Outreach

Galveston Bay Freshwater Inflows Group (GBFIG)
The GBFIG began meeting in 1996 to devise strategies to maintain adequate freshwater inflows to Galveston Bay by reviewing relevant scientific and technical information. GBFIG has a long-term perspective and represents an attempt to manage water resources for Galveston Bay far into the future when projected population growth increases the human demand for water. GBFIG's members include staff from relevant natural resource agencies, water district managers, and representatives from environmental, fisheries, and agricultural interests.

Many Diversified Interests (MDI) Superfund Site
EIH began working with the Fifth Ward chapter of Mothers for Clean Air in 2001. The chapter's concerns about the cleanup of the neighborhood's MDI Superfund site prompted it to apply for an EPA technical advisor grant. EIH managed the grant for the chapter. EIH also supported Fifth Ward Chapter environmental activities such as its Environmental Expo at Tuffly Park by helping MfCA organize the event and providing maps and environmental information focused on the Fifth Ward.

Task Force for Ozone Reduction Strategies (TFORS)
The TFORS group consisted of business, government, environmental, academic and public health representatives gathered together to use the best available science to address the ozone reduction issues of the Houston-Galveston Area State Implementation Plan.

Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)
EIH worked with the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) to manage the public participation process for two Houston TMDL projects. Two stakeholder groups consisting of diverse interests in the region were formed--one for each TMDL project. The goals of the groups were to determine the total maximum daily load of the relevant pollutant and to help develop and implement an action plan to restore the beneficial uses of the water body.

Public Outreach

Ebb & Flow: Galveston Bay Characterization Highlights
The highlights version of the Galveston Bay Estuary Program's summary publication on the state of all things Galveston Bay.

Galveston Bay Status & Trends
This project aimed to increase public access to information about water and sediment quality, freshwater inflow volume, and living resources in the Galveston Bay estuary. Much environmental quality data exist for the Galveston Bay system, but those data are collected by many agencies and have been difficult to pool for analysis. In 2001, EIH initiated the Status and Trends project. The goal was to disseminate the information gathered via the Internet. EIH created a system to acquire, manage, and analyze diverse bodies of data that span as much as 40 years. The data were formatted consistently and framed to address management issues described in GBEP’s Galveston Bay Plan.

Invasive Species Assessment Project (ISAP)
Information about exotic invasive species in the Galveston Bay estuary was pooled from scientific literature, government documents, and expert interviews. Information included history of their presence, current distribution and means of diffusion, local life history, and optimal prevention and control strategies. Each invasive included in the final report has a species summary, comparative risk assessment, annotated bibliography, and recommendation for research and management.

The State of the Bay, 2nd Edition
The Galveston Bay Estuary Program's summary publication of the state of Galveston Bay is now available.

Outreach Displays

Seagrass Meadows in Galveston Bay
This display focuses on the function, value, distribution, loss, and restoration of seagrass habitat in Galveston Bay. It was produced through a partnership between EIH and the Armand Bayou Nature Center. The display was housed at the Armand Bayou Nature Center.

The Changing Landscape of Galveston Bay
This display chronicles the changes in land and resource use that have taken place around Galveston Bay since 1850. Historical maps of areas around Galveston Bay drafted in 1851 are compared to recent photographs taken aboard NASA space shuttle missions. Interspersed among the map and space shuttle images are photos of historic resource uses as they have taken place around the bay.

TMDL - Total Maximum Daily Load
This public education display describes the TMDL process and why it is undertaken in Texas. It discusses point and nonpoint source pollution and potential sources of pollution. Finally, it describes Houston-area TMDL projects and how the public can get involved in the process.