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In 1987, a diverse group of recreational, commercial and industrial Bay users put aside their differences and came together to protect their common interest – Galveston Bay. They were concerned about two issues – 1) the Wallisville project set to dam up 20,000 acres of the lower Trinity River and create a lake that would inevitably damage the river delta and the ecosystem, and 2) the deepening and widening of the Houston Ship Channel. The group met in a classroom at Rice University and chose the name Galveston Bay Foundation, modeling itself off the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Together, the birders, boaters, sailors, bay residents, barge operators, industry representatives, and community activist groups created the first organization on the Gulf Coast that brought together various interest groups to serve as a voice for Galveston Bay. “I’ll never forget the late commercial oysterman Joe Nelson in the same room with the founders of the recreational fishing group Gulf Coast Conservation Association (now known as CCA Texas), working together to create an institution for the Bay despite deep distrust and animosity,” said Jim Blackburn, Rice University Professor and founding chairman of the Galveston Bay Foundation. “Those moments set the stage for today.” Galveston Bay Foundation’s first advocacy work was a success. The Wallisville project was completely redesigned after bald eagles were found nesting in the area. And after the organization funded an economic impact study of the Ship Channel project, and the depth and width to which the channel was dredged were eventually reduced. Both of these were wins for the Bay and propelled the organization forward to branch out in other areas. In the early years, those areas notably included hosting community-based marsh grass plantings, creating an oil spill response plan after the Exxon Valdez oil spill, educating groups and students through boat-based Bay tours and testing water quality through volunteer monitors. Galveston Bay Foundation still works with various interest groups to preserve and enhance Galveston Bay for future generations. Now, you can find Galveston Bay Foundation in schools and communities, on the ground and on the water, working to protect the resource we’re all connected to. This year marks an important milestone in the Galveston Bay Foundation’s history, as it relocates to its permanent home on Galveston Bay and creates a place where the community can come to experience and learn about the Bay and what they can do to protect it. To learn more and to get involved, please visit  www.galvbay.org .

Galveston Bay Foundation a Restore America's Estuaries partner organization and every February they ask that you use the #iheartestuaries to share why YOU love your estuary. We highlighted some phenomenal champions in our community whose enthusiasm for Galveston Bay is contagious. ❤️ Rose's Seafood  is a staple of the Bay Area. Family-owned since 1980, the seafood store's co-owner Sam Tran grew up in Kemah and loves the Bay. Her daughter has participated in our education programs, her husband rode in our fundraising ride Bike Around the Bay. Sam's daughter has a passion for caring for the environment, which Sam always encourages because she believes it's important to protect Galveston Bay so everyone can enjoy it. "There’s no better place than being by the sea and being apart of a great small community. Galveston Bay Foundation is doing great things. Keep it up and I am super excited to see the new building coming along." - Sam Tran ❤️ Gene Fisseler has volunteered at Galveston Bay Foundation for more than a decade and is a regular fixture at our events, around our office, and on special assignments like the dolphin research team and education team. Gene's advice on volunteering? "Don’t worry that it might be too cold, too hot, too wet, too muddy or too much work. Just sign up and show up! You’ll get way more out of volunteering with Galveston Bay Foundation than you’ll ever put into it. More fun, more satisfaction, more friends. Trust me on that!" Thank you, Gene for all your hard work to protect Galveston Bay.       ❤️ We want to express gratitude for the students who take a chance on experiencing nature with us. Cindy Wilems, our Director of Education says, “When you see a student’s eyes light up when they touch a fish for the first time or see how proud they are after planting marsh grass or building oyster reef, it is just inspiring and makes my heart grow. You can’t top that feeling. I know we are making a difference in their lives and for the Bay each and every time we are in a classroom or in the field.” Thanks to all who heart estuaries!

