Abandoned or lost crab traps kill many animals in the Galveston Bay System each year. To address this issue, the Texas Legislature established the Abandoned Crab Trap Removal Program in 2001. Since then, volunteers statewide have removed more than 30,000 abandoned traps from Texas waters. During a designated ten-day period each February, organizations all along the Texas coast sponsor events to remove abandoned traps. You can join the Galveston Bay Foundation for an organized crab trap clean-up on Saturday February 20 from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Meeting place is the boat launch at Fort Anahuac Park, near the town of Anahuac. While much of the lifting of traps from the bay’s waters will be done by larger boats, there is also a role for kayakers. For more information, contact Emily Ford at GBF eford@galvbay.org , (281) 322-3381 x207 or Zack Thomas at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department zack.thomas@tpwd.texas.gov , (512) 389-8448. Land-based volunteers are also needed to flatten the abandoned traps and load them into dumpsters for collection at the end of the week. This is a fine opportunity to get muddy for a good cause.