Check out the nice Press Release from the Parks Board. Artist Boat is a great partner in beautiful beaches. Seaweed at Your Toes Protects Galveston’s Beaches Seaweed Creates New Dune Vegetation to Prevent Erosion on Galveston Beaches GALVESTON ISLAND, TX (June 19, 2013) – When visitors flock to Galveston this summer, they may notice its beaches are sporting a greener look. Mounds of seaweed left on Galveston’s beaches last year have been transformed into lush dune vegetation, which experts say is a good thing for preservation. “Seaweed helps stabilize the beach by providing armor against the elements, which reduces erosion,” said Dr. Tim Dellapenna, associate professor of marine sciences at Texas A&M University at Galveston. But, these seaweed-fortified dunes didn’t occur by chance. The Galveston Park Board, which is responsible for beach maintenance on the island, intentionally leaves seaweed on the sand, pushing it to the back of the beach so that it can decompose. The board also uses innovative equipment, including the Barber Surf Rake, designed to remove seaweed without disrupting the sand. “Taking care of the beach means taking care of its wider ecosystem, and we pride ourselves in making sure our maintenance methods are environmentally conscious,” Park Board Executive Director Kelly de Schaun said. “Leaving seaweed on the sand isn’t always popular with tourists, but we want to ensure we’re protecting the beach so that future generations can enjoy it.” Recent reports show that beach erosion is a growing problem. A Texas A&M study published this month revealed that approximately 64% of the Texas coast is eroding at an average rate of six feet per year, with some areas losing more than 25 feet per year. To combat this reality, the Park Board launched an additional vegetation project in March 2013 along with the non-profit Artist Boat. The project included the planting of 14,000 dune grass seedlings on Seawall beaches between 23rd and 27th streets, and between 57th and 61st streets. This summer, the Park Board will spread awareness about the importance of seaweed with a new community outreach campaign. The initiative will include a seaweed art contest and special events, such as seaweed swag give-a-way days at Stewart Beach and East Beach. For more information about the campaign, visit galvestonparkboard.org. About the Galveston Park Board of Trustees The Park Board of Trustees oversees beach maintenance and tourism development on Galveston Island, including operations for beach cleaning, the Galveston Island Beach Patrol and the Galveston Island Convention & Visitors Bureau. For more information on the Park Board of Trustees, please visit galvestonparkboard.org. ###
Posted on: Fri, 21 Jun 2013 20:18:32 +0000
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