HOUSTON – I first visited Coastal Heritage Preserve, managed by local non-profit Artist Boat, back in March, and I was in awe of its beauty.
Pam Campbell, KPRC 2 sales executive, and I met with Karla Klay, executive director of Artist Boat, for a site tour. It was a chance to get a feel for the landscape before producing a segment about the organization’s conservation efforts and the importance of protecting this undeveloped area.
After gathering all the information, it was time to film with “Houston Life” reporter Melanie Camp and photographer Lenny Juarez in early April. Luckily, it was a beautiful day—blue skies and not a gray cloud in sight.
We met with Karla on her golf cart and set off to explore this hidden gem brimming with vibrant plants, diverse wildlife, and breathtaking views. Our ride-along covered part of 1,039 acres of wetland, and it wasn’t a quick trip. We made several stops to soak in the surroundings—listening to birds chirping, scanning for wildlife, and even sampling ripe dewberries along the way.
As we continued the tour, Karla drove through a canal subdivision, where houses are raised above the water, to reach our next destination. These houses, considered as second homes, were constructed on part of the land before Artist Boat was founded in 2003. That’s part of why their mission to preserve the natural habitat is so critical. The land not only shelters native wildlife and provides a resting stop for migrating birds—it also plays a vital role in preventing erosion and flooding.
We eventually reached our final stop, where we could see the sun setting over the bay and the moon rising on the other side.
We wrapped filming just before sunset, but we weren’t in a rush to leave. We lingered a little longer to take in the peaceful evening before heading back to Houston.
Thanks to Karla and the team at Artist Boat, we left feeling recharged by nature. If we could have stayed forever, we would have.
Artist Boat offers a variety of educational programs for all ages—from summer camps to guided kayaking adventures—designed to inspire environmental awareness and stewardship. Visit artistboat.org to learn more, sign up for eco-friendly activities, or get involved as a volunteer.
Want to support Artist Boat’s mission to protect the Coastal Heritage Preserve? Click here to help.
Watch our full tour of the preserve in the video player above.
The Artist Boat Coastal Heritage Preserve initiative is part of the Galveston Bay Estuary Program (GBEP) series, raising awareness of the conservation efforts to protect our local bays, bayous, and estuaries for future generations. These initiatives are made possible by the support of GBEP through funding from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Thanks to generous funding from GBEP, TCEQ, and the U.S. EPA, this partnership with the Environmental Institute of Houston (EIH) at the University of Houston-Clear Lake is paving the way for a sustainable and healthier future.
Check out some of the programs we featured on ‘Houston Life.’
🦪 An oyster’s journey from shore to plate and back to revitalize Galveston Bay
🌊 Keep Houston waterways healthy at Trash Bash 2025
💚 Reviving Houston’s bayous: Inside the restoration project making the city greener