Galveston Bay: Discover a Treasure in Your Own Backyard Page: 3
16 p. : col. ill.View a full description of this pamphlet.
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Natur Asset
There is a wide network of support for Galveston Bay-alveston Bay is at the heart of the Houston-Galveston
region's beauty and prosperity. The bay's open waters are
connected to a vast system of creeks, streams, and bay-
ous-rich, productive habitats that support a diversity of wildlife.
The bay's natural resources sustain many commercial enterprises.
In fact, the environmental, recreational, and economic resources in
the Houston-Galveston region are important to the entire state.
With new residents arriving every day, it's helpful to remind
everyone about the ecological and economic value of Galveston
Bay, the challenges it faces, and what can be done to protect it.
Support network
The Galveston Bay Estuary Program and its public and pri-
vate partners are actively engaged in maintaining and im-
proving water quality and conserving and restoring natural
habitats. That's because excellent water quality and a wide
variety of habitats are essential to protecting public health,
maintaining the ecological health of the bay system, and sup-
porting commercial and recreational uses.
Fortunately, the water quality of Galveston Bay is relatively
good, particularly in the open bay, where a healthy, productive
system sustains recreational and commercial fishing, boating,
swimming, and other aquatic activities.
At the same time, however, the water quality of the bay's
urban tributaries has been adversely affected by numerous
industrial and municipal sources. Pollution entering water-
ways from urban areas has resulted in seafood advisories and
closures of shellfish beds. Recreational opportunities have
been restricted along stretches of some bayous.
The Galveston Bay watershed still supports many unique
and thriving habitats, including saltwater marshes, freshwater
and prairie wetlands, and coastal forests. However, the bay's
habitats have suffered over the years. For example, the bay's
watershed has lost significant amounts of wetlands and other
habitats to subsidence, erosion, and development.
Getting involved
Action by individuals is essential. Area residents can take a
leading role in maintaining a clean, healthy environment, both
by taking action on their own and by participating in public-
private partnerships that support the bay's natural resources.
Here are a few things you can do to improve Galveston Bay.- Reduce your impact on water quality. Avoid dump-
ing oil or other chemicals down storm drains. If you use
fertilizer and pesticides, apply them properly. Ensure that
your septic system is functioning properly with an annual
inspection and cleanout.
" Conserve water. Landscape with native plants. Water
your lawn conservatively and prevent water from running
into the streets. Fix leaky toilets and faucets, and purchase
low-water-use fixtures and appliances.
- Involve children. Help the next generation appreciate
Galveston Bay by taking children fishing, crabbing, bird-
watching, canoeing, or boating. Take advantage of oppor-
tunities for environmental education that are offered by
schools and organizations.
- Volunteer. Participate in organized activities such as
marsh-planting projects, trash cleanups, and workshops on
conservation landscaping.
Learn more about these suggestions in the following pages
and on the Galveston Bay Estuary Program's citizen and volun-
teer page at <www.gbep.state.tx.us>. There you will find links
to more information and to organizations with which you can
volunteer to protect bay habitat. Or just call the Galveston Bay
Estuary Program at 281-218-6461 for more information.
Although the bay area serves different people in different
ways, it belongs to everyone. Galveston Bay is resilient and
can sustain its many uses for future generations to enjoy as
long as local communities work toward common goals with a
common vision.Volunteering is one of many ways you can get involved in protecting your
community and Galveston Bay. Here, volunteers pick up trash on Little
White Oak Bayou, near downtown Houston.*-**c
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Galveston Bay Estuary Program. Galveston Bay: Discover a Treasure in Your Own Backyard, pamphlet, May 2007; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth640369/m1/3/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.