• The TX NEMO Program completed a wetland loss analysis for the Galveston Bay Watershed. The analysis, funded by the Galveston Bay Estuary Program, determined that at least 14% of the freshwater wetlands in Harris County were lost between 1992 and 2002, with over half of that in the last two years of the study period.

• The TX NEMO Program convened the Armand Bayou Watershed Partnership, a group of over 40 municipalities, non-governmental organizations, state and federal agencies and universities to develop a watershed protection plan that focuses on preserving remaining stream habitat in this highly urbanized area. The completed first phase of the plan details the state of the watershed and major goals of watershed citizens. The Partnership has begun working on the second phase, which will develop a habitat protection plan and an overall plan that meets the ten elements required by EPA watershed plans.

• TX NEMO worked with the City of Houston to correct landscaping ordinances that make it difficult to use native plants in commercial landscapes. A variance was obtained for a “watersmart” demonstration landscape on a high-profile city-county project. The fact that a variance was necessary drew attention to problems with the ordinance. TX NEMO is continuing to work with the city on the lengthy process to change the ordinance.

• The TX NEMO Program is working with the Harris County Flood Control District on a major stormwater wetland project that incorporates both tidal and nontidal wetlands. The project is the result of a collaboration between the Texas Master Naturalists (a volunteer organization of Texas Sea Grant, Texas Cooperative Extension and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department) and local high school students from predominantly minority inner-city schools near the stormwater wetland.

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