Riffles & Reeds Newsletter - Spring 2026

As we begin a new year at the Environmental Institute of Houston, we’d like to share a few important updates.

The Executive Director position at EIH is currently vacant. During this interim period, Associate Provost Dr. Matthew Reichert is providing direct leadership. Please be assured that EIH's dedicated leadership team and staff remain fully engaged and committed to ensuring that all research, outreach initiatives, and programs continue moving forward seamlessly. Our commitment to our mission, and to the community partners who have supported EIH throughout our 35‑year history, remains as strong as ever.

And speaking of milestones...

EIH will celebrate its 35th anniversary this fall!

We are looking forward to a year filled with special events, community collaborations, and opportunities to highlight the impactful environmental work taking place across the Gulf Coast region.

Thank you for being an essential part of the EIH community. We are excited for the year ahead and look forward to connecting with you soon.

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Research Notes

By Gabbi Hammerbach, Graduate Research Assistant, Bailey Steward, Undergraduate Research Assistant, and Chelsey Hill, Graduate Research Assistant

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Education Notes

By Debbie Bush, Web Assistant

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Student Highlight

By Debbie Bush, Web Assistant

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Upcoming EIH Events

There are many ways to get involved with community environmental activities. Below are some events from our colleagues around the Bay.

• Houston Audubon Urban Bird Surveys - various locations
• Moonlit Moth Mania at Exploration Green - second Saturdays, 7:30–9 p.m.
• March 10 – NestFest Coastal Cleanup, 9 a.m.–12 p.m., sites along Galveston Island, Follet's Island, and Bolivar Peninsula
• March 18 – Studio Scholars: Why Birds Matter to Houston with Pete Deichmann, 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m., Texas Medical Center, Houston
• March 25 – 8th Annual Texas Plastic Pollution Symposium, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston
• March 28 – 10th Annual Greater Houston Area STEM Conference, 8:30 a.m.–3 p.m., University of Houston-Clear Lake
• April 11 – Houston Oyster & SeaFest, 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m., Autry Park, Houston
• April 18 – Texas Coastal Roundup, 10 a.m.–3 p.m., East Beach, Galveston
• May 2 – Native Landscape Certification Program - Level 1 Class, 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m., University of Houston-Clear Lake
• May 2 – Confluence: Where Ideas and Practice Meet, 9 a.m.–12 p.m., United Way of Greater Houston, Houston
• May 17 – Native Landscape Certification Program - Level 4 Class, 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m., University of Houston-Clear Lake

If you would like to share an event for the next issue of Riffles and Reeds, please email us at EIH@uhcl.edu.

View current openings and full position details on our website.

Research Assistant – Galveston Bay Dolphin Research Program: Supports dolphin population studies through vessel-based photo-ID surveys, data management, and analysis (18-week position). Applications due March 1.

Research Technician (2): Conducts environmental monitoring through field sampling, laboratory support, data management, and equipment operation and maintenance (grant-funded).

Research Associate: Conducts and supports environmental research through field and lab work, data analysis, team leadership, and technical reporting (grant-funded).

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Check out everything we accomplished last fall!

EIH in the News

Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. 2026. Birding Classic [Video]. YouTube. Originally aired as “The Great Texas Birding Classic: Roughwings Big Day” on TPW Television, Season 41, Episode 15 (January 11–17, 2026).

Publications and Reports

Galveston Bay Dolphin Research Program. The Bow Rider: October 2025

Galveston Bay Dolphin Research Program. The Bow Rider: January 2026

Garcia, K.L., Gordon, M., Munscher, E.C., Ricardez, V., Franklin, C.J., and Guillen, G.J. 2025. Use of a handheld metal detector to evaluate metal ingestion in the alligator snapping turtle, Macrochelys temminckii (Troost, 1835). Herpetology Notes 18: 667–670.

Presentations

Bush, D. 2025. Flower power: fall edition. Bay Area Sierra Club Meeting, Houston, TX. Presentation.

Bush, D. KPRC community outreach. 2025. Public Participation and Education Subcommittee, Galveston Bay Council, Houston, TX. Presentation.

Curtis, S., Oakley, J.W., Sak, A., Underwood, E., Swinford, J., Anderson, J., Fredrickson, A., Davis, S., Nichols, Z., Casarez, M., Santee, N., Gordon, M., and Guillen, G. 2025. A collaborative approach to assessing American eel (Anguilla rostrata) recruitment in Texas. Annual Meeting of the American Fisheries Society, San Antonio, TX. Presentation.

Santee, N., Soliz, L., Gordon, M., Chau, K., Oakley, J., Scanes, C., Daun, N., Curtis, S., Lane, M., and St. Clair, K. 2025. Trends in fish assemblages across geospatial and temporal gradients in Texas. Annual Meeting of the American Fisheries Society, San Antonio, TX. Presentation.

Events

• Co-hosted the Fall Prairie Plant ID Workshop at the University of Houston Coastal Center on September 25, 2025.
• Hosted Chasing the Tide screening and panel discussion at the Bayou Theater on September 28, 2025.
• Hosted the Fall 2025 Native Plant Sale with the Clear Lake Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas on October 25, 2025.
• Hosted a Wetland Workday at the UHCL Created Wetlands on November 7, 2025.
• Facilitated two Texas Envirothon workshops for teachers on December 6, 2025, and February 7, 2026.

Graduates

Gabrielle Hammerbach, M.S. in Biology
Tiernan Pytlak, M.S. in Environmental Science-Biology

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What's New?

New Faces at EIH

Miranda Duggan, Trails Intern
Andrew Flores, Student Research Assistant
Brenda Galvan Rodriguez, Student Intern
Gareth Martinez, Student Intern
Ben Womack, Research Volunteer

New Projects

Texas Envirothon
Funded by: Galveston Bay Estuary Program, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
PI: Wendy Reistle

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Did you miss an issue of Riffles & Reeds?

Our previous newsletters can be found online! Do you have any news or events you'd like to see featured in our future newsletters? Send your suggestions to EIH@uhcl.edu.

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We thank all of our supporters and partners who make our work possible.

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Thank you for your continued support of our programs. To learn more about EIH or to make a contribution in support of our research, education, and student success, please visit our website at www.eih.uhcl.edu.