SOCIALIFE RGV PRIDE
CAN THE RGV REEF
HELP BATTLE CLIMATE CHANGE? “We are embarking on another important mission – this one to see if what we’re doing here in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico could one day directly benefit all Texans on land and even lead to a better world for all people.” —Gary Glick, RGV Reef, President CONGRESSMAN VICENTE GONZALEZ
The manmade RGV Reef, about 13 miles off the coast of the South Padre Island jetties, is bringing back red snapper, turtles, and all sorts of marine life. This rejuvenation is thanks to the efforts of the non-profit group Friends of RGV Reef. The reef is about 75% complete, but now it’s embarked on another exciting venture – working with The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley to see if the reef could also help in the battle against climate change. It is believed reefs, both natural and manmade, capture and store carbon – an act of carbon sequestration – and can assist in the effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions such as carbon dioxide (CO2). Now thanks to a $250,000 Fueling Futures grant from Enbridge Inc. to Friends of RGV Reef, samples from the reef and marine life can be collected to advance research to answer these questions.
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