Galveston Bay Foundation to Receive Over $500,000 to Remove Trash from Galveston Bay Tributaries
- September 05, 2024
- News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
HOUSTON, TX – September 5, 2024 – Galveston Bay Foundation is pleased to announce it has been recommended for an award from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Debris Program with funding provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The grant is intended to address critical issues of trash and marine debris in the Houston area. This funding will enable the deployment of trash traps, also known as booms, in three key bayous within Houston waterways.
These strategically placed trash traps will capture debris before it can flow downstream into Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, helping to safeguard the health of this vital ecosystem. By intercepting trash early in the waterways, Galveston Bay Foundation aims to prevent significant amounts of pollution from impacting the bay and its diverse marine life.
“We are incredibly excited for this opportunity to clean up Houston area bayous,” said Bob Stokes, President of the Galveston Bay Foundation. “This grant will be a game-changer in our efforts to protect Galveston Bay from the harmful effects of marine debris. By focusing on key entry points in the Houston watershed, we can reduce the amount of trash that reaches the bay and significantly improve water quality.”
The trash traps, designed to capture and hold debris while allowing water to flow freely, will be installed in three bayous, chosen based on their high traffic of both urban runoff and potential debris sources. The traps will be regularly monitored and maintained, in collaboration with project partner Osprey Initiative, LLC, to ensure their effectiveness and to facilitate timely removal of collected waste.
This project aligns with Galveston Bay Foundation’s mission to conserve and restore Galveston Bay through strategic initiatives and community engagement. The implementation of trash traps is a crucial step in the broader effort to address marine debris, which poses threats to aquatic life, human health, and the overall integrity of coastal ecosystems.
“We are proud to support Galveston Bay Foundation’s trash interception efforts to protect Houston’s bayous and the greater Galveston Bay watershed,” said Jessi James-Barry, Gulf of Mexico Regional Coordinator for the NOAA Marine Debris Program. “This project will enhance ongoing community beautification efforts, collect valuable trash item data, reduce flood risk, prevent marine debris from entering the ocean, and improve environmental and public health.”
The Galveston Bay Foundation will be working closely with local stakeholders, community groups, and volunteers to enhance the effectiveness of this project and promote awareness about the importance of reducing marine debris.
About Galveston Bay Foundation:
Galveston Bay Foundation is a conservation nonprofit that has served as guardian of Galveston Bay since 1987. Our mission is to preserve and enhance Galveston Bay as a healthy and productive place for generations to come. We work to facilitate a true cross-section of Bay interests through creative, inclusive, and forward-thinking solutions to the challenges confronting Galveston Bay. We envision a future Bay that is brimming with vitality, connected to people, and contributing to the community in every possible way.
About NOAA Marine Debris Program:
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Marine Debris Program is a United States Government agency. They were established by Congress in 2006 through the Marine Debris Act and are a program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and a division of the Office of Response and Restoration.
They are the United States Government’s lead for addressing marine debris. Their mission is to investigate and prevent the adverse impacts of marine debris and they do this through our six main pillars: Prevention, Removal, Research, Monitoring and Detection, Response, and Coordination.
About Osprey Initiative, LLC:
Osprey is an environmental consulting company based in Mobile, Alabama that specializes in customized solutions for litter and recycling issues. They provide a full suite of litter interception devices that have proven successful in waterways throughout the country. Find out more at www.osprey.world.
Media Contact:
Kimberly Meza
Communications and Marketing Manager
Galveston Bay Foundation
Phone: 281-923-3278
Email: kmeza@galvbay.org
Website: www.galvbay.org
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