TAMU Presentation on PFAs Collaboration & Results After the ITC chemical tank fire, Galveston Bay Foundation partnered with Texas A&M’s Superfund Research Center to analyze water samples around the ITC incident for PFAs, a group of chemical compounds frequently found in industrial product and firefighting foam. Some of these compounds are known to have harmful health impacts, but the extent of harm is still widely unknown. They are water soluble, persistent in the environment, and accumulate in both the water column and the wildlife. Overall, the results show a definite presence of many different PFAs in the water of the Houston Ship Channel. Highest levels were found near ITC, but even the samples that were taken from the shoreline further downstream showed levels of concern. In addition to the detected PFAs with established health advisory levels, other PFA compounds that have yet to be evaluated for their potential effects on human health and wildlife were also detected. Additionally, some locations saw an increase in PFAs levels from March 21st to March 29th. Unfortunately, regular monitoring of these compounds has not historically occurred in Galveston Bay, so there is little to no pre-incident data for comparison to understand what impact the ITC incident may have had on the levels of PFAs in the water. Galveston Bay Foundation continued to collect samples for ongoing analysis through summer 2019. This data has been shared with agencies responsible for natural resource damage assessment around the ITC incident. ITC Chemical Tank Fire Water Sample Response Timeline  March / Summary: In an effort to track potential environmental impacts from the ITC fires and resultant cleanup, Galveston Bay Foundation collected and analyzed water samples on Friday, March 22 and Saturday, March 23. These samples were tested for benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes. These compounds are frequently found in petrochemical biproducts and can pose threats to human health. Galveston Bay Foundation collected five water samples from the Houston Ship Channel on Friday and six samples from nearby shoreline locations on Saturday. Friday’s samples were collected just prior to the ITC berm failure and subsequent reignition of the fire. Samples showed slightly elevated benzene levels right at the ITC facility in relation to other samples. However, all samples from Friday yielded results below state standards and federal guidelines. To better document the impacts of the berm failure and fire, Galveston Bay Foundation collected six additional samples on Saturday, March 23 rd . As the Ship Channel was closed due to impaired air quality, samples were collected from nearby nearshore locations. One sample (sample 7) from Saturday collected near the Lynchburg Ferry yielded elevated levels of benzene at 46 µg/L.  This is above EPA’s recommended National Ambient Water Quality Criteria of 16 µg/L but below TCEQ’s state standards. All other samples collected Saturday had concentrations below state standards and national criteria. April 24th:  Galveston Bay Foundation has continued monitoring for VOCs and PFAs, most recently testing on April 24, 2019. These samples were taken in the immediate vicinity of the ITC incident. April 11th:  Galveston Bay Foundation sampled all six shoreline locations for VOCs and PFAs on April 11, 2019. All VOCs were below detection levels for compounds listed on  this map.  These PFAs samples have been sent to Texas A&M for processing. April 5th:   Galveston Bay Foundation sampled all six shoreline locations for VOCs on April 5, 2019. All samples were below detection levels for compounds listed on  this map.  Galveston Bay Foundation is still waiting to receive information on PFAs concentrations from our partners at Texas A&M. Galveston Bay Foundation will continue to collect samples from the shoreline on Friday, April 11 th . Galveston Bay Foundation will collect samples for both VOCs and PFAs.   This map shows all locations where Galveston Bay Foundation collected samples, as well as the results for each sample. Click on each location to view the results from the site. “No data” means that for that sample, data analysis did not meet the fit quality criterion for this analyte  or  the reported concentration for the analyte is below the quantitation limit. These samples were analyzed in partnership with Environmental Defense Fund. Additional Information TCEQ Standards for Galveston Bay waters (waters not used as a source of drinking water) The state standards for each compound are highlighted below. Compound TCEQ Standard (µg/L) Benzene 581 µg/L Toluene — Ethylbenzene 1,867 µg/L Xylenes No standards listed at all More information on these standards can be found at: https://www.tceq.texas.gov/waterquality/standards/2018-surface-water-quality-standards#sixthAnchor Below is some relevant information related to these standards, quoted from the TCEQ 2018 guidelines linked above: (2) Categories of human health criteria (pgs 40-41): (B) concentration criteria to prevent contamination of fish and other aquatic life to ensure that they are safe for human consumption. These criteria apply to surface waters that have sustainable fisheries and that are not designated or used for public water supply or as a sole-source surface drinking water supply (Column B in Table 2 of paragraph (1) of this subsection); (B) For known or suspected carcinogens (as identified in EPA’s IRIS database), an incremental cancer risk level of 10-5 (1 in 100,000) was used to derive criteria. An RfD (reference dose) was determined for carcinogens and noncarcinogens where the EPA has not derived cancer slope factors. (C) Consumption rates of fish and shellfish were estimated as 17.5 grams per person per day, unless otherwise specified in Table 2 of paragraph (1) of this subsection. (E) For carcinogens, a body-weight scaling factor of 3/4 power was used to convert data on laboratory test animals to human scale. Reported weights of laboratory test animals are used, and an average weight of 70 kilograms is assumed for humans.” ……. “(7) Specific human health criteria are applied as long-term average exposure criteria designed to protect populations over a lifetime. Attainment measures for human health are addressed in §307.9 of this title. Pg. 43 EPA National Ambient Water Quality Criteria (waters not used as a source of drinking water) Compound TCEQ Standard (µg/L) Benzene 16-58 µg/L Toluene 520 µg/L Ethylbenzene 130 µg/L Xylenes No standards listed at all The national Ambient Water Quality Criteria for each compound are highlighted in the table below. These criteria are meant to guide states when establishing their regulatory standards for each contaminant. For human health, these levels are calculated at cancer rates of one in 1,000,000 people exposed. More information on these Criteria can be found at: https://www.epa.gov/wqc/national-recommended-water-quality-criteria-human-health-criteria-table If you have questions, please call us at 281-332-3381 or email info@galvbay.org.

