National Park Service Grant

We are very excited to have the National Park Service working with us to develop a master plan for the forty-five miles of Greens Bayou through its Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program. 

Kathryn Nichols, Community Planner, National Park Service,  was in town Monday, March 30, visiting with the volunteers that meet monthly to work on Greens Bayou.  We had a great turn out and appreciate everyone's participation.  Kathryn tells us this helped bring all the pieces togehter for her.

Now, it's time to get input from the community at-large.  Over the next year reach committees will host workshops in the reaches, surveys will be sent out, on-line surveys will be developed, and we will learn what recreational activities the community wants.  If you have ideas stay tuned to our Calendar of Events for details on meetings in your area. 

March 20, 2010 West Reach Clean Up/Tree Planting Event

Despite the threat of rain and the eventual deluge, approximately 75 volunteers worked for three hours along the upper portion of the watershed.  Before the cool front pushed through forty trees were planted and fifty bags of trash were collected.

Volunteers from KBR, Boy Scouts, Willowbrook Rotary Club, Klein Collins High School Interact Club, Leadership North Houston alumni, and the community at large chipped in to make this first event a huge success. The committee was particularly impressed with the number of youth volunteers that participated and the work ethic they displayed.  They hung in there, got soaked, and finished the job with a smile on their face and a little laughter.

GBCC extends its sincere appreciation to KBR for financial support, Harris County Flood for donation of the trees, Trees for Houston for materials and instruction, Bayou Preservation Association for its expertise, and CenterPoint Energy for donation of equipment.  We look forward to future projects.

Help Us Beautify the Bayou!

When the West Reach initially met and went through a SWOT (Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunity, Threat)  exercise, one of the themes that emerged was the lack of appeal in this part of Greens Bayou.  With funding from KBR, GBCC is partnering with Harris County Flood Control District, Bayou Preservation Association, Costa Vizcaya Apartments and Trees For Houston to host a Bayou Clean/Tree Planting Day on Saturday, March 20, 2010, from 9 am - 12 noon. 

The clean up will start at the top of Greens Bayou and begin working down stream.  If you are interested in participating in the clean up meet at Walgreens located at Jones Road and Cypress-North Houston.  The tree planting will focus on an area between North Gessner and Mills Road.  If you are interested in participating in the tree planting meet at Costa Vizcaya apartments at 12020 N. Gessner Road, Houston, TX 77064. 

State Farm Youth Advisory Board Awards GBCC Grant

 Greens Bayou Corridor Coalition (GBCC), Houston Parks Board, Bayou Preservation Association, and Wendel D Ley Family YMCA are working together to develop the first canoe launch park on Greens Bayou. 

The site is a genuine diamond in the rough, with two unusual finds.  First, the furthest east stand of Anacuas are present. More importantly, it is home to a ten foot palm.  Specialist at the University of Texas are working to determine if it is a new species, or simply the largest Louisiana Sabal in the State of Texas.

State Farm Youth Advisory Board awarded GBCC a $38,019 grant to work with Galena Park ISD high school students.  Students will be introduced to native vs. invasive species concepts, identify and remove invasive species, and replant native plants.