"Conservationists Disagree What To Do As Bayou's Banks Wash Away"

"Texas has thousands of miles of rivers and bayous. The banks of some of those waterways — including Buffalo Bayou in Houston — are crumbling and eroding. Which has led to a debate among conservationists: Should people try to engineer a change or let nature take its course?..."

"Get Out to the Bayous and...Swim?"

"Why don't we see more people swimming, splashing around or sitting along our bayous? If you're wondering the same thing, then head out to Bayou Preservation Association's 11th annual Symposium, "Get out to the Bayou and... Swim" on Thursday, October 23, 2014, from 7:30am - 4:00pm at United Way..."

"Harris County Seeks Accounting for Decades of Pollution"

"Laced with the poisons of many years of industrial activity, waterways around Houston are considered toxic enough that adults are cautioned not to eat more than 8 ounces of fish or blue crabs taken from them. Pregnant women and children are warned to eat none at all.  For more than half a century, parts of the San Jacinto River, Houston Ship Channel and Galveston Bay have suffered devastating environmental contamination..."

"Cedar Bayou Watershed Partnership is looking for comments on their working draft version of the first 4 chapters of the Cedar Bayou Watershed Protection Plan. Your feedback helps ensure that the contents reflect the discussions and values of the community..."

"No Commercial Development for Exploration Green!"

"After nearly a decade of working to fulfill a vision of a Clear Lake public green space to alleviate flooding, foster nature conservation, clean run-off water and provide recreation opportunities, the Clear Lake City Water Authority (CLCWA) has signed a Conservation Easement agreement with the Galveston Bay Foundation to conserve and protect the nearly 200 acres of the Exploration Green from commercial development in perpetuity..."

"Kayaks boom in popularity"

"The 2014 boating season may seem like a distant ship disappearing in the mist. But for Dunham’s Sports Store Manager Todd Brunner, his best kayak sales of the year are still full-speed ahead. Kayak sales overtook canoe sales years ago and are still going strong, retailers say. And those purchases don’t end when sailboat and yacht owners are pulling out their boats for the year; they’re year-round..."

"Blind Kayakers Wrap Up Grand Canyon Paddle"

"A few weeks back, I posted a story about blind adventurers Erik Weihenmayer and Lonnie Bedwell launching their bid to paddle the length of the Grand Canyon. At the time, the two men – along with their support team – were just preparing to embark on their expedition, which was expected to take about three weeks to complete, covering the entire 277-mile stretch of the Colorado River. Earlier this week, they wrapped up that incredible journey, both both Erik and Lonnie paddling the challenging stretch of water..."

"In Brazil, Amazon voters paddle canoes to floating polls"

"It's Sunday morning on Lake Catalao in the middle of the Amazon rainforest, where the reflection of a fisherman's silhouette glimmers on the water.  But this morning, he's not casting his nets. He's casting his ballot at a floating polling station that has been set up in his village so he can take part along with 142 million other Brazilians in voting in the sprawling South American country's national elections..."

"Dallas man nearing end of 4,000-mile canoe trip"

"There wasn't any great crisis in his life, though the recent loss of his mother and a close friend had changed his perspective. It was more a nagging sense that he wanted to try something different. When Lynch and his wife took a canoe trip last year, "a light bulb went off," he said. He was drawn to the idea of a long-distance canoe voyage. An admirer of the explorers Lewis and Clarke, he was taken with retracing some of their journey. His wife, needless to say, had some reservations. "She reacted like any woman whose husband comes home and says 'I'm going to canoe across America,'"..."

"Man sentenced to almost 2 years for trying to sell stolen kayak"

"A judge sentenced a Richland man to one year and 10 months in prison for trying to sell a wooden kayak that had been stolen from a car's roof rack. Luke stole the kayak sometime overnight July 7 from the roof of the victim's vehicle. She reported it missing July 8 and told Richland police the handmade boat had wooden inlay all over it..."

"Shark Attacks Kayakers Off Santa Barbara County Coast"

"A group of kayakers issued distress calls twice on Friday near Point Conception after coming under attack from a shark. Officials closed the Santa Barbara County beach nearby following the attacks. Meanwhile the kayakers thanked Lou and Charles Christman, who heard the first distress call while fishing for sea bass .  The Christmans found one kayak fisherman clinging to a kayak damaged by what was thought to be a great white shark..."

"Massive pumpkin paddled to world record"

"Matt McConkie holds Utah’s state record for the largest pumpkin at more than 1,800 pounds, and he and about 16 others sought to beat the record for traveling 100 meters in a pumpkin. The prior record was set in Britain and is based on the speed of the journey and not the size of the pumpkin. Hundreds of spectators lined the shore to watch the Pumpkin Regatta..."