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Friends of the River San Bernard will receive a “Special Recognition for Exemplary Environmental Advocacy by a Citizen’s Group” from Houston-Galveston Area Council's 2020 “Water Innovation Strategies of Excellence (WISE) Award”. 

 

WISE Awards recognize innovative strategies and projects in the Houston-Galveston region that serve as models for improving water quality. This program is overseen by the Natural Resource Advisory Committee, an advisory committee to the Houston-Galveston Area Council Board of Directors. There is no entry fee for the WISE Awards. 

 

The application submitted by FOR Environmental Committee described a project whose central piece was specialized training for FOR volunteers to collect water samples for bacteria testing (Apr 2017 - Mar 2019) by the Galveston Bay Foundation. The results were then analyzed to better understand the timing and magnitude of occasional bacteria spikes in the river. It also described ongoing efforts to reduce them, including septic system education, inspection, repairs and/or replacements and annual river clean ups. The project was initiated in response to recommendations in the San Bernard River Watershed Protection Plan, a collaborative effort between H-GAC and river stakeholders to protect the San Bernard River. 

 

A virtual Zoom award ceremony will be held online on Fri Feb 5th 2021 at 9:00 am. FOR Environmental Committee Chairman Justin Hillis will receive the award on behalf of Friends of the River. Register to attend.