunteer their time to help plant marsh grass at any of the designated Marsh Mania sites. Contact Greg Loushine at gloushine@galvbay.org for more information on sponsoring Marsh Mania.

The History of Marsh Mania:
The “Mania” began in 1999, when GBF hosted the first-ever “Marsh Bash” for Galveston Bay. This one-day event set a national record when 1,500 volunteers planted nearly 70,000 stems of smooth cordgrass to create 14.5 acres of new habitat at eight sites around the Bay. Marsh Bash 1999 was a huge success and earned GBF two awards: the Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence in the civic/nonprofit category and the First Place Gulf Guardian Award in the civic/nonprofit category from the Gulf of Mexico Program. Also, for breaking the record for the largest volunteer-based restoration event, GBF received a case of Florida oranges from Tampa BayWatch, our sister organization in Florida and the previous record holder!

Today, Marsh Mania is the nationally-recognized, signature community-based wetlands restoration and education event of the Galveston Bay area. The goal of Marsh Mania is to involve local citizens in hands-on wetlands restoration activities while increasing their awareness and appreciation of wetland habitats and functions. In its 22 years, Marsh Mania has involved over 8,000 community volunteers in the restoration of over 215 acres of vital salt marsh habitat at 99 sites around Galveston Bay.

Volunteers are the heart and soul of Marsh Mania. Volunteers proudly identify themselves as “Marsh Maniacs” when they return each spring to participate in this annual event.