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Announcements 2/3/2010 WEC Public Wetlands Education Project Saturday The Waterborne Education Center (WEC) will continue the Spring/Summer 2010 field lab season with a Public Wetlands Education Project field lab. This event allows individuals from the general public to participate in on-the-water, hands-on environmental education on the Trinity River. Our dates for these "public days" are: April 24th May 8th and 22nd June 5th This educational opportunity is offered at no charge to participants through funding from the Galveston Bay Estuary Program, a Program of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The WEC vessel, Moss Bluff, will leave Anahuac Harbor at 9:30 a.m. and return around 1:30 p.m. Participants will experience a full field lab, complete with a stop at the Wallisville Locks for a demonstration of the saltwater barrier. They will also have the opportunity to offload in the Trinity River Delta to explore the wetlands. An onboard facilitator will present facts about the natural environment, conduct science tests and field questions from participants. All passengers over nine years old will have the opportunity to get off the boat in the marsh to seine, dip and net aquatic specimen, examine terrestrial flora and fauna and to immerse their senses in a dynamic natural environment. The WEC will provide water, hip waders, binoculars and other educational equipment to ensure passengers have a comfortable and educational day. Passengers are encouraged to bring a sack lunch, hat, sunglasses and a desire to learn and have fun. They should also wear closed-toe shoes and weather-appropriate apparel that they do not mind ruining. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Reservations are strongly encouraged because space is limited. Contact Wes Kruger at (409) 267-3547 to reserve seats.
WEC Vessel Returns to Anahuac Harbor After IKE for 10th Year of Service ANAHUAC – As the sun was sinking over the water on Thursday, March 5, 2009, a hulking silhouette turned out of the Trinity River and lumbered into Anahuac Harbor. For the first time since Hurricane Ike hit on September 13, 2008, the Waterborne Education Center vessel Moss Bluff was back in her home slip. On that tumultuous night in September, Moss Bluff and her sister ship, Smith Point, broke from their moorings and rode the storm surge, colliding with other vessels, trees, storm debris, fences and each other. Approximately 200 yards away, they caught in a stand of trees. When the water subsided, the vessels settled down on dry land near a boat ramp that once accessed Lake Anahuac. Smith Point had been pushed to her side, and windows were broken, allowing salty water to spill into her cabins. Moss Bluff set down up right, shaken and battered, but her story was not over. These vessels were operated by the Waterborne Education Center, and served as floating classrooms to access the Trinity River, Galveston Bay, and occasionally the Houston Ship Channel and the Neches River. The organization began conducting field labs in the spring of 1999, serving area school districts, universities and colleges, church groups, Boy and Girl Scouts, and other groups interested in discovering the wonders of their bay system. The mission of the organization is to foster appreciation and stewardship of coastal resources, heritage and culture by providing hands-on waterborne education services. But after the devastation of IKE, WEC faced long odds that it would ever see its 10th year of service. In the next few months, WEC began sorting through the storm debris, both literally and figuratively, picking out the pieces of the organization that could be salvaged, and what would have to be let go. The Fall 2008 season immediately lost 27 field labs that were on the books, as well as others that had been in the planning stages. The WEC office had sustained damage from flying debris that speared through the walls after tearing free from a nearby rundown warehouse. It also became apparent that Smith Point, what had been the flagship vessel, had likely taken her last voyage with WEC. Her damages were beyond foreseeable repairs. There was, however, a glimmer of hope. Moss Bluff, despite all she had been through, appeared to have avoided serious damage. Each boat had been moved by crane and truck one block to be set back down in Anahuac Harbor. Once in the water, Moss Bluff’s engine was cranked and, remarkably, fired up. She then towed Smith Point across the bay to the Port of Houston, where each underwent damage assessments. In February, repairs began on Moss Bluff. In the meantime, the WEC had begun its search for a replacement vessel. With the help of Anahuac resident Eddie Seindensticker, now retired from the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Services, the WEC located Jake W. Hershey Bay Ranger, a vessel owned by the Galveston Bay Foundation. GBF had discontinued use of the vessel in 2005 for funding reasons. GBF’s director, Bob Stokes, jumped at the chance to put the boat back into service. Bay Ranger had been pulled up and unused for four years, but other than disuse, had no problems. A generous donation from a former Anahuac resident with ties to WEC supported the engine overhaul and minor repairs of the vessel. At almost the exact moment Moss Bluff was chugging into the harbor, Bay Ranger was being backed into the yard at the WEC office. * * *
Newsletters The WEC publishes a bi-monthly newsletter for customers, sponsors and the interested public. It includes a feature story of recent WEC events, upcoming events and other news briefs concerning the WEC and those involved in the program. Recent Issues: If you would like to receive the WEC newsletter, send an email to weskruger@ih2000.net. Please specify if you would like a hardcopy or digital file, and include your mailing/email address. If you would like to be removed from the mailing list, send a message to the same address. Thank you!
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