Review of the Armand Bayou Nature Center - Pasadena, Texas

Spring is coming to South Texas. In fact, it's only a couple of months away! Spring-time is a time of rebirth and renewal at the Armand Bayou Nature Center (ABNC ), a beautiful watershed in the Galveston Bay. Grasses start to grow in late February to early March, and the new plants and flowers begin to reach for the sun. Spring is my favorite time of year at the Armand Bayou, as blooms bring color and fragrance to this pretty watershed, and the hibernating animals, such as armadillos, begin to pop their little heads from their winter hiding places. Also, hundreds of birds that went south for the winter return and their songs bring joy to the area.

History

This 61- square mile watershed has evolved from a pristine alluvial plain dotted with perennial and seasonal wetlands, fringed by salt marshes at its mouth, to a dominantly urban and suburban residential and urban complex. The watershed is home to some of the densest complexes of petrochemical industries in the nation, but in spite of this development, Armand Bayou retains much of its original character as a coastal bayou, albeit reduced to a few pockets of the wetland complexes deeded by the ancestral Brazos River.
Source: armandbayou.org

Armand Bayou Activities

1. "Breakfast on the Bayou" is conducted Saturday mornings 8-9:30 am. This is a great way to observe the wildlife in the watershed, while you're gliding on the Bayou Ranger pontoon boat. The Ranger has a lot of information regarding the wildlife endemic to the watershed, and this is also a great opportunity to meet other nature-lovers. Reservations are required. Prices: $20 for members/ children, $25 non-members.

2. "Moonlight Cruise" - Taken on the Bayou Ranger. Enjoy excellent views of raccoons, snakes, owls, nutria, deer, turtles and alligators. $15 adults, $10 children/seniors, $20 non-members.

3. "Canoeing" - This morning guided tour travels the backwaters of the Armand Bayou. A wonderful way to observe the wildlife! $20 members, $25 non-member.

4. Birding - Self-guided tours

5. Hiking - Self-guided on marked trails.

6. Summer Eco-Camps - long week camps offered (June-August) for young citizens, 4 to 13 years old. Winter Camp is offered during school breaks and last 1 to 3 days.

A Bayou at Risk

We all know our environment is in trouble, but we may not know how to improve the situation. Much progress has been made cleaning up America's waterways, and while the Bayou's water is much improved, the ABNC is listed by the State of Texas, as an "impaired body of water," and there are times when the Bayou experiences very low levels of dissolved oxygen, which in turn kill fish and other forms of aquatic life.

How Can You Help?

1. Learn all about and educate your neighbors and friends about the habitat destruction on the Texas Gulf Coast.

2. Become a volunteer: there are many positions from a Trail Tour Interpreter to an Animal Handler. Contact the ABNC directly.

3. Donate money so that the ABNC can continue their educational and preservation mission.

4. Attend annual events conducted by the ABNC, such as the Bayou Boil, a major fundraising event.

5. Support organizations and legislations that protect habitat for wildlife.

Conclusion

The Armand Bayou offers 2,500 acres of beauty found nowhere else in the Bay Area. If you are a resident of the area, learn about the wildlife and animals that thrive there, and protect them. Those visiting the Gulf Coast for the first time will not be disappointed by this little piece of nature near the big city of Houston.

8500 Bay Area Blvd. Prices: $3 adults to 59, $1 children under 12 and senior 60+
Pasadena, Texas 77507

Local 281-474-2551
Toll Free 866-417-3818