We Are The Voice
of Galveston Bay
Our advocacy program works to protect the health and well-being of the Bay. We take an inclusive and collaborative approach and work closely with all stakeholders including elected officials, community and business leaders, as well as policy and decision-makers.
From the Coast to the Capitol
Our Work Bolsters Legislative Strategy For The Greater Bay Area
The Galveston Bay Foundation (GBF) operates a robust advocacy program dedicated to preserving and protecting one of Texas's most vital natural resources. Our activities focus on influencing public policy at the local, state, and federal levels to ensure sustainable water management, habitat restoration, and the overall health of the bay’s ecosystem. By engaging with stakeholders and mobilizing community voices, the Galveston Foundation works to secure funding for conservation projects and promotes legislation that balances economic growth with environmental stewardship.
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Leading these efforts is Jacob Hupp, the Government Affairs and Public Policy Manager, who brings over a decade of expertise in government affairs, nonprofit advocacy, and electoral campaigns to the Foundation. His professional background is deeply rooted in conservation, having previously focused on wildlife and animal welfare legislation. We are committed to leveraging our teams experience to build strong legislative relationships that advance the Foundation’s mission and vision.
Got Questions? We have answers.
Reach out to our Advocacy team today.
Galveston Bay Report Card
The Galveston Bay Report Card is an annual, community-driven, scientific analysis of the health of Galveston Bay. Twenty-two indicators across six categories (habitat, water quality, human health risk, pollution events and sources, wildlife, and coastal change) are graded in order to provide the public with an assessment of the Bay ecosystem and identify areas for improvement. Its annual development is the result of a partnership between Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC) and Galveston Bay Foundation (GBF), which has been continuous since the launch of the first report card in 2014.
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To review this year’s grades and learn more about what you can do to improve the health of Galveston Bay, visit galvbaygrade.org.
Coastal Barrier
The Coastal Texas Study was started to uncover ways to reduce hurricane storm surge damages. It explores building levees, floodwalls, and surge barrier gates and making improvements to flood preparedness. While a tremendous amount of work has been put into the study, our review determined that the study’s recommendation of a coastal barrier does not explore all alternatives or disclose potential impacts.
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A floodgate across the pass between Galveston Island and Bolivar Peninsula would restrict the flow of water in and out of Galveston Bay to-and-from the Gulf of Mexico. We are concerned about major direct and indirect environmental impacts to wetlands, beaches, dunes, and local wildlife, which hinges on the Corps’ decision to utilize a fortified dune levee system and/or earthen levees and floodwalls. We are currently waiting for a detailed analysis of the environmental impacts of storm surge barrier gates at Bolivar Roads on water quality and on the health of local oysters, shrimp, crab, and finfish populations. Galveston Bay Foundation has also requested a supplemental impact statement that fully and accurately discloses all of the potential environmental impacts of such a plan.
Submit Your Comments Anytime
We encourage concerned members of our community to add their voice and submit comments using the sample letter linked below.
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You may submit comments by emailing CoastalTexas@usace.army.mil or
by mailing your comments to this address:
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U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston District
Attn: Ms. Jennifer Morgan,
Environmental Compliance Branch
Regional Planning & Environment Center
P.O. Box 1229
Galveston, Texas 77553-1229
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