Advocacy
Freshwater Inflows
From nearly its inception, the Galveston Bay Foundation has worked to ensure that Galveston Bay will receive an adequate amount of freshwater over the long term to ensure the health and productivity of the bay. As an estuary, Galveston Bay is a mixture of salt water from the Gulf of Mexico and freshwater from a number of tributaries, the largest of which are the Trinity River and the San Jacinto River. Those tributaries bring fresh water to the bay along with sediments and nutrients that serve as the building blocks for nearly all marine life in the bay. Although southeast Texas has a markedly wet climate with an average of nearly fifty inches of rain in the Houston area, local population growth and population growth at the north area of the Trinity River watershed (Dallas) will put a strain on the freshwater resources flowing into Galveston Bay over the next 20-30 years.
To combat this trend, GBF has long been a proponent for water planning that will ensure water for both people and the bay. GBF has played a significant role in planning for freshwater inflows for Galveston Bay by participating on the Galveston Bay Freshwater Inflows Group since its inception. One of GBF's board members sits on the local Region H Water Planning Group. And GBF has also worked at the state capitol with statewide partners, including the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club and the National Wildlife Federation, to ensure a long-term supply of fresh water to Galveston Bay.