Photo: NASA Satellite of brown rivers and Galveston Bay full of floodwater from Hurricane Harvey. In the Houston area, stormwater from large flood events wash pollutants, chemicals and debris down our storm drains, into our bayous and eventually into Galveston Bay. The longer between rain storms or the more intense a rain storm, the more pollutants are washed into the water. However, major rain events have short term, and potentially long term, impacts on water quality. So how has Hurricane Harvey impacted water quality? Galveston Bay Foundation’s volunteer water quality monitors mobilized after the storm to help us better answer this question. Read on to find out what they tested, what the results have been so far, and view a map of their monitoring locations. Fecal Bacteria Fecal bacteria generally spikes to high levels after heavy rain events. These bacteria are found in untreated sewage as well as in pet and animal waste. During major storms, sewage infrastructure often malfunctions, causing an increase in untreated sewage entering our streets and waterways. Stormwater will also wash any pet waste on lawns into public waterways. Exposure to these bacteria can cause gastro-intestinal sickness and other health issues. What our water quality monitors found: In general, GBF volunteer water monitors have found that while most spikes in these bacteria occur after major rain events, they tend to die off within three to four days. Bacteria sampling began this past Monday, September 4, after GBF opened its lab for processing. So far, the collected water samples have had low values of bacteria. While it is almost certain bacteria levels were high right after Harvey, over a week has passed since the storm hit. This shows that bacterial runoff into the Bay is declining; Galveston Bay is beginning to bounce back from the damage inflicted by Harvey. Additionally, Harvey poured such an immense amount of water on the Houston area that the sheer volume of water could have further diluted some of the bacteria it washed into Galveston Bay, reducing its initial concentrations. To date, the samples collected around Galveston Bay have had concentrations of bacteria between 10-40 Most Probable Number (MPN). The EPA limit that it considers safe for swimming is 104 MPN. While this is a good sign for Galveston Bay right now, these results may not be the same for many of Houston’s bayous, which are still being impacted by flood waters and have less of a potential for dilution. The flood waters in the bayous could potentially impact the Bay in the future. Salinity Plant and animal life within the Bay rely on a specific range of salinity; water that is too fresh makes it difficult for life to thrive in Galveston Bay. Water that remains too fresh or too salty will impact growth and reproduction rates, can increase the prevalence of disease, and can ultimately impact their survival. What our water quality monitors found: The low salinity values GBF volunteer monitors have found around the Bay have been less reassuring than bacteria level results. Galveston Bay’s waters are currently much more fresh than they should be. Much of the unprecedented amount of rainfall that Harvey dumped on the region is finding its way into Galveston Bay, diluting any saltwater entering from the Gulf of Mexico. Many volunteers have commented that salinity levels the past week have been the lowest they have ever seen in years of testing. This is not good for life in Galveston Bay. Turbidity/Debris Turbidity is how clear the water is. This can have an impact on planktonic and plant life in the Bay, which may impact the health of other animals as well. What our water quality monitors found: We are finding that an increase in particulate matter in the water is making the water less clear. Water levels are also higher than normal, and of course much more debris has been observed in the water. One water quality monitor even observed a plastic Barbie doll floating in the water at their site!

