How You Can Back the Bay

You can Back the Bay in many ways at home and in your community. Find tips on how to support conservation in your area and connect with
important resources around Galveston Bay.

SIMPLE TIPS FOR EVERYDAY ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE TO PRESERVE GALVESTON BAY.

LANDSCAPE WITH NATIVE PLANTS.

CHOOSE LOW-MAINTENANCE, DROUGHT-TOLERANT PLANTS LIKE THESE THAT ARE ADAPTED TO OUR LOCAL CLIMATE AND SOIL. BECAUSE THESE PLANTS NEED LESS WATER, PESTICIDES AND FERTILIZER, YOU'LL ULTIMATELY REDUCE HARMFUL RUNOFF INTO THE BAY.

see plants

AVOID FERTILIZER RUNOFF.

STORMWATER RUNOFF CARRIES FERTILIZERS AND OTHER HARMFUL MATERIALS TO THE BAY, WHICH CAN MAKE IT UNSUITABLE FOR SWIMMING, REDUCE OXYGEN LEVELS AND CONTRIBUTE TO SEAFOOD CONTAMINATION. LEAVING GRASS CLIPPINGS ON THE LAWN WHEN YOU MOW PROVIDES NUTRIENTS AND CAN REDUCE THE NEED FOR FERTILIZER.

KEEP TRASH IN YOUR BOAT, NOT IN THE BAY.

NOTHING SPOILS A BEAUTIFUL BAY LIKE TRASH. CARRY A LITTER BAG AND REMIND PASSENGERS OF ONE OF THE FIRST RULES OF THE OUTDOORS — ALWAYS PACK IT OUT IF YOU PACK IT IN.

DISPOSE OF OIL AND CHEMICALS PROPERLY.

HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS SUCH AS MOTOR OIL, PAINT, FUELS, POOL CHLORINE, CLEANERS, PESTICIDES AND ANTIFREEZE ARE NOT SOMETHING YOU WANT TO FIND IN YOUR SEAFOOD. REMEMBER, IF IT WASHES DOWN A STORM DRAIN OR GUTTER, IT CAN END UP IN THE BAY. FIND RECYCLING AND DISPOSAL OPTIONS FOR YOUR HOUSEHOLD CHEMICALS AND FLUIDS IN “WHAT DO I DO WITH IT NOW? A QUICK GUIDE TO RECYCLING RESOURCES.”

DON’T WATER DURING THE HEAT OF THE DAY.

WATER LOST TO EVAPORATION DOESN’T HELP YOUR LAWN OR YOUR UTILITY BILL. SET YOUR SPRINKLERS TO RUN BEFORE 10 A.M. OR AFTER 7 P.M.

FIX LEAKY PIPES AND FAUCETS.

GALVESTON BAY DEPENDS ON THE RIGHT MIX OF FRESH AND SALT WATER. A FAUCET LEAKING AT A RATE OF ONE DROP PER SECOND CAN WASTE UP TO 3,000 GALLONS OF WATER PER YEAR. FIX LEAKS AS SOON AS YOU SPOT THEM AND LEAVE MORE FOR THE BAY.

CLEAN UP AFTER YOUR DOG.

PET WASTE EASILY WASHES INTO STORM DRAINS, WHERE IT CAN CONTAMINATE WATER.

VOLUNTEER FOR ACTIVITIES AROUND GALVESTON BAY.

GIVE A LITTLE BACK TO THE BAY BY PARTICIPATING IN RESTORATION AND PROTECTION ACTIVITIES LIKE MARSH PLANTING , TRASH CLEAN-UPS , AND REMOVING ABANDONED CRAB TRAPS .

WORK TO STOP THE SPREAD OF INVASIVE PLANTS AND ANIMALS.

INVASIVE SPECIES SUCH AS GRASS CARP, CHINESE TALLOW AND FIRE ANTS CAN QUICKLY SPREAD AND TAKE OVER ECOSYSTEMS. THEY CAN CHOKE OUT NATIVE PLANTS AND ANIMALS AND CAUSE ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL HARM. VIEW AN EXTENSIVE LIST OF GALVESTON BAY INVASIVES AND WAYS TO HELP HERE.

SUPPORT GREEN SPACE AND LAND CONSERVATION PROGRAMS.

LEND YOUR VOICE TO HELP PRESERVE THE BAY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. SERVE ON A LOCAL PARK OR PLANNING BOARD. LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORT THE BAY INCLUDE THE KATY PRAIRIE CONSERVANCY, BAYOU LAND CONSERVANCY, NATURE CONSERVANCY OF TEXAS AND GALVESTON BAY FOUNDATION