Yesterday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released a memorandum to address changes to its enforcement program while the COVID-19 crisis unfolds. In deciding not to enforce most violations of federal environmental law, the EPA gives polluters a pass during this public health crisis, potentially worsening existing public health problems from increased air emissions and discharges […]
Bayou City Waterkeeper, Public Citizen, the Sierra Club, and Texas Appleseed asked the board of the Public Utilities Commission of Texas to immediately suspend shutting off utilities during the coronavirus crisis. UPDATE Friday 3/27: The Texas Public Utility Commission voted yesterday to ban utilities from cutting off power and water services to Texans who have […]
We’re all in this together – even when we’re apart! As our staff works remotely, we continue the work for cleaner water, protection of local wetlands, and the fight for more resilient communities across the Lower Galveston Bay watershed. Over the next couple of weeks of social distancing, join us in exploring and celebrating our waters, wetlands, and the resiliency of coastal communities, near and far. Whether you’re looking for a solo experience or one to share with your family – we’ve weaved together a list of activities you can do to learn more about your backyard bayous.
We are thrilled to announce Naomi Walker will serve as Bayou City Waterkeeper’s Mapping Water Injustices fellow and use GIS and other analytical tools to root out potential injustices in public infrastructure within our watershed. Naomi is a graduate student at Texas Southern University pursuing a degree in Urban Planning and Environmental Policy, with a […]
This op ed, authored by Jordan Macha and Kristen Schlemmer, appeared in the Houston Chronicle on January 29, 2020. *** Trump administration rule could worsen flooding by removing protections for our wetlands [Opinion] by Jordan Macha and Kristen Schlemmer / January 29, 2020 By removing protections to local wetlands under the Clean Water Act, the […]
Three students are interning with us this spring — two law students from University of Houston’s Law Center and one undergraduate student. Learn more about them: Anthony D’Souza, Rice University (junior) Anthony is a junior at Rice University, majoring in Environmental Science with a minor in Politics, Law & Social Thought. He has previously interned […]
Statement from Jordan Macha, Executive Director & Waterkeeper By finalizing a new rule to replace protections to local wetlands, the Trump Administration has placed individuals across our region at risk for flooding. Throughout the Greater Houston region, wetlands play key roles in filtering surface water that makes its way into the City’s drinking water […]
Earlier this week, the City Council for the City of South Houston voted to continue mercury testing at its wastewater treatment plant located along Berry Creek, which feeds into Sims Bayou and onto Galveston Bay. This vote is the culmination of a legal challenge by Bayou City Waterkeeper and its partners that began in late […]
At an award ceremony last week, Executive Director and Waterkeeper Jordan Macha received the Houston Sierra Club’s Environmental Reporting Award for her op ed “Our billion-dollar chance to fix Houston’s wastewater,” which was published in the Houston Chronicle in April 2019. In giving the award, the Houston Sierra Club praised Bayou City Waterkeeper’s “highly effective […]
Texas Housers’ John Henneberger and Christina Rosales interviewed our Legal Director Kristen Schlemmer about the inequities in the City of Houston’s wastewater infrastructure. Listen to the episode, The Stink of Unequal Sewage. Craving more?! Read more about our vision for Houston’s infrastructure.