Bay Area Edition | April 2023

ENVIRONMENT Planned projects will protect area green spaces

ecosystems as development can dam- age, fragment or remove them entirely. Conservation incentive programs, such as tax credits, oer developers more reasons to better plan the use of their land and conserve when possible. Severe storms—such as Hurricane Ike, which is estimated to have cov- ered 60% of Galveston Bay’s oyster reef habitat in September 2008—can damage ecosystems through erosion and sediment deposition, accord- ing to the report. Mitigation eorts include “living shorelines,” which mix stone and vegetation, in place of typical infrastructure like armored shorelines, which use seawalls and bulkheads that can eliminate habitat space for local species. Furthermore, invasive plant and animal species can quickly eliminate native species until the invasive species are all that remain. Conservationists like Pylate recommend local residents be careful about what they plant. The Bay Area already has some tools in place, such as the Houston-Galves- ton Area Council’s “Eco-logical Map- ping Tool” that has data on ecosystem types, land use and planned develop-

Potential future acquisition

The Armand Bayou Nature Center recently made an oer to acquire land to its north in hopes of expanding. NATURE CENTER EXPANSION

BY SAAB SAHI

A multitude of projects related to parks, trails and nature preserves in the Bay Area are in various stages of progress from early development to recent completion in 2023. Projects include the possible expansion of the Armand Bayou Nature Center and other ecological projects related to parks in League City. The preserva- tion of native Bay Area ecosystems are also among such projects. These areas, such as the coastal prai- rie and coastal wetland, oer ood mitigation and erosion control in addi- tion to acting as recreation spaces, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the University of Houston Coastal Center. “The reason that these forests and these prairies are so important to all of us are the ecosystem services that they

Current boundaries

SOURCE: ARMAND BAYOU NATURE CENTERCOMMUNITY IMPACT

PLANNED EXPANSION If the Armand Bayou Nature Center expanded, it could increase its footprint by up to 47%.

acres of land to preserve from the Port of Houston, Pylate said. “Armand Bayou Nature Center is one of the largest urban wilderness preserves in the United States,” Pylate said. “Our mission here is twofold: rst of all, to preserve the habitats with which we’ve been entrusted, and secondly, to educate the public about why these habitats are so important for all of us.” The nature center contains three ecosystems: riparian forest, coastal wetland as bayou and about 900 acres of coastal prairie. Riparian forests are woodlands adjacent to bodies of water like bayous and oer many ecological benets such as ltration, ood mitigation and stabilization of eroding banks, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. “[Native ecosystems] act as a giant ltration system for [the Bay Area],” Pylate said. The nature center also oers edu- cational opportunities for the local community on native ecosystems via guided tours and programs for chil- dren. Plus, the center keeps animals, such as the bobwhite quail and Amer- ican bison, as animal ambassadors to showcase animals that live or histori- cally lived in local habitats. “Over the last four years, we’ve almost entirely lost our bobwhite quail population,” Pylate said. “These are actually ghosts of our past; they’re no longer here.” Other projects worth more than $50 million proceed across the Bay Area. League City’s Parks and Recre- ation Department has many in prog- ress, such as the $115,000 Clear Creek Master Plan; the upcoming Bay Col- ony Park; and an update to the Parks, Trails and Open Space Master Plan.

2,500 acres is how large the Armand Bayou Nature Center is today. 1,000 acres could be added due to a land acquisition deal with Exxon Mobil Corporation. 175 acres could come from a land acquisition deal with the Port of Houston. 3,675 would be the center’s total acreage if both deals go through.

provide,” said Tim Pylate, executive director of the Armand Bayou Nature Center. “A single acre of prairie can hold a million gallons of water.” Native Bay Area ecosystems also provide economic value by bolster- ing local sh pop-

ments. Addition- ally, education eorts also con- tinue via local green spaces, organizations and government agencies. “We are trying to raise aware- ness of conser- vation issues among the pub- lic, while also try-

“OUR MISSION HERE IS TWOFOLD: FIRST OF ALL, TO PRESERVE THE HABITATS WITH WHICH WE’VE BEEN ENTRUSTED, AND SECONDLY, TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT WHY THESE HABITATS ARE SO IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF US.” TIM PYLATE, ARMAND BAYOU NATURE CENTER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

ulations, providing habitat for oysters and generating ecotourism, according to a report by the EPA. The coastal center estimates less than 1% of the 6.5 million acres of coastal prairie estimated to originally have been on the Texas Gulf Coast remains. Ocials said these native eco- systems face risk of disappearing due to environmental stressors. Nurturing nature Major stressors aecting native eco- systems include land development, severe storms and invasive species, according to the EPA report. However, there are tools and strategies being implemented that can be further devel- oped to combat these stressors. Land development can impact native

ing to build a large list of volunteers,” League City Parks Coordinator John Orsag said. Largest local preserve The Armand Bayou Nature Center, which is located between the Bayport Industrial Area and Johnson Space Center, has raised nearly $17 million over the last ve years for the purchase of a former oil eld north of its prop- erty. In late March, the nature center made a purchase oer to Exxon Mobil Corporation in competition with devel- opers, Pylate said. If the sale is approved, the nature center would add 1,000 acres of the eld to its multiecosystem 2,500-acre urban wilderness preserve. The center is also trying to obtain an additional 175

The Armand Bayou Nature Center is home to various wildlife.

PHOTOS COURTESY ARMAND BAYOU NATURE CENTER

Prairies are critical ecosystems to the Bay Area, yet only about 1% of the original land coverage of coastal prairies remain.

BAY AREA EDITION • MAY 2023