March is Bayou Month!
Whereas, Houston is the Bayou City with twenty-two watersheds and 2500 miles of streams and bayous in the greater Houston area; and,
Whereas, our bayous represent Houston's most unique natural resource; and,
Whereas, Buffalo Bayou, Houston's historic waterway, is the longest paddle trail in the State of Texas; and,
Whereas, spring weather in March brings paddlers to the bayous; and,
Whereas, our area Bayous are home for bobcats, grey foxes, herons, egrets, migratory bird species including warbler species, orioles, vireos, which attract people from all over the world; and,
Whereas, protecting the floodways and floodplains of our area bayous helps directly protect our drinking water sources; and,
Whereas, Buffalo Bayou Partnership hosts the 39th Annual Buffalo Bayou Regatta Saturday, March 12, 2011; and,
Whereas, River, Lakes, Bays 'N Bayous Trash Bash is Saturday, March 26, 2011, where volunteers will clean waterways at seventeen sites.
Therefore, Annise Parker, Mayor of the City of Houston proclaims March 2011, as Bayou Month in Houston, Texas!
2011 - Once again, BPA's role in spearheading the Buffalo Bayou Paddling Trail has not gone unnoticed. The Bayou Preservation Association is the proud recipient of the Parks & Natural Areas Award for "On the Ground Projects Under $500,000" presented by Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC). The entry form was submitted in August, and BPA was notified in November that it was the winner in this category.
On January 18, 2011, the H-GAC board of directors honored the outstanding parks and natural areas projects during its regular board meeting at 10 a.m. with a reception following at 10:45 a.m. at its office on Timmons. These projects which were recognized with awards serve as models for planning and project implementation for parks and natural areas in the region.
Keep Houston Beautiful honored BPA and its work on the Paddling Trail in 2009 with the Mayor's Proud Partner Award. Since then, awareness of the trail has greatly increased, especially with Buffalo Bayou Shuttle service now offering weekend paddle trips from March through October. Thousands of Houstonians and residents in surrounding suburbs have discovered what nature has to offer in their own backyard by taking a kayak or canoe down Buffalo Bayou!
2010 - Terry Hershey honored at BPA Annual Membership Meeting
2010 - DAR presents Conservation Award to
Claire Caudill, BPA Board Member
2009 - BPA Executive Director Kathy Lord has been named as one of "Houston's 50 Most Influential Women of 2009" by Houston Woman Magazine.
2009 - Bob Arthur, BPA Paddle Trails Committee Chair received Mayor's Proud Partner Award for the Buffalo Bayou Paddle Trail.
2009 - SWA Group received the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) Award of Excellence in General Design category for their Buffalo Bayou Promenade project. The promenade runs west along Buffalo Bayou from downtown Houston and adds 23 acres of parkland to Houston's inner city.
The judges selected 49 projects for recognition out of nearly 600 entries worldwide. Buffalo Bayou Promenade was one of only three projects granted the award of excellence. In addition, the Brays Bayou Greenway Framework, also designed by SWA Group won honor award in the Analysis and Planning category.
Kevin M. Shanley, President of SWA Group is also Chairman of the Board for the BPA.
Courtesy of QSNguyen (Flickr photostream)
2007 - Kevin M. Shanley, President of the BPA, ASLA and President of SWA Group has been named a Fellow of The American Society of Landscape Architects.
The CEC's 2006 Synergy Awards Event honored three of our very own! Mary Ellen Whitworth, Executive Director of the BPA was awarded the Founders Award, Dick Smith (an Advisory Board member), the Community Activist Award and Steve Hupp (a long-time bayou clean-up partner), the Government Award. Each person was recognized for their leadership, vision and commitment to the environment (especially to our bayous).
Trees for Houston has awarded the BPA with it's 2006 Trees for Houston Arbor Day Award for our commitment to making Houston a greener and cleaner place to live. Our efforts in restoring Watonga Parkway by removing some 500 invasive species and replanting with an additional 500 native species have added to the beauty of the area.
American Canoe Association presented its 2005 Green Paddle Award for Waterway Conservation to the Bayou Preservation Association for outstanding contribution to paddlesport by protecting America's waterways.
Congratulations to BPA Chairman of the Board Kevin Shanley for receiving the 2005 American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) Community Service Award.
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