GALVESTON BAY FOUNDATION
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Mission Statement
The mission of the Galveston Bay Foundation is to preserve and enhance Galveston Bay as a healthy and productive place for generations to come.
About This Cause
The Galveston Bay Foundation (GBF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established in 1987 under the laws of the State of Texas. The Foundation’s strength is that it involves a true cross-section of Bay interests to address issues and concerns related to Galveston Bay. It is managed by a strong Board of Trustees whose members represent sport and commercial fishing groups, government agencies, recreational users, environmental groups, shipping, development, and business interests. The mission of the Foundation is to preserve, protect, and enhance the natural resources of the Galveston Bay estuarine system and its tributaries for present users and for posterity. Its programs in advocacy, conservation, education, and research strive to ensure that Galveston Bay remains a beautiful and productive place for generations to come. GBF’s advocacy programs allow GBF to serve as the watchdog for Galveston Bay. GBF reviews numerous projects and actively participates in the public review of those projects by attending public meetings and submitting written public comments. Its overarching goal is to encourage and actively seek solutions to conflicts among the diverse users of the Bay, and it attempts to balance the multiple uses of Galveston Bay so that the long-term interests of the Bay itself are not compromised. With its partners, GBF has successfully supported passage of state and federal legislation on behalf of the Bay: the Texas Oil Spill Prevention and Response Act, the Texas Estuaries Act, the Texas Coastal Management Program, and the Federal Clean Waters and Estuary Restoration Act of 2000. GBF’s conservation programs focus on wetlands preservation and restoration. The Galveston Bay system has lost over 35,000 acres of wetlands during the last fifty years, and GBF works closely with numerous partners to restore those lost wetlands across the Bay. Wetlands provide habitat for finfish and shellfish as well as rookery and foraging areas for birds. Wetlands filter water and naturally improve water quality, a critical function given the highly urbanized and industrial uses of Galveston Bay. They also stabilize shorelines and provide flood control, benefits that may be even more important to Houston area residents in the current “big storm” era. GBF’s education programs provide science-based environmental education focused on Galveston Bay. The goal of the program is to develop a knowledgeable constituency, ranging from school children to public officials, which recognizes the positive quality-of-life benefits that a healthy Galveston Bay system provides for the entire Houston/Galveston region. Youth focused programs include the curriculum based “Bay Ambassadors” program, annual Children’s Art Calendar, and school based marsh grass nursery program, “Get Hip to Habitat.” GBF’s annual “Bike Around the Bay” is a popular event that showcases the natural beauty of Galveston Bay while aiming to raise awareness and encourage area citizens to appreciate and visit the Bay. GBF’s research programs focus on the monitoring of created wetlands and restored habitat across Galveston Bay and planning for coastal issues such as climate change and sea level rise. GBF is actively engaged in discussion and planning on improving the coastal resiliency of the region. Finally, GBF advocates for the allocation of research dollars to the region to ensure the health of Galveston Bay and its users. Throughout its twenty-seven years of service to the Galveston Bay area, GBF has worked hard towards a number of accomplishments, including helping to include Galveston Bay as part of the National Estuary Program; involvement with the national consortium, Restore America’s Estuaries, for 17 years; preservation, protection, and restoration of over 17,000 acres of habitat around Galveston Bay; protection of over 16 miles of bay shorelines from severe erosion and habitat loss or conversion; recent completion of the intermediate capping of the San Jacinto River Waste Pits Superfund Site in coordination with the EPA; involvement of over 7,200 citizens in community-based marsh restoration at 75 sites through 15 consecutive years of Marsh Mania events; success in support of the passage of state and federal legislation on behalf of the Bay, including the Texas Oil Spill Prevention and Response Act, the Texas Estuaries Act, the Texas Coastal Management Program, and the Federal Clean Waters and Estuary Restoration Act of 2000; a growing land conservation program, which currently includes acquisition of 3,943 acres of conservation properties through fee title or conservation easements; restoration of over 430 acres of intertidal marsh habitat within GBF’s Pierce Marsh Preserve; continuance of wetland permit review committee for 24 years; outreach and education of tens of thousands of school children through programs such as Bay Ambassadors, the Children’s Art Calendar, Get Hip to Habitat, Bay Day, and education booths; and success in having Galveston Bay named as a “Great Water” by America’s Great Waters’ Coalition. In recognition of its accomplishments, GBF has earned numerous awards and prestigious honors, including a Texas General Land Office Coastal Organization Award (1997), Citizens’ Environmental Coalition Synergy Award (1999), Texas Environmental Excellence Award from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (2000), and two Galveston Bay Stewardship Awards from the Galveston Bay Estuary Program (2000 and 2001). For team participation on award winning wetlands restoration projects, GBF received the Coastal America Partnership Award in 2001 for the Galveston Island State Park, in 2004 for the San Jacinto State Park and Trails, and in 2009 for North Deer Island; the National Wetland Conservation Award in 2005 for the Delehide Cove project; and the Gulf Guardian 1st Place Partnership Award in 2007, the Department of the Interior Cooperative Conservation Award in 2008, and the Citizens' Environmental Coalition Synergy – Army and Sarah Emmott Conservation Award in 2008 for the East Bay Wetland and Water Quality Protection project. GBF was awarded a Gulf Guardian Award in 2000 for its community-based restoration efforts surrounding the very successful Marsh Bash 1999 event. Most recently, GBF earned an Outstanding Achievement in Coastal Conservation Award from the Houston Audubon Society (2009), an Honored Friend Award from the Friends of Galveston Island State Park (2009), a Parks and Natural Areas Award from the Houston-Galveston Area Council (2011), and a Certificate of Merit from the Department of Homeland Security U.S. Coast Guard (2014).