Galveston Bay Foundation Acquires Nearly 1,500 Acres on Goat Island, Protecting Critical Coastal Habitat

GALVESTON, TEXAS — Galveston Bay Foundation (GBF) announces the acquisition of 1,483 acres in East Galveston Bay, which will permanently protect vital wetlands, wildlife, and fisheries habitat, and create new opportunities for habitat restoration.

Located on the north side of Bolivar Peninsula and directly across East Bay from Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge, Goat Island consists primarily of tidal salt marshes, which are regularly flooded coastal wetlands dominated by salt-tolerant vegetation that support a wide variety of wildlife, including migratory waterfowl, wading birds, shorebirds, and recreationally and commercially important fisheries species.

The acquisition stems from a conservation partnership with Ducks Unlimited, which received the property in 2022 as a donation with the understanding that GBF would ultimately serve as the long-term steward of the property.

"This landscape provides critical habitat for wildlife, supports the productivity of our coastal fisheries, and helps protect the water quality of East Galveston Bay,” said GBF Director of Conservation, Matt Singer. "Conserving these wetlands ensures they will continue to provide these benefits for generations to come."

The property is strategically located among a network of protected conservation lands, including other GBF preserves, as well as Houston Audubon Society's High Island Bird Sanctuaries and Bolivar Flats, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Jocelyn Nungaray and McFaddin National Wildlife Refuges. Together, these properties form an interconnected mosaic of habitats that are essential to the ecological health of the upper Texas coast.

While much of the property remains healthy coastal marsh, Goat Island has experienced significant erosion, subsidence, and habitat loss over time. As the long-term steward of the property, GBF will pursue large scale restoration projects that could include shoreline protection measures, beneficial use of dredged material, and marsh creation efforts designed to increase resilience to sea level rise and ongoing coastal change.

About Galveston Bay Foundation

Galveston Bay Foundation is a nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to preserving and enhancing Galveston Bay. Since 1987, GBF has worked to protect the Bay through habitat restoration, land conservation, water protection, education, advocacy, and research. Learn more at www.galvbay.org.

Media Contact:

Kimberly Meza, Communications and Marketing Manager, Galveston Bay Foundation   

Phone: 281-923-3278 

Email: kmeza@galvbay.org 

Website: www.galvbay.org