Bayou City Currents
Celebrating 50 Years of Earth Day
On the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, we celebrate the planet and all her inhabitants. Today we continue to fight for clean water, wetlands, and healthy communities for all.
Remembering the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Disaster
Ten years ago, the Deepwater Horizon exploded, killing 11 workers and beginning an 87-day countdown of the worst offshore oil disaster in history. Today, our Executive Director and Waterkeeper remembers how lives and landscapes shifted across the Gulf Coast.
EPA’s COVID-19 Policy Gives Local Polluters a Pass
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. The EPA’s policy of non-enforcement will potentially worsen existing public health problems […]
Texas: Suspend Water Utility Shutoffs
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 Monday 4/27: Houston Public Works has extended a local moratorium on water utility shut-offs until the end of May. UPDATE Friday 4/24: Bayou […]
Social Distancing: Waterkeeper Style
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.
Welcome our Mapping Water Injustices fellow
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 […]
OP ED: New Trump rule could worsen flooding in Houston
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 […]
Welcome Spring Interns from UH Law & Rice University!
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: EPA Rolls Back 2015 Clean Water Rule
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 […]