Prepared September 18, 2017 By Vanessa Mintzer, Ph.D. (Galveston Bay Foundation) and Kristi Fazioli (Environmental Institute of Houston-UHCL) Dolphins and Hurricanes Opportunities to evaluate the effects of catastrophic events, like hurricanes and flooding, on dolphins are rare.  However, because hurricanes cause dramatic environmental changes, they are expected to impact most aquatic organisms, including these top-level predators.  Dolphins that inhabit areas directly in the path of a hurricane may be immediately impacted by physical disturbances such as waves, winds, storm surge, and debris.  In the weeks or months following a storm, environmental changes that may affect dolphins include low salinity, low dissolved oxygen levels, and increases in water contaminants (sewage, industrial chemicals, fertilizers, etc.).  These changes may affect dolphins directly (e.g. skin sensitivity in low salinity) or indirectly (e.g. low prey availability due to the exodus of marine fishes). Observations after other hurricanes suggest that dolphins may be initially displaced from nearshore habitats after storms and flooding, but may return after water quality normalizes and fish return. In Mississippi Sound, post-Katrina, researchers observed short and long-term effects from the storm including higher calf mortality (that was compensated later by higher-reproductive rates), a slight increase in the number of juvenile strandings, and changes in feeding behavior and locations. In the Bahamas, following two hurricanes, 30 percent of dolphins that were regularly seen disappeared and were later replaced by other dolphins. A study conducted in Florida, after hurricane Charley, showed no long-term effects on a dolphin population in Charlotte Harbor, as population abundance, distribution, and site fidelity were back to pre-Charley numbers two years after the storm.  How dolphins fare after a catastrophic event is likely to vary considerably between locations and will depend on both the resilience of the population and of the ecosystem, as well as the severity of the event.  The potential negative impacts from a hurricane on estuarine ecosystems are compounded by the accidental release of hazardous materials that are more likely in an industrialized urban area. Harvey and Dolphins in Galveston Bay When Harvey arrived in Texas in August 2017, it became the wettest hurricane ever recorded to have made landfall in the continental United States, as rain accumulation peaked at 51.88in.  This pulse of freshwater received by the Gulf of Mexico and its coastlines exceeded the volume of water of the entire Chesapeake Bay.  Because the brunt of the rainfall took place on the Texas coast, including the Galveston Bay watershed, Galveston Bay has received an unprecedented volume of freshwater.  This freshwater has not only changed the salinity of the Bay, but has likely contaminated the Bay with waterborne pathogens and toxic chemicals (possibly dioxins from a compromised Superfund site or resuspended channel sediments). Consequently, the most pressing issues surrounding the dolphin’s health and ecology is their ability to tolerate low salinity, exposure to contaminants in the water, as well as changes in prey availability. Figure 1. Skin lesions on bottlenose dolphins in Galveston Bay likely caused by exposure to freshwater runoff after Hurricane Harvey, September 5th, 2017. Click photos to expand. The  Galveston Bay Dolphin Research and Conservation Program (GDRCP)  is in a unique position to evaluate the effects of Hurricane Harvey on Galveston Bay bottlenose dolphins ( Tursiops truncatus ), and contribute to this imperative area of research.  The GDRCP has been monitoring the upper Galveston Bay dolphin population since 2013, allowing for multiple year comparisons of pre and post Harvey data.  With over 550 identified cataloged dolphins, the GDRCP has the opportunity to evaluate Harvey’s effects on both the population as a whole, and its individuals. Prior to Harvey, Galveston Bay dolphins had already shown vulnerability to increases in freshwater inflow. Since the GDRCP has monitored the dolphin population, researchers have observed skin lesions on some individual following heavy rain events. These lesions could be caused by sensitivity to changes in salinity and/or exposure to pathogens and chemicals from toxic runoff.  The GDRCP has been compiling data on these skin lesions and has been working in collaboration with the National Marine Fisheries Services and other programs on the Gulf coast to better understand their causes and significance. On Wednesday, September 6 (roughly 10 days after the rain from Harvey seized), the GDRCP was able to conduct its first boat survey in Galveston Bay.  The research crew found few dolphins in upper Bay, and traveled south in search for more. The absence of dolphins in most of the upper Bay region was in stark contrast to observations from previous years during the same time frame and to the weeks preceding Harvey, when dolphins were seen in high numbers throughout the study area (Figure 2).  