For Immediate Release
Contact: Tiffany Heikkila
Hill and Knowlton, Inc.
713-752-1900

GALVESTON, TX (August 1, 2001) - The Port of Houston Authority, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Beneficial Uses Group (BUG), successfully completed marsh grass-planting efforts earlier this month on a sand flat resulting from recent dredging activities. The planting will help transform a 160-acre sand flat in the Upper Galveston Bay into vital wetlands.

A 25-member volunteer team spent two days planting individual sprigs of marsh grass along the sand flat shoreline. Among the volunteers at the planting were Col. Nicholas Buechler, Commanding Officer for the Galveston District U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, Herbie Maurer, Deputy District Engineer for the Galveston District and Port of Houston Authority Commissioner, Jimmy Burke. The variety of marsh grass used for the planting will re-root itself in the sand within 30 days and spread approximately six-fold in a single year. Ultimately the marsh grass is expected to stabilize the sand flat's shoreline, creating natural habitat for birds and other wildlife.

Not originally part of the early phases of the wetland construction, the planting was initiated by the BUG, the Corps and the Port. The grass planting is an innovative solution which is transforming an inadvertent loss of bay bottom into an environmentally productive marsh. This area was slated to be converted into marsh in later phases of development. The formation of the sand fan during construction allowed for the marsh grass planting to occur much earlier than expected.

The BUG project, sponsored by the Port of Houston Authority and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, identified ways to use material dredged during the deepening and widening of the Houston Galveston Ship Channel for environmental benefit. During the 50-year project, dredged material will be used to create 4,250 acres of inter-tidal salt marsh, build a bird nesting and habitat island and construct an offshore underwater berm to enhance habitation for fish species. The construction plan also includes restoration of two previously existing islands: Goat Island in Buffalo Bayou and Redfish Island in Galveston Bay. The construction of access channels and anchorages for recreational boaters in mid and lower Galveston Bay are also included as part of the project.

For more information about the BUG project visit our website at www.betterbay.org.

Back to Releases