GALVESTON BAY ESTUARY PROGRAM A CATALYST FOR PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATION Sarah Bernhardt, Ph.D. Lower Rio Grande Valley 18 th Annual Water Quality Management & Planning Conference May 18, 2016

GALVESTON BAY WATERSHED Land area where water, sediment, and pollutants drain to a common water body About half of Texas lives within Galveston Bay watershed

NATIONAL ESTUARY PROGRAM

THE GALVESTON BAY ESTUARY PROGRAM A Program of TCEQ established in 1989 to provide comprehensive ecosystem-based management for this economically valuable resource. Mission: To preserve and protect Galveston Bay for generations to come. Non-regulatory, voluntary partnership

WHAT DO WE DO? Implement The Plan: –foster collaboration –build partnerships –leverage & acquire funds –implement priority projects Outreach –Presentations, exhibiting –support partner events Bay Day and Trash Bash Information sharing –Status and Trends monitoring –State of the Bay Report –State of the Bay Symposium

STAKEHOLDER INVOLVEMENT Addressing multiple bay uses requires collaboration. Council: 41 members 5 subcommittees: Water & Sediment Quality - WSQ Natural Resources Uses - NRU Public Participation and Education - PPE Monitoring and Research - M&R Budget and Priorities -B&P Federal Agencies (7) Private Sector (7); Environmental/ Citizens’ Groups (7) Regional / Local Governments (9); Research & Academia (2) State Agencies (9) Galveston Bay Council

ESTUARY PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS Restored &/or protected over 27,000 acres of wetlands and important coastal habitats since 2000 Implemented successful water quality projects Leveraged over $93 million since An average of $6 for every $1. Numerous awards Back the Bay public outreach campaign

PARTNERSHIPS IT’S HOW IT GETS DONE

OPPORTUNITIES As the result of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill (DWH), Texas has access to three funding sources: Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund, referred to as NFWF; Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA); and Resources & Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities & Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act of 2012 (RESTORE).

FEDERAL RESTORE ACT Enacted by Congress in 2012, established the Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund (Fund). Dedicates 80% of DWH civil and administrative penalties assessed under the Clean Water Act to the Fund. Fund Purpose: ecosystem restoration, economic recovery, and tourism promotion in Gulf Coast region.

ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES –Restoration and protection of the natural resources, ecosystems, fisheries, marine and wildlife habitats, beaches, and coastal wetlands of the Gulf Coast Region –Mitigation of damage to fish, wildlife, and natural resources –Implementation of a federally approved marine, coastal, or comprehensive conservation management plan, including fisheries monitoring –Workforce development and job creation –Improvements to or on State parks located in Texas coastal areas affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill –Infrastructure projects benefitting the economy or ecological resources, including port infrastructure –Planning assistance –Promotion of tourism in the Gulf Coast Region, including recreational fishing –Promotion of the consumption of seafood harvested from the Gulf Coast Region –Coastal flood protection and related infrastructure

RESTORETHETEXASCOAST. ORG The web site, restorethetexascoast.org, provides information on issues and activities associated with the RESTORE Act and the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. All project applications are submitted through this web site. The web site includes a “contact us” button to request additional information. Sign up on List Serve through the TCEQ home page to receive notification of updates on the web site. -- restorethetexascoast.org Visit the restore web site periodically for information on all activities related to DWH activities, including funding availabilities.

See resources and games for kids Order FREE publications Pledge to Take Care of Texas Find ways to do your part with online resources Link to your You Tube, Facebook and Twitter VISIT TAKECAREOFTEXAS.ORG TO:

THANK YOU! Sarah P. Bernhardt, Ph.D. Program Manager, Galveston Bay Estuary Program (281)