The crew recorded salinity levels as low as 0.27ppt in the upper Bay, so unsurprisingly, dolphins had likely traveled south and into the deep waters of the Houston Ship Channel (HSC) to seek saltier water. Figure 2. Pre-Harvey (September 2016 and August 2017) and post-Harvey (September 2017) sightings of bottlenose dolphins in Galveston Bay. Click photos to expand. Many individuals were observed with skin lesions covering part or much of their body (Figure 1) and a few were noted to have a depression behind their blowhole (a sign of malnutrition and/or other health condition). When the crew found dolphins in the channel near the middle of Galveston Bay, they were not engaged in commonly observed activities, like feeding, socializing and bow riding, but were instead traveling slowly south. Additionally, many individuals were observed with skin lesions covering part or much of their body (Figure 1) and a few were noted to have a depression behind their blowhole (a sign of malnutrition and/or other health condition). The following week, on September 12 th  and 13 th , the GDRCP surveyed the Bay again in search for dolphins.  Most dolphins were still in or near the HSC.   Overall, the dolphins did not appear as lethargic and were engaged in more “normal” behaviors.  However, the skin lesions were widespread and there were still signs of malnutrition and/or poor health. Moving Forward It is imperative that the GDRCP monitor the dolphins of Galveston Bay closely in the coming weeks and months.  The GDRCP’s normal protocol has included 2 days of field work (boat-based surveying) per month, but funding is needed to maintain and increase these efforts for the year following Harvey. Increasing survey effort to at least 4 days of field work per month, will allow GDRCP to closely track if, when, and which dolphins return to upper Galveston Bay, the presence of calves, short and long-term changes in distribution, and the development of the skin disorder and possibly other health conditions. Knowledge of if, when, and how the population recovers is vital for the establishment of sound conservation management plans for Galveston Bay dolphins .  Information gained from this rare event could inform management of coastal populations of dolphins around the world. With the predicted increase in the frequency of intense storms due to climate change, research on these events is imperative to manage and maintain healthy coastal dolphin populations. Please send general questions and comments about the dolphins and/or program to Vanessa at vmintzer@galvbay.org. However, if you see a stranded or dead dolphin, please contact the Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network at 1-800-9-MAMMAL. The Galveston Bay Dolphin Research Program is a collaboration between the Galveston Bay Foundation and the Environmental Institute of Houston at the University of Houston at Clear Lake. Sources Ahern, M., Kovats, R., Wilkinson, P., Gew, R., and Matthies, F. 2005. Global health impacts of floods: epidemiologic evidence. Epidemiologic Reviews 27:36-46. Bassos-Hull, K.M., and Wells, R.S. 2007. Investigating potential hurricane and red tide related impacts on bottlenose dolphin ( Tursiops truncatus ) abundance, reproductive rates, distribution, and site fidelity in Charlotte Harbor and Pine Island Sound, Florida. Final technical report. Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, FL. Bender, M.A., Knutson, T. R., Tuleya, R. E., Sirutis, J. J., Vecchi, G. A., Garner, S. T., and Held, I. M. 2010. Modeled impact of anthropogenic warming on the frequency of intense Atlantic hurricanes. Science 327 (5964): 454-458. Elliser, C.R., and Herzing, D.L. 2011. Replacement dolphins? Social restructuring of a resident pod of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins,  Tursiops truncatus , after two major hurricanes. Marine Mammal Science 27: 39-59. Fury, C.A., and Harrison, P.L. 2011. Impact of flood events on dolphin occupancy patterns. Marine Mammal Science 27: E185-E205 Girgin, S., and Krausmann, E. 2016. Historical analysis of U.S. onshore hazardous liquid pipeline accidents triggered by natural hazards. Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process Industries 40: 578-590. Miller, L. J., Mackey, A. D., Hoffland, T., Solangi, M., and Kuczaj, S.A. 2010. Potential effects of a major hurricane on Atlantic bottlenose dolphin ( Tursiops truncatus ) reproduction in the Mississippi Sound. Marine Mammal Science 26: 707-715. National Weather Service. 2017. Category 4 Hurricane Harvey: South Texas Landfall & Impacts from August 25-29,2017.  . Accessed 9.9.2017. Pennisi, E., and Malakoff, D. 2017. Record storm puts gulf resilience to the test. Science 357: 954 Smith, C.E., Hurley, B. J., Toms, C. N., Mackey, A. D., Solangi, M., and, Kuczaj II, S. A. 2013. Hurricane impacts on the foraging patterns of bottlenose dolphins  Tursiops truncatus  in Mississippi Sound. Marine Ecology Progress Series 487: 231-244. Yeager, K.M., P.H. Santschi, H.S. Rifai, M.P. Suarez, R. Brinkmeyer, C.Hung, K.J. Schindler, M.J. Andres, and Weaver, E.A. 2007. Dioxin chronology and fluxes in sediments of the Houston Ship Channel, Texas: influences of non-steady-state sediment transport and total organic carbon. Environmental Science and Technology 41(15) 5291-5298. Webster, P. J., Holland, G. J., Curry, J. A., and Chang, H. R. 2005. Changes in tropical cyclone number, duration, and intensity in a warming environment. Science 309(5742): 1844-1846.

