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 a Bat Boat Tour with Wine and Cheese.  Led by Houston Birder, Glenn Olsen.  Depart from Allen's Landing.

Guests on these tours will enjoy an amazing view of the bats' dusk emergence from our boats on the bayou's waters. Over 250,000 bats call Waugh Bridge home. We will spend the evening viewing and learning more about these magnificent flying mammals that share the city with us.

Join Glenn Olsen for a bat tour in style! In addition to watching the Waugh Bridge bat colony emerge at dusk, Glenn will share his environmental knowledge and identify the various wildlife and plants that call Houston's waterway home.

Reservations required. For reservations, contact Trudi Smith at tsmith@buffalobayou.org or 713.752.0314 ext. 3.