10 things Austin did for the environment in 2013

Another fun list: 10 major Austin environmental actions taken in 2013, from banning single use bags to planting trees and saving springs.

Cool science

My story on five cool discoveries and announcements from the Austin science world in 2013, from distant galaxies to seahorses.

Artificial Reef Study

My final blog post for Scientific American's Expeditions on the Harte Research Institute's study of fish on artificial reefs in the Gulf of Mexico. The study will go on for another two years.

Bringing sea turtles in from the cold

A piece I wrote for the website of The Alcalde, the publication of the Texas Exes, about caring for cold-stunned sea turtles on the Texas coast.

Photo courtesy National Park Service.

Does eating lionfish work?

More on the lionfish invasion of the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean and how recreational and commercial harvest may help save the marine ecosystem. My piece for Scientific American online.

Photo credit: REEF

Lionfish Invasion

Can we eat our way out of the problem of invasive lionfish in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean? My piece for Texas Parks & Wildlife Magazine.

Saving Cuba's Marine Treasures

Cuba's marine environment remains relatively pristine. Scientists and conservationists are working to keep it that way. Read more in my piece for Alert Diver Magazine.

Backpacking Lost Maples

A backpacking trip to Lost Maples State Natural Area makes a perfect fall getaway. Actually, it makes a great getaway just about any time. In the November issue of Texas Highways.

Canyon Lake Gorge

Tours of this gorge, scoured out by floodwaters in a matter of days, take you through millions of years of geologic time, and some pretty darn nice scenery. Read about it in my Texas Highways article.

Enjoying South Padre Island

How to spend three days enjoying the water and the outdoors on South Padre Island, my article for Texas Parks & Wildlife Magazine. (And no, my sand castle didn't look quite that good!)

Studying artificial reefs off the Texas coast

My latest post on Scientific American's Expeditions Blog about work by Harte Research Institute scientists to document the importance of artificial reefs.

Save the reefs, eat lionfish!

The only hope for controlling this invasive species may be eating it. Good thing it's delicious. Read my piece about trying some at Haven Houston.

Ummm, pralines!

A little trip down memory lane, and to San Saba, Texas, in search of creamy pecan pralines, for Texas Highways Magazine.

Could West, Texas explosion happen elsewhere?

A panel at the 2013 Texas Tribune Festival discussed the aftermath of the fertlizer plant explosion this past April in West, Texas. Read my coverage for Austin CultureMap here.

Ghostly Galveston

My latest feature for Texas Highways, all about the haunted places in Galveston, to get you ready for Halloween.

Gear & Go

I'll be joining Backpacker magazine's Gear & Go Tour in Austin Sept 18 and Houston Sept 19. Come talk hiking and backpacking in Texas!

Top 50 Dive Spots

I have a number of favorites, but Cabo Pulmo ranks top of the list. My piece for Sport Diver's 50 Best Dive Sites in the World.

Overnight on the Rio Grande

A two-day river trip through Santa Elena canyon in Big Bend National Park is about as perfect a trip as I can imagine. Here's my piece on it for Texas Highways.

Scuba Diving for Wounded Soldiers

Diving can be an important part of rehabilitation for injured soldiers and a sport they can participate in going forward. Last year, I dove with a couple of guys from the Center for the Intrepid in San Antonio aboard American Diving's Diver 1 out of South Padre Island, and wrote about it for Sport Diver.  Texas Highway Patrol, Customs and Border Patrol, and Coast Guard fast boats escorted us back to the dock post-dive.

Dry Tortugas National Park

This remote island park is a great year-round, off-the-beaten-path, blue water destination. Read more in my piece for Men's Journal Adventure.

Saving land to save water

The Texas Land Conservancy announced a new initiative, Land for Water, targeting conservation of one percent of the land in six Texas watersheds. Read more about it in my piece for Austin CultureMap.

Survivor Canyon Ranch

My week of learning survival skills in the lap of luxury, for Men's Journal adventure online. It works, really.

Cabo Pulmo in Sport Diver

Cabo Pulmo, Baja California Sur is one of my favorite places in the world (you may have noticed I write about it whenever I can). Locals there have protected their coral reefs for more than a decade, with stunning results, scientifically documented. My piece about it for Sport Diver is now online.

Texas Conservation Corps

My article in the latest issue of Texas Co-op Power Magazine, about young people doing great work. These are great programs making a difference in the lives of so many people. Read it here.

Counting fish around artificial reefs

The Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (try saying that ten times, fast) is in the middle of a two-year study to analyze marine life around artificial reefs off the Texas coast. I've been following their work and blogging about it for Scientific American. After a long break for winter (or the sorry excuse for it that we had in Texas), they're back at work. Read my latest post here.

Tri-national shark research effort

Scientists from the US, Mexico, and Cuba are studying sharks in Cuban waters, hoping to find ways to protect them throughout the Gulf. I met with some of those scientists in Cuba in April, and here's the piece I wrote for Scientific American online.

Hill Country Weekend Getaway

If you're looking for a great place to spend a weekend in the Texas Hill Country, check out my article on Foxfire Cabins, in the July issue of Texas Highways. Close to Lost Maples!

The best diving in Baja

My piece for Men's Journal Adventure about diving Cabo Pulmo Marine Park, Baja's healthiest reef, thanks to the locals.

Summer's here - hit the coast!

My piece in Texas Parks & Wildlife Magazine, Get Coastal, lists some of the best things to see and do on the Texas coast. Guaranteed.

Roadkill: It's no joke.

Vehicles represent a significant threat to wildlife, including a number of endangered species. Read more in my piece on Scientific American online.

Sargassum

My piece about how important Sargassum is to the marine environment, in the latest issue of Alert Diver.

Swimming holes!

Who doesn't love a beautiful, refreshing swimming hole in the heat of summer? Here's my round-up of the best in Texas, for Texas Highways.

Wildflowers!

My fifth annual where-to-find-the-wildflowers article for Texas Highways Magazine. Along with plenty of stuff to do as you go. Enjoy!

Composting 101

I wrote an article for Texas Co-op Power Magazine all about why you should compost -- for your plants and the planet -- and how to do it right. Read it here.

Racing the Stars and Stripes

I took part in an exciting mini-America's Cup regatta on a Princess Cruise stop in Cozumel. Read about it on the Men's Journal Adventure website.

Lost Maples Hike

The Rip & Go I wrote for Backpacker on Lost Maples State Natural Area in Texas is now online! Great place for a spring hike.

More on platform removal

A subject I've covered a number of times now: removal of offshore platforms in the Gulf of Mexico. My latest article in Alert Diver magazine.

Fishing for a Cause

My story in Alert Diver magazine about an organization that takes trips to various countries, spearfishing and donating the catch.

Abilene Weekender

Abilene, Texas, contains a few surprises for a weekend visitor. My piece in the January issue of Texas Highways.

Hiking Lost Maples

Here's a Rip & Go  I wrote for Backpacker Magazine, on Lost Maples State Natural Area, in the Texas Hill Country.

World's best dives

One of them is Cabo Pulmo, in Baja California Sur. Here's the short write-up I did for Sport Diver Magazine's January/February issue.