Project name:
Scenic Galveston Nature Preserve Invasive Species Control (#4006)
Project status: Complete
Grant Administrator: Gulf of Mexico Foundation (for NOAA)
Grantee: Scenic Galveston Inc.
Project location: within the Scenic Galveston (SG) Nature Preserve, Texas City, Texas
Grant period: Jan 2005 to Jan 2006 (extended to Dec 31, 2006)
Grant amount: $50,000
Land Ownership: Land owned by applicant, a 501(c)(3) conservation service organization;
all acreage is under conservation easement and/or deed-restricted for permanent conservation use.
Lat/Long: Project is located at 29.3351 by –94.8955
Types of Habitat: Preserve includes intertidal, brackish, and freshwater marshes, tidal flats, coastal prairie, oyster reefs.
Project leader: Lalise Whorton Mason, Habitat Restoration Chair
Scenic Galveston Inc.
20 Colony Park Circle
Galveston, TX 77551
(713) 664-1584 phone
(713) 664-1870 fax
Map by Gulf Coast Bird Observatory
Species Benefiting From Restoration:
• red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus)
• spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus)
• gulf menhaden (Brevoortia patronus)
• southern flounder (Paralichthys lethostigma)
• eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica)
• white shrimp (Linaepenaeus setiferus)
• brown shrimp (Farfantepenaeus aztecus)
• Blue crab (Callinectes sapidus)
• many others
Acres of Habitat To be Restored:
Project will focus on the 1,500 Virginia Point acres bounded by Galveston Bay where exotic species invasion is moderate to severe.
Project Summary:
The goal of this project is to protect and enhance the rich diversity of habitats within the SG Nature Preserve, a
Gulf Ecological Management Site, by controlling invasive species in the diverse wetland and coastal habitats within
the Preserve, involving local community members.
Project Objectives:
- remove invasive species impacting sensitive habitat areas
- reestablish, where necessary, native vegetation in treated areas
- manage preserve, in perpetuity, to prevent reestablishment or any new growth of invasive species, and to maintain diversity of native plant community
- involve local community to educate citizens on the functions and values of wetlands and coastal habitats, and the threats posed to them
Community Involvement:
As described previously, Scenic Galveston and its Friends of the Estuary adjunct volunteer group is a community based, 100-percent
volunteer conservation service/local land trust organization. No grant funds are ever used for administrative overhead, 100 percent
of the funds go to direct project costs. Hundreds of volunteers will be involved directly in the restoration effort.
Apart from SG hands-on activities, the project will
involve a strong public outreach and education
component, including developing interpretive signage on
invasive species, press coverage, and involving members
of the local community in control and management
activities. The City of Bayou Vista is a local
community partner, and continues to supply volunteers
for restoration work in the Preserve. Centerpoint Energy is also a strong supporter of this and related work at the preserve, and the local chapter of the Texas Master
Naturalists program have expressed a desire to assist with invasive species removal and related restoration and management work,
burning in particular, if implemented. SG also seeks to work with and educate pipeline ROW managers and preserve users on better stewardship practices
toward minimizing the continuing spread of invasive species.
