GALVESTON BAY 2018 REPORTED CARD
GRADE C
That Galveston Bay could receive C for overall health despite facing these monumental issues shows how resilient it is. It offers hope that we can continue to make changes in the way we live to lessen the negative impact on water quality, habitat like wetlands and seagrasses, and wildlife.
Galveston Bay is a vibrant, resilient ecosystem, but faces an uncertain future. The Bay’s watershed is home to the fifth largest city in the U.S., Houston. It is also home to three ports, and remains a hub for the manufacturing and refining of chemicals and petroleum products. However, people, industry, and commerce often come with environmental challenges. Galveston Bay’s most significant problems are tied to pollution, declines in habitat acreage, and the impacts of climate change, such as sea level rise.
That Galveston Bay could receive a grade of C for overall health despite facing these monumental issues shows how resilient it is. This offers hope that we can change our negative impact on water quality, wetlands, seagrasses, and wildlife. But a healthier Galveston Bay is in everyone’s interest.
(About the grade: The combined GPA for all six categories together is a 2, which registers in the low C range. Unfortunately, the combined grade does not include grades for three of our indicators: Litter and Trash, Wetlands and Oyster Reef Acreage - There were not enough data available on these indicators to include them in the overall grade. We hope you will join us in encouraging local, state, and national leaders to pass legislate on, and provide funding, that will improve monitoring and address these issues.
TSS
