Shifting (Beach) Sands

Taking sand from one place to save another - aka beach renourishment - often creates more problems than it is supposed to solve. But there are ways to fix that. Read more in the third installment of my coastal restoration series for The Revelator. 

Texas Beach Guide

 It's beach season! Read my guide to where to go, what to do, and more in Texas Parks & Wildlife Magazine. 

Saving the World's Sand

 Increasing demand for sand, mainly for construction, is threatening coastal ecosystems around the world and fuels dangerous illegal activity. Read about the problem and potential solutions in The Revelator. 

Aplomado Falcons on the Texas Coast

 Mustang Island State Park is part of an effort to help Aplomado Falcons recover. Read more about the program and how to see these majestic birds in Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine. 

Restoring Oyster Reefs

 Oyster reefs have declined worldwide, bad news not just for diners but for shorelines and coastal ecosystems, too. Around Corpus Christi, Texas, and the Chesapeake Bay, restoration projects are collecting oyster shells from restaurants and putting them back in the water to help re-grow reefs. Read more here. 

New Whale Species in the Gulf of Mexico

A whale long known to inhabit the Gulf of Mexico, believed since 1965 to be a subspecies of the Bryde’s whale, was identified last year as a separate species, Rice’s whale (Balaenoptera ricei). It soon may be extinct. Read my piece about it here. 

The Pros and Cons of Cold Water Immersion

Studies show a freezing dunk can improve your immune system and stave off depression—or cause a heart attack or frostbite. Read more about the possible benefits and the risks of cold water immersion.