If you love dolphins and your mom, Galveston Bay Foundation has the perfect gift for you to give this Mother’s Day. Symbolically name and adopt a Galveston Bay dolphin mom and help advance dolphin research through the Galveston Bay Dolphin Research and Conservation Program. The program is a partnership between Galveston Bay Foundation and Environmental Institute of Houston at the University of Houston – Clear Lake to study bottlenose dolphins in Galveston Bay. The research is unique few entities focus on studying these dolphins and it is important to understand their patterns and behavior to help protect them. Dolphin ID #285: She is the mother of #740 (first seen in 2017 as a newborn). We’ve seen her a few times very close to shore feeding up against docks and seawalls. Maybe lucky fans will get to see her from land and identify her with her distinct fin! She sometimes hangs out with another one of our adoptable moms #43.  See all available dolphins . There are three bottlenose dolphin moms available to adopt with a $150 donation: Astro, Mrs. Potts, and Delfini. $150 Adoptions Include: Certificate of one-year adoption Plush 12” dolphin Map showing all the locations your dolphin has been sighted Photograph(s) of your dolphin Quarterly updates about our dolphins during the adoption year One-year Galveston Bay Foundation Membership There are two bottlenose dolphin moms available to name with a $1,500 donation: Dolphin ID #43 and Dolphin ID #285. $1,500 Adoptions Include: Opportunity to name the dolphin Certificate of adoption Plush 12″ dolphin Map showing all the locations where your dolphin has been sighted Photograph(s) of your dolphin Quarterly updates about our dolphins Recognition on our webpage and/or print newsletter of your adoption One-year Galveston Bay Foundation membership Learn more at  galvbay.org/support-us/adopt-a-dolphin .

Galveston Bay Foundation’s Role in Bayport Channel Collision:  Galveston Bay Foundation is a nonprofit conservation organization with a mission to preserve and protect Galveston Bay. During incidents like the Bayport Channel Collision, Galveston Bay Foundation works with partner organizations to evaluate the potential impacts the spill could have on the Bay. In this case, we have been invited to serve on a committee of the Unified Command response called “Resources at Risk.”  Philip Smith, our Director of Conservation, is serving on this committee, which evaluates impacts to natural resources across Galveston Bay.  In addition, our Kemah property is in close proximity to the gasoline product and we took water samples at the property on Saturday, May 11. With ITC response, we conducted our own independent monitoring efforts to fulfil a testing and sampling effort that we felt was not being met. In this case, we are confident that Unified Command has mobilized, is actively responding to the incident, and is fulfilling environmental impact and assessment needs. We will update the public with our data from the water samples collected on May 11 when it becomes available and will share other applicable data as we receive it from incident responders. On Sunday, May 12, incident responders found a  fish kill  on our Kemah property. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department attributes this fish kill to the spilled gasoline product. Galveston Bay Foundation is currently working with incident response on the cleanup at our Kemah property. Moving forward, we advocate to make sure the responsible party figures out why this happened and that they learn from it so incidents like this do not happen again. FAQ: Is it safe to swim in the Bay?  Please visit the  incident response website.  Please call the joint information line at 281-755-4670 or the Galveston County Health District at (409) 938-7221 for any human health and safety concerns in relation to this incident. Is it safe to eat seafood from the Bay?  Texas Department of State Health Services has lifted the seafood advisory that was in place after the spill. More details on the  Texas Department of State Health Services website . Is it safe to eat seafood from a restaurant?  Restaurants have standards they have to follow as does the seafood industry. If you are concerned you may be served contaminated seafood, you can ask what the source of the seafood is from the restaurant. How can I help?  When invited or approved by the commanding entities within the incident response network, the Galveston Bay Foundation can assist with the coordination of spill response volunteers and enlist volunteers to help in low-to-no impact areas. At this time, incident command is not calling for the activation of volunteers, and we will not be deploying volunteers to our Kemah property while cleanup efforts are underway. While incident response is not currently accepting volunteers for this spill, you can always  volunteer  for the Bay in other capacities with Galveston Bay Foundation. You can also  join us  to further our mission to preserve and protect Galveston Bay by becoming a Galveston Bay Foundation member. For all concerns about the spill, we encourage you to reach out to  incident response .

(HOUSTON, TX – April 25, 2019) – This week, Galveston Bay Foundation received a $2.3 million National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) award to continue to restore and create marsh habitat in the Dollar Bay/Moses Lake complex in Galveston Bay. The funding comes to Galveston Bay Foundation through the Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund, a funding source created from Deepwater Horizon oil spill penalties. This funding builds upon years of tried and developed techniques for marsh protection and restoration within the same project area including a 1,600-foot section of rock breakwater structures constructed in 2002, a 2,400-foot section constructed in 2012, and 1.3-mile section completed in 2018. Following these projects, Galveston Bay Foundation volunteers planted smooth cordgrass to reestablish fringing marsh and will continue to do so in this next phase. The newly-funded project phase will complete the coastal habitat restoration initiated under the previously funded phases and leverage $1 million recently awarded under NFWF’s National Coastal Resilience Fund, for a total investment of more than $5.7 million. Through the new phase, Galveston Bay Foundation will construct breakwaters to protect and restore estuarine emergent marsh along 1,500 feet of shoreline and 47 newly created marsh terraces, which will support emergent marsh vegetation. Construction work will restore 72 acres of intertidal marsh complex and create suitable habitat for oyster growth within the Dollar Bay/Moses Lake complex in Galveston Bay. Protection of this critical coastal habitat will contribute to the larger landscape scale conservation efforts in Galveston Bay, which has lost more than 35,000 acres of intertidal wetlands since the 1950s. The project is also supported by: USFWS Coastal Program, Texas GLO, Accenture, NFWF Gulf Coast Conservation Grants Program, Shell, Ducks Unlimited, Texas Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) Habitat Today for Fish Tomorrow and CCA Building Conservation Trust.

What: More than 160 volunteers will restore wetlands in Galveston County as part of Galveston Bay Foundation’s 21st annual Marsh Mania event on Saturday, April 13, 2019. Marsh Mania engages local citizens in hands-on marsh restoration activities while increasing their awareness and appreciation of wetland habitats and functions. Marsh Mania volunteers will transplant smooth cordgrass to the intertidal shorelines of the Texas City Prairie Preserve and at Virginia Point. In its 20 years, Marsh Mania has involved more than 8,000 community volunteers in the restoration of roughly 210 acres of vital estuarine marsh habitat at 93 sites around Galveston Bay. The estuarine marsh being restored is important to the life cycles of ecologically and economically significant marine species, including federally-managed red drum, brown and white shrimp, and regionally-managed blue crab. Marsh Mania 2019 is made possible through a number of local partners and sponsors including Cabela’s Outdoor Fund, Citgo, CenterPoint Energy, John P. McGovern Foundation, ExxonMobil, Port Houston, RES, Odfjell, NRG, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, CCA Texas, Texas General Land Office, Shell, Scenic Galveston, The Nature Conservancy, NRCS, Texas Parks and Wildlife, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Where: It is suggested that media attend the Virginia Point planting site. Parking is at John M. O’Quinn Nature Preserve, 2441 Highway 6, Hitchcock, TX 77563. Shuttles to the site itself will be available between 8am and 9 am. Please arrive at the parking location between these times. When : Saturday, April 13, 2019 Timeline of activities: 8am – 9am: Shuttles will run to the planting site 9am – 11:30am: Planting at Virginia Point 11:30 – 1pm: Shuttles back to the parking location, lunch and event shirt distribution Who: Emily Ford, Galveston Bay Foundation Volunteer Programs Coordinator will be available for interviews

Galveston Bay Foundation collects water samples in response to Deer Park Fire (HOUSTON, TