Clear Creek Environmental Foundation

Habitat Restoration (By: Joel Taylor)

Why restore a marsh?

Ninety percent of the finfish and shellfish caught in the bay and the Gulf of Mexico depend on bay marshes during some part of their life cycle.
Six hundred of North America's 800 bird species can be seen in the Galveston Bay area at some time of the year.
Marshes filter water run-off from the land, absorb floodwaters, and protect shorlines from erosion.

Bad - Subject to major erosion, provides no habitation cover, and is dead to wildlife.

Good - After cordgrass is planted by volunteers, the area is rich and vibrant with life.

These 2 pictures (above) show areas of Clear Creek near 270 bridge. One shows the river edge eroding and devoid of grass in the water. The second shows the creek with abundant cordgrass growing in the water. We hope to make all of the creek banks look like the picture of the abundant growth of cordgrass out into the water.

CCEF has received habitat restoration grants allows us to fulfill a two part objective.

To restore the marsh characteristics of the Creek shores and banks so that we help improve natural qualities of the esturary and water.
Educate youth and the public on the unique qualities of Clear Creek and its special value as an estuary.

An estimated 1 MILLION seeds have been collected, cleaned, and stored in salt water at a Reliant facility for re-planting. You can click any one of the pictures below to see another page dedicated to that subject. Use <Back at the top of each page to return here. Earlier planting of grass along the bank shows how these efforts have paid off in 2003. (Link to new page. Use <Back to return here) We used our new barge donated by Kennedy Ship and Repair. We had 2 large trailer loads... (Link to new page. Use <Back to return here) Non-destructive seed transplanting helps the foundations efforts to stop destructive erosion. (Link to new page. Use <Back to return here) FFA Volunteers from Clear Creek High School spend a productive day planting at the Reliant Nursery. (Link to new page. Use <Back to return here) For the Kids! (Link to new page. Use <Back to return here)