Nature

Plants for Armand Bayou marsh restoration are grown year round in nursery ponds across from the Admissions Building at the Nature Center. Photo credit - Marilyn Clark, League City Area News Online.

Marsh Mania: Volunteers will plant marsh grass to help restore Armand Bayou

Marsh Mania will be Saturday, June 2 from 8 to 11:30 a.m. FREE lunch at noon — Door prizes and free t-shirts.

Other sites include Starvation Cove on Galveston Island and the Texas City Prairie Preserve.

By Marilyn Clark

May 31, 2007

California bulrushes will be planted at various locations along Armand Bayou to help restore wildlife habit lost a number of years ago by the drowning of much marsh vegetation as a result of subsidence, a sinking of the ground due to pumping groundwater.

California bulrushes were selected because they grow well in the salinity range of Armand Bayou, ABNC Stewardship Coordinator Mark Kramer said.

About 1200 pots of California bulrushes were moved May 29 from the nursery ponds to the boathouse on Armand Bayou to get ready for Marsh Mania, said Ian Kress, ABNC Stewardship Volunteer Coordinator.

Sign-in starts at 8 a.m. Planting starts at 9 a.m. and ends at 11:30 a.m. Lunch will be served up to volunteers at noon. Long pants and shoes with closed toes are recommended ABNC Interim Director Sue Sutterby said. "The shoes should be washable or discardable because they could get muddy. Volunteers might also get wet."

Sun protection such as sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat are recommended.

Volunteers who do not wish to ride in a canoe can help plant California bulrushes in pots for the marsh plant nursery ponds near the admissions building of the Nature Center, Kramer said. For more information, e-mail Mark Kramer - mark@abnc.org .

The minimum age for participation is 15. The Galveston Bay Foundation also will be replanting marsh grass at Starvation Cove on Galveston Island and the Texas City Prairie Preserve.

A few slots are still available says Vicki Conley, GBF Marketing and Membership Coordinator. A registration request and contact information, including phone number, may also be left at (281) 332-3381 ext. 205 .