SPORTS + OUTDOORS

Vandals burn Buffalo Bayou boats
By AMANDA CASANOVA
Copyright 2010 Houston Chronicle
July 7, 2010, 10:07PM

Three boats from the Buffalo Bayou Partnership are back bobbing at their home dock in the caramel-colored bayou after the watercrafts were released Tuesday night.

Authorities are investigating whether the untying of the boats is linked with a fire early that morning at the Drennan Street field office where the vessels are stored.

The fire destroyed the group's tour pontoon, valued at $50,000, and damaged the "bio-vac" boat, which helps clean the bayou, said Trudi Smith, director of public relations and events for the nonprofit.

Two separate fires were started on each craft at about 2 a.m., said Deputy Hugo Alaniz of the Harris County Precinct 6 Constable's office.

"It wasn't accidental," he said. "They meant to light the two boats."
Intruders spotted

Tuesday night, three of the four boats owned by the partnership were released into the bayou headed toward the Port of Houston. The bio-vac was left behind.

The vessels were found and docked at a business less than 2 miles away from the Drennan Street dock early Wednesday.

An employee from JL Proler Iron & Steel Co., a business near the dock, spotted two boys letting the boats go around 8:30 p.m. When the pair tried to release a conveyer belt, which carries recycled products up from the bayou, the boys realized they had been seen and fled on bikes, Smith said.

The intruders gained access by cutting a 3-foot hole in fencing around the dock. No cameras are mounted in that area, Alaniz said.

The pontoon boat was used for tours that offered an up-close look at the bayou.

"It's really a sad situation because the pontoon tour boat we use to promote Buffalo Bayou," Smith said, "and to show the beauty of the bayou and its history. We no longer have that."
Reward is offered

The Buffalo Bayou Partnership is a nonprofit corporation that works to maintain and improve the Buffalo Bayou system. The partnership was launched in 1986.

A Houston resident has offered a reward of $5,000 to anyone who helps with the case. Anyone with information is encouraged to call 713-752-0314 or e-mail at info@buffalobayou.org.

Buffalo Bayou Partnership presents Foodie Floats, a series of boat tours featuring local chefs and food purveyors. Because our inaugural Foodie Floats with the Houston Dairymaids and Saint Arnold Brewing Company were such a success, we have added an additional tour and tasting. As you cruise down our city's historic waterway, you'll enjoy local Texas cheeses coupled with Saint Arnold's award-winning beers.

The Dairymaids, Houston’s official cheesemongers, travel the state to find the best cheeses from local dairies, food artisans and cheesemakers. They bring the cheeses back to Houston where they make them available at some of Houston’s leading restaurants and farmer’s markets.

Texas’s oldest craft brewery, Saint Arnold, has been in business since 1994. Recently, the brewery expanded by moving to a sq. ft warehouse in north downtown where they brew 10 different beers a year, and hold weekly happy hours and other special events. St. Arnold’s.

Foodie Floats are limited to 20 people – reservations only
Cost per person: $50

To make your reservation or to find out more information, please call the Buffalo Bayou Partnership at 713.752.0314 ext. 3 or e-mail tsmith@buffalobayou.org  or log onto our website at www.buffalobayou.org.