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From the Headwaters to the Gulf by Richard Gonzales, Project Coordinator for the Gulf of Mexico Foundation

Posted May 27, 2010 - 1:38pm by carie.
The first ever “Flowing of the Rivers” ceremony was held in conjunction with the 3rd Annual Bahia Grande Limpienato Parade and Coastal Cleanup held on Saturday, April 4, 2009 in Port Isabel and South Padre Island, Texas. The ceremony featured the mixing of fresh water samples from the headwaters of the Missouri, Mississippi and Tennessee Rivers with a salt water sample from the Gulf of Mexico to create a unique blend of water that symbolizes the connectivity of Upper 31 States with the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean ecosystems. Three keepsake bottles were given to Colegio Juvenal Rendon de Matamoros, Terry Larson of Minnesoata and to Carlos Masso, “El Mas Limpio” parade marshal and chairman of the Port of Brownsville. A water sample from the Rio Grande will be added to these water samples in a similar ceremony to be conducted at the Gulf of Mexico Foundation’s 5th Annual Gulf of Mexico Youth Leadership in Stewardship Conference on May 2, 2009 in Aransas Pass, Texas. Continuing efforts will be made to add more headwater water samples from other Upper 31 States’ watersheds leading to a new trademark activity of the Gulf of Mexico Foundation. There were 37 parade entries, the most ever. All of the parade participants belong to governmental or community organizations that have a common interest in stewardship of the coastal ecology of the Gulf of Mexico. There were about 150 participants in the parade and coastal cleanup conducted after the parade and water ceremony. Over 100 bags of trash were picked up with plastics, food wrappers and beer bottles dominating the types of trash collected. In addition, a petition to consider the introduction of biodegradable plastic bags in coastal communities for retailers to use was also a first time activity for this annual event. The petition drive will continue in other Texas coastal communities so more support for the plastic bag issue to be addressed at the state level.Water samples were provided by the Tennessee Valley Authority, Missouri River Conservation District Council, Willow Creek Reclamation Committee, Itasca State Park in Minnesota and the US Coast Guard Marine Safety Office in Port Isabel. Thanks to everyone for a great job! Special thanks to Marcie Murnion-Learn at the Gallatin Conservation District for trudging through the snow to get the water samples and for shipping them off to Texas! 
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