HOUSTON – It was a clear July morning when “Houston Life” host Derrick Shore, producer Sabiha Mahmood and photographer Lenny Juarez joined researchers from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the Galveston Bay Estuary Program (GBEP) and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) on a field study about microplastics.
Using special equipment, USGS Supervisory Hydrologist Zulimar Lucena and her team collected particles at Trinity Bay near Wallisville — some so tiny they can only be seen under a microscope.
Their samples contributes to a long-term study analyzing microplastics collected from Houston waterways.
With blue skies overhead and calm water below, the “Houston Life” crew captured the process in action.
Step onto the boat and follow the team back to shore to see the full process in the video above.
For more information, visit the USGS website on “Microplastics in Tributaries to Galveston Bay.”
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.’
🧋Join the SPLASh challenge to cut plastic waste and make a real difference for wildlife
💧 Water-saving tips for your home and keep your lawn green with a rain barrel
🍃 Explore the nature preserve protecting Galveston’s coastline and wildlife
🦪 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