As generations of oysters grow on top of each other, they form reefs that provide habitat for many other animals. Oysters are capable of filtering as much as 50 gallons of water each in a single day, removing silt and contaminants from the water, and improving local water quality and clarity. Oyster reef area has […]
Cover Story
Galveston Bay Foundation: Volunteers are vital for the health of the bay
by Emily Ford, Volunteer Coordinator, Galveston Bay Foundation The 2018 Galveston Bay Report Card outreach season has started, and it is exciting to connect with the communities connected to the Bay. One of the most rewarding and impactful ways that you can help is by volunteering! Galveston Bay is one of the largest and most […]
Part II: Looking for Harvey’s Impacts on Galveston Bay
Hurricane Harvey was an historic event for Houston and the entire Galveston Bay region. Devastating floods wrecked neighborhoods and businesses and the recovery and rebuilding process is still ongoing. While we all waited for the floodwaters to recede and work their way through our riverine and bayou watersheds towards Galveston Bay, scientists started thinking about […]
Part I: Looking for Signs of Harvey in the Galveston Bay Report Card
Why didn’t Harvey impact the Water Quality grade? At Galveston Bay Foundation and Houston Advanced Research Center, we are frequently asked if Galveston Bay is a productive system for fish and wildlife. And the answer for 2017 is yes, for the majority of 2017, Galveston Bay and its rivers and bayous met state water quality […]
Welcome to the 2018 Galveston Bay Report Card!
The 2018 Galveston Bay Report Card was released on August 15, 2018. For the fourth consecutive year, the Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC) and the Galveston Bay Foundation gathered scientific data related to each of the 22 indicators across six categories. The Galveston Bay Report Card is a prime example of how scientific information can […]
A note on Hurricane Harvey impacts on Galveston Bay Report Card Data
Hurricane Harvey made landfall August 25, 2017 near Port Aransas as a Category 4 hurricane. Between August 24 and August 31, some areas received more than 50 inches of rain. For reference, the Houston-Galveston Region receives on average 45 inches of rainfall each year. The 2018 Report Card is a summary of indicator data representing […]
Houston Cities H20 Challenge
What is the Challenge? The 2018 Houston Cities H20 Challenge is a friendly competition meant to inspire Greater Houston-area residents and businesses to conserve water. The Challenge is open to all the cities in the Houston and Greater Houston- area that wish to participate. As part of a regional effort to conserve our water […]
Galveston Bay Foundation/Plastic Pollution Prevention Partnership – Collaboration, Coordination, and Cleanup
It is no secret that litter and trash debris tend to accumulate on shorelines around Galveston Bay. However, the extent of this problem and locations of debris accumulation remain largely unknown. The Galveston Bay Report Card gave “Litter and Trash” the grade of an “I” or “incomplete” to trash and debris for this very reason. […]
Water Quality Monitoring Team
Galveston Bay Foundation’s Water Quality Monitoring Team is a team of trained volunteers who conduct monthly water quality sampling at specific locations around Galveston Bay. In addition to providing more information on the health of Galveston Bay’s waters, these volunteers serve as the eyes of their water monitoring site. While collecting water quality data, they […]
Galveston Bay Injured Bird Response Team
Started in January 2017, the Galveston Bay Injured Bird Response Team has coordinated volunteers from Master Naturalists, Audubon Texas Estuarine Rescue Network, Galveston Animal Control, Galveston Island Humane Society, and Wildlife Center of Texas to rescue over 350 injured birds of 66 different species! by Tim Long, GBA-TMN Chapter Vice President Galveston County is a […]