Here are a few ways you can help our bays and estuaries:
Enjoy Nature. Get outside and see for yourself the natural beauty of our estuaries and wetlands. Kayak, fish, go birding, or simply take a walk in one of the many nature centers throughout the area. Appreciation begins with awareness.
Join a local environmental group such as Coastal Bend Bays Foundation, Sierra Club, Audubon Outdoor, Coastal Bend Audubon or Surfrider Foundation. Attend meetings, lectures and festivals to learn more about local environmental issues. Volunteer to promote their environmental issues.
In your yard and garden, use native plants or plants with low-maintenance needs for landscaping and limit fertilizer use to only what’s needed as excess can cause water quality issues. Plant trees and shrubs to prevent erosion and promote infiltration of water into the soil. Water your lawn conservatively.
Keep storm drains clean and keep litter, pet waste, leaves and grass clippings out of street gutters and storm drains to keep them from ending up in estuaries and bays. Never put household, automotive or gardening waste into storm drains.
Keep a respectful distance from birds and wildlife, especially bird rookery islands during nesting season. Use binoculars for observation.
Talk to elected officials. Encourage government officials to recognize the values of estuaries, the need to protect these habitats, and maintain adequate freshwater inflow or well-placed treated wastewater returns.
Donate your land to help conserve our area’s vital habitats. Estate donations, conservation easements, mitigation arrangements and land management partnerships can help all involved. See what could work for you, the land, and those trying to conserve it.