Galveston BayGalveston Bay

By Amanda SchafferBy Amanda Schaffer

Galveston BayGalveston Bay

Galveston BayGalveston Bay

• A A subtropicalsubtropical estuaryestuary located on the located on the southeastern shore of the upper Texas southeastern shore of the upper Texas Gulf CoastGulf Coast

• Consists of Five SubbaysConsists of Five Subbays– TrinityTrinity– Upper GalvestonUpper Galveston– Lower GalvestonLower Galveston– EastEast– WestWest

More on Galveston BayMore on Galveston Bay

• Consists of 384,000 acresConsists of 384,000 acres• Surrounds 1,171 miles of shorelineSurrounds 1,171 miles of shoreline• Fed by two major riversFed by two major rivers

– TrinityTrinity– San JacintoSan Jacinto

• Bordered byBordered by– Low-lying wetlandsLow-lying wetlands– Two barrier islandsTwo barrier islands– PeninsulaPeninsula

Condition of the EstuaryCondition of the Estuary

• Overall quality is Overall quality is rated fair based on rated fair based on 4 indices4 indices– Water Quality Water Quality

(poor)(poor)– Sediment Quality Sediment Quality

(fair to poor)(fair to poor)– Benthic (fair)Benthic (fair)– Fish Tissue (good to Fish Tissue (good to

fair)fair)

Indices Indices

Water QualityWater Quality

ConclusionConclusion

• Though overpopulated area, the Though overpopulated area, the esturary remains productive and esturary remains productive and healthlyhealthly

• Overall quality is fairOverall quality is fair• Not threatened by eutrophicationNot threatened by eutrophication• Nutrient concentrations are Nutrient concentrations are

decreasings in areas of the estruarydecreasings in areas of the estruary• Several aquatic species show stable Several aquatic species show stable

trends in abundancetrends in abundance

Conclusion cont…Conclusion cont…

• Galveston Bay isn’t degrading when Galveston Bay isn’t degrading when it comes to increasing concentrations it comes to increasing concentrations of pollutants, trends are mixedof pollutants, trends are mixed– Concentrations are decreasing in most Concentrations are decreasing in most

polluted areas of Galveston Baypolluted areas of Galveston Bay– Concentrations are rising in unpolluted Concentrations are rising in unpolluted

areasareas

Future Focus of Galveston Future Focus of Galveston BayBay

• Habitat conservationHabitat conservation

• Pollution controlPollution control– In expanding populated areasIn expanding populated areas

• Land-use patterns trend to Land-use patterns trend to urbanization of the areaurbanization of the area

QuestionsQuestions

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References: References: http://www.epa.gov/owow/oceans/nepchttp://www.epa.gov/owow/oceans/nepccr/pdf/nepccr_gom_partg.pdfcr/pdf/nepccr_gom_partg.pdf

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