Cedar Bayóu ecocenter
The ecocenter at our Cedar Bayou station provides an unparalleled resource for Galveston Bay and the surrounding metropolitan area. The ecocenter connects with organizations interested in a "hands on" educational experience at our wetland plant nursery. We also focus on enhancing biodiversity in threatened local ecosystems by growing native plant species.
The ecocenter has supported biodiversity services since 1994. We have been part of every large scale wetland habitat project in the area. Our contributions include shoreline erosion protection, dune vegetation, trees for colonial waterbird nesting, seeds for vegetative cover, prairie grasses for soil protection and native vegetative cover using plants adapted to new climates. We actively work with the Galveston Bay Estuary Program and help it reach its goals for biodiversity through the Galveston Bay Plan.
The center sits on 14 acres of land, with 24 earthen ponds, six above-ground constructed ponds, a greenhouse, a classroom and a laboratory. The ecocenter supports the biodiversity goals of schools, agencies and NGOs by providing infrastructure, resources and funding to promote a healthy ecosystem.
Education is an important component of the ecocenter. Through a partnership with the Galveston Bay Foundation's Get Hip to Habitat program, area schools participate in a hands-on science program that includes wetland plant harvest, grow-out, planting and education. Since 2008, around 100,000 plants were donated to area schools for the educational program. Students monitor the growth of plants through the school year and learn basic water chemistry. During the spring, the plants are transported from schools to natural habitats to enhance biodiversity.
In 2010, NRG donated 275,000 plants as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for the Restoring Estuarine Habitat in West Galveston Bay Project. The project will restore about 330 acres of intertidal marsh, improving water quality, providing shoreline protection and improving biodiversity.
