The Galveston Bay Estuary Program and Partnerships

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1 The Galveston Bay Estuary Program and Partnerships

2 Galveston Bay is Valuable The second most productive fishery in the country The most productive bay in the state supporting fisheries for oysters, shrimp, blue crab, and finfish One of Nature s Nurseries Quality of Life

3 Galveston Bay s Economic Value Over half of Texas recreational fishing revenues - worth $1.5 billion/year! 1/3 of the state s commercial fishing income worth $358 million/year!

4 Galveston Bay s Economic Value More oyster production than any other estuary in the country worth $20 million/year! Largest commercial harvest of blue crabs in Texas worth $10 million/year! Annual commercial harvest of shrimp - worth $35 million/year!

5 Galveston Bay s Economic Value 2 nd largest concentration of recreational boats in nation Boating Capital of Texas!

6 Galveston Bay s Economic Value Port of Houston ranks first in the nation for waterborne commerce Port of Houston is the second largest port in the US, based on tonnage Ship channel-related business supports more than 287,000 jobs in Texas worth about $11 billion/year

7 Galveston Bay s Economic Value It is the petrochemical production capital of the nation It is the 2 nd largest petrochemical production facility in the world

8 Galveston Bay and Our Quality of Life The Bay is the most monumental feature in our region Provides many recreational opportunities

9 Galveston Bay s Current Challenges Between 1950 and 1990, 24% of the estuary s wetlands were lost - over 30,000 acres! 53% of the freshwater wetlands Harris County lost 13 % of its freshwater wetlands ; 5-County 3%. Over 70% of the estuary s sea grasses Today, freshwater wetlands, coastal prairies, and forests are rapidly disappearing!

10 Galveston Bay s Current Challenges Water pollution has made many bayous, creeks, and portions in the upper bay unsuitable for fishing and swimming Half the bay closed to oyster harvesting Open bay area in good condition, legacy pollutants a concern.

11 Galveston Bay s Current Challenges 303d 2008 list impaired waterways Do not meet water quality standards dissolved oxygen, bacteria

12 Galveston Bay s Current Challenges Shellfish harvesting area classification map Approved, Conditionally approved, Restricted, Prohibited

13 Galveston Bay s Current Challenges 1990 Houston Ship Channel, Upper Galveston Bay - Catfish and blue crab (Dioxin) chlordane 2001 Houston Ship Channel - All species of fish (Organochlorine pesticides, PCBs) 2005 Houston Ship Channel, Upper Galveston Bay - Spotted seatrout (PCBs) 2008 Galveston Bay - Spotted Seatrout and all catfish species (PCBs, dioxins/furans) 2009 Clear Creek - All species of fish (PCBs)

14 Galveston Bay s Challenges Over 5 Million People Reside in the Houston- Galveston Metroplex. Estimated 9 Million People by 2040 (H-GAC). 300 square miles of land will be used to support this new population (H-GAC). Potentially leads to more?

15 Galveston Bay s Challenges Continued Habitat Loss Water Quality/Quantity Erosion, Loss Storm Protection Increased turbidity

16 The Galveston Bay Estuary Program Established by Congress to protect this estuary of national significance Non-regulatory Program of the TCEQ

17 The Galveston Bay Estuary Program Implements The Galveston Bay Plan through partnerships Galveston Bay Council Diverse stakeholder representation 6 Subcommittees

18 The Galveston Bay Estuary Program Natural Resource Uses Subcommittee Water & Sediment Quality Subcommittee Monitoring & Research Subcommittee Public Participation & Education Subcommittee

19 The Galveston Bay Estuary Program Program area is the five counties surrounding the bay Roughly correlates to the Lower Galveston Bay Watershed Harris Liberty Galveston Chambers Brazoria

20 Estuary Program Accomplishments Protected thousands of acres of wetlands and important coastal habitats Implemented successful water quality projects Fostered first baywide seafood safety program

21 Natural Resource Uses Subcommittee To address habitat loss, the Estuary Program worked with other resource agencies, local governments, citizens, industry to protect and restore 8,000 acres of wetlands and important coastal habitats in last ten years In West Bay, we ve protected and restored over 3,000 acres, at a cost of over $11 million

22 Key Partners Texas Parks and Wildlife Department US Fish and Wildlife Service NOAA Fisheries Reliant Energy Texas General Land Office Galveston Bay Foundation SCENIC GALVESTON, Inc. EPA Audubon Society National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Restore America s Estuaries West Galveston Island Property Owners Association The Trust for Public Land Many others

23 Galveston Island State Park Completed in 2000 at Caranchua Cove in West Bay behind Galveston Island State Park. GBEP partnered with USFWS, TPW, NOAA Fisheries, GLO, GBF, Corps of Engineers, others Leveraged NRDA settlement from Apex, GBEP and other state and local funds for federal funds, totaling $3 million Protected over 600 acres of intertidal marsh, shallow subtidal areas, high marsh, uplands Created 130 acres of intertidal marsh/protected shallow open water Seagrasses established in protected shallow areas Seagrass beds have spread to cover about 300 acres

24 Galveston Island State Park

25 Jumbile Cove Partnered with TPWD, USFWS, GLO Protected approx. 60 acres of intertidal wetlands and uplands near Jamaica Beach at Galveston Restored approx. 40 acres of intertidal marsh and shallow open water habitat with potential for establishment of seagrasses Significant involvement of local homeowners-led to additional nearby projects Currently protecting/restoring an additional 60 acres in lower cove

26 Jumbile Cove

27 North Deer Island North Deer is 144-acres natural island in West Bay, enhance with dredge material from GIWW North Deer Island is most important waterbird rookery in Galveston Bay system for brown pelicans, terns, egrets, etc. Under threat from erosion due to wind waves and ship wake due to proximity to GIWW Partners included Audubon Society, TPW, USFWS, GLO, GBF, GBEP and others Phase 1 installed 3800 linear feet of breakwater in SW quadrant, created one-acre marsh island from excavated material & planted with smooth cordgrass and marsh hay Breakwater armored with limestone to windward, planted with smooth cordgrass to leeward Second phase to begin this summer-will protect remaining exposed areas

28 North Deer Island

29 League City Nature Parks GBEP worked with City of League City, Texas Parks and Wildlife, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to acquire two parcels of land totaling approx 350 acres, along Clear Creek. Properties will be developed into nature parks, featuring: Diverse coastal habitats Non-intrusive interpretive trail systems Wildlife observation platforms Likely-wildlife rehabilitation facility

30 Protect and Improve Water and Sediment Quality The Estuary Program works with its partners to develop projects to deal with loading problems. Partners include: U.S. EPA, TCEQ, TPWD, GCWDA, City of Pasadena, City of Houston, Harris County, TX Sea Grant, TX Cooperative Extension, Galveston Bay Foundation, Trust for Public Lands, University of Houston s Environmental Institute of Houston, Houston- Galveston Area Council and others.

31 Examples: Brays Bayou 3.5 Acre Freshwater Tidal Marsh Informative Signs Mason Park Involved Master Naturalist and Students in Planting.

32 Examples: Watershed Protection Planning and TMDLs BIG Dickinson Bayou Bastrop Bayou Chocolate Bayou Armand Bayou Highland Bayou Double Bayou Cedar Bayou Galveston Oyster PCB/Dioxin

33 Best Management Practices Low-Impact Development Conferences BMP Demonstrations Brays Bayou Treatment Wetland UHCL Treatment Wetland Dickinson Bayou Stormwater Wetland and low impact landscapes League City BMP demonstrations and City Ordinance study.

34 Coordination of Monitoring and Research Status and Trends Evaluate the Environmental Quality of the Bay Ecosystem and Programmatic Efforts of the Program. State of the Bay Symposiums Special Studies: Wetland Loss Study Seafood Study Freshwater Wetland Function

35 Public Participation & Education Subcommittee Citizen and stakeholder involvement Partners to educate K-12 students Adult education and outreach, e.g. stakeholder and citizen presentations, open houses, website Volunteer opportunities Local government and user group outreach State of the Bay Symposia, was held January 23-25th. We invite various citizens and stakeholders to discuss updated information and status of the Galveston Bay.

36 Trash Bash All-volunteer trash pickup event in March of each year. Hundreds of volunteers participate each year Remove tons of trash, tires, debris, etc. Our partners include Houston-Galveston Area Council, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Gulf Coast Waste Authority, Scenic Galveston, Galveston Bay Foundation, etc.

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39 Acknowledgments Photos courtesy of Armand Bayou Nature Center, Coastal Conservation Association Texas, Galveston Bay Foundation, Gulf Coast Waste Disposal Authority, Houston- Galveston Area Council, NASA Johnson Space Center, Texas Department of Transportation, Texas Parks and Wildlife, and Texas SeaGrant.

40 QUESTIONS? Contact Information Galveston Bay Estuary Program Steven Johnston, M&R/WSQ Coordinator Phone: (281) ,