Clear Lake Chapter

Chapter Meeting: Artist Boat from STEAM Education to the Wilds of Land Acquisition

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Karla Klay shares how Artist Boat uses a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) education model and how it is used to help students learn about wetlands, climate science, and coastal prairies; how to translate knowledge through conceptual art; and ways to take action to improve the environment. She talks about how Artist Boat is saving 1,400 acres of vital lands from Bay to Beach, is engaging the public to help with a Be One In A Million Campaign, and is working toward forming an internationally recognized Gulf Coast Environmental Education Center. You will leave this talk inspired to continue taking actions that improve our coast for wildlife.

About the Speaker

Karla Klay is the founding director of Artist Boat. She has 30+ years of experience in arts and environmental education, eco-tourism, public engagement in coastal experiences, and development of programs to teach students and members of the public about coastal and marine ecology along with actions that result in improved environmental quality. Through her leadership, 180,000 underserved youth and members of the public have paddled our estuary, restored 60+ acres of coastal habitats, created public art interpreting coastal ecosystems on 50 campuses and the Galveston Seawall, conserved 810+ acres of land, and created habitats on eight campuses. Karla loves to see marine mammals in the wild and hopes to swim with Sperm Whales or Humpback Whales somewhere on this great planet.

Meetings are open to members and non-members. If you would like to become a member, you may join online. For more information about the Native Plant Society of Texas and the benefits of membership please visit: www.npsot.org.

Hosted by Environmental Institute of Houston, University of Houston-Clear Lake

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About the Region

2026 Fall Symposium Logo

This low-elevations region of Texas extends inland from the barrier islands, about 60 or so miles, and stretches from Brownsville to Louisiana. In total, it covers about 9.5 million acres, with a high point of 150 feet in elevation. More than 1000 species of plants can be found in this region. On the southern end, species more common in Mexico (such as Sabal mexicana) and Central America occur.

The barrier islands provide us with dune systems, and clay flats to the inland side, which have species found in these areas alone. Many plants here, such as Ipomoea pes-caprae (beach morning glory), can be found throughout tropical regions of the globe. I’ve encountered the same species on the beaches of Guam.

Once inland, vast marshes and wet prairies occur. Occasionally, oak (Quercus fusiformis) groves can be found. Common grasses include species of Bothriochloa, Paspalum, and Sporobolus; eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides); and switchgrass (Panicum species). Many rivers and creeks cut through the Gulf Prairies, and along these riparian areas various species of trees, Sabal minor, and other plants adapted to clay soils can be found. Due to overgrazing, farming, and fire suppression, woody species such as mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) and huisache (Acacia farnesiana), and invasive species such as chinaberry (Melia azedarach), Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius), and Chinese tallow (Sapium sebiferum) have increased and displaced our native flora.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason