Volunteers to Restore Essential Habitat at Galveston Bay Foundation’s Signature Marsh Mania Event

What: More than 160 volunteers will restore wetlands in Galveston County as part of Galveston Bay Foundation’s 21st annual Marsh Mania event on Saturday, April 13, 2019. Marsh Mania engages local citizens in hands-on marsh restoration activities while increasing their awareness and appreciation of wetland habitats and functions. Marsh Mania volunteers will transplant smooth cordgrass to the intertidal shorelines of the Texas City Prairie Preserve and at Virginia Point. In its 20 years, Marsh Mania has involved more than 8,000 community volunteers in the restoration of roughly 210 acres of vital estuarine marsh habitat at 93 sites around Galveston Bay. The estuarine marsh being restored is important to the life cycles of ecologically and economically significant marine species, including federally-managed red drum, brown and white shrimp, and regionally-managed blue crab. Marsh Mania 2019 is made possible through a number of local partners and sponsors including Cabela’s Outdoor Fund, Citgo, CenterPoint Energy, John P. McGovern Foundation, ExxonMobil, Port Houston, RES, Odfjell, NRG, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, CCA Texas, Texas General Land Office, Shell, Scenic Galveston, The Nature Conservancy, NRCS, Texas Parks and Wildlife, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Where: It is suggested that media attend the Virginia Point planting site. Parking is at John M. O’Quinn Nature Preserve, 2441 Highway 6, Hitchcock, TX 77563. Shuttles to the site itself will be available between 8am and 9 am. Please arrive at the parking location between these times. When: Saturday, April 13, 2019 Timeline of activities: 8am – 9am: Shuttles will run to the planting site 9am – 11:30am: Planting at Virginia Point 11:30 – 1pm: Shuttles back to the parking location, lunch and event shirt distribution Who: Emily Ford, Galveston Bay Foundation Volunteer Programs Coordinator will be available for interviews