Media contact: Krista Umscheid, 1-800-776-5272, Ext. 3365

MARBLE FALLS — Area residents can spend a free day at the beach this month without having to leave the Hill Country.

Crabs, sea urchins, sea squirts and sea stars will be among the live coastal animals showcased in dozens of educational activities at the Coastal Expo on Saturday, March 8, at Johnson Park. Visitors will be able to:

• Learn about beach habitats and how the presence of bugs can help indicate the water’s health
• Paint images of coastal fish
• Identify beach objects by touch
• Learn about fishing, boating safety and other coastal issues

LCRA is partnering with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) to bring the free community event to Marble Falls. From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on March 6 and 7, almost 300 students from area schools will attend. The expo will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 8.

TPWD has sponsored Coastal Expo events throughout Texas to educate residents who don’t live near the coast about Texas coastal ecosystems, why they are important and how to protect them.

For more information about Coastal Expo, call Kris Shipman, TPWD, at (512) 912-7037 or kris.shipman@tpwd.state.tx.us. You also can visit the TPWD Web site at www.tpwd.state.tx.us/landwater/water/conservation/coastalexpo.