Learn about our recent advocacy and upcoming events below! Also, check out our calendar for upcoming events. 

Environmental Justice Conference at Texas Southern University Thurgood Marshall School of Law  

Saturday, October 26 | 9am - 5pm

Join us for a series of panels and speakers on Saturday, October 26. This event is part of the Texas Public Interest Environmental Law Conference, a two-day continuing legal education event for public interest attorneys and community members interested in environmental justice. Day one will consist of invitation-only talks and panels for attorneys, and day two, an Environmental Justice Conference, is open to the public. Our keynote speaker for day two is Roishetta Sibley Ozane. Roishetta is the founder, director, and CEO of The Vessel Project of Louisiana, a small mutual aid and environmental justice organization that assists vulnerable Louisiana community members with bill assistance, food, emergency shelter, and more. She is also co-director of the Gulf Fossil Finance Hub, where she follows the money that finances fossil fuel production and educates and empowers community members to demand that those banks defund fossil fuels and invest in communities. 

Presented by: Air Alliance Houston, Bayou City Waterkeeper, Earthjustice, Environmental Integrity Project, Lone Star Legal Aid, Public Citizen, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, with generous support from JT Hershey Foundation and Texas Southern University Thurgood Marshall School of Law.

Upcoming Wetland Walks 

Saturday, October 26 at Herman Brown Park

Saturday, November 9 at Sheldon Lake State Park

Earlier this year, Bayou City Waterkeeper launched Wetland Walks as part of our ongoing commitment to raising awareness about the critical role wetlands play in environmental health and the threats they face from development.

We invite you to join us for two Wetland Walks that continue our mission to connect the community with these local wetland ecosystems and promote environmental stewardship. Our first walk will take place on Saturday, October 26th, at Herman Brown Park, guided by Alenka Cardenas, BCWK's wetland outreach coordinator, and Kourtney Revels, BCWK's water justice organizer. Sol Diaz- Peña will be a guest artist and will lead an art activity that incorporates elements from our walk. The Walk will focus on advocacy surrounding wetland loss and the environmental issues impacting downstream communities, particularly those in Northeast Houston. Downstream communities are located at lower elevations and are more vulnerable to flooding due to their position relative to upstream areas. Wetlands in upstream areas play a crucial role in absorbing rainwater and filtering pollutants, reducing the amount and intensity of floodwaters reaching downstream communities. This is especially concerning for marginalized communities that are already facing compounded environmental and social vulnerabilities, such as poor drainage infrastructure and a history of underinvestment.

We will present another Wetland Walk on Saturday, November 9th at Sheldon Lake State Park, guided by Andrew Sipocz, a natural resources coordinator with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Andrew has spent over 20 years restoring the park’s coastal prairies and wetlands, using innovative methods that combine history, biology, and archaeology to recreate the original landscape. His method was a driving force for the restoration of Sheldon Lake State Park. As we explore the park, Andrew will share his knowledge of the restoration process and the rich biodiversity that has returned to this vital ecosystem.

Baytown Community Meeting to Discuss Sanitary Sewer Overflows

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will host a virtual meeting on Tuesday, November 12, 2024 6-8pm. The public is invited to learn about the civil lawsuit against the City of Baytown, along with causes and reporting of sanitary overflows from Baytown's sewer system.

This lawsuit, filed by the U.S. Department of Justice in 2022 against the city of Baytown, was prompted by Bayou City Waterkeeper's notice of intent to sue, which identified more than 800 sewage releases, representing more than 21 million gallons of sewage leaving Baytown’s system without treatment from 2016 to 2021. Our analysis also concluded the highest volume overflows have had a disproportionate impact on Hispanic/Latinx communities in Baytown. The lawsuit alleges that these releases were caused by the city’s failure to operate and maintain its wastewater collection and treatment system and violated the federal Clean Water Act, Texas Water Code, and state-issued permits. We asked for the court’s permission to intervene and help drive these legal violations toward a resolution that focuses on the communities most affected by sewage pollution in Baytown, through a process that is transparent and accessible. 

Consider giving a year-end donation in lieu of annual Folks 'n Oysters event 

We are canceling our annual Folks 'n Oysters fundraiser this year, due to it being a busy time of year with upcoming community events. In lieu of this, we hope you support or renew your support of Bayou City Waterkeeper through a year-end donation. Also, join us at upcoming events!  

Mission: Bayou City Waterkeeper protects the waters and people of the Houston region through bold legal action, community science, and creative, grassroots policy to further justice, health, and safety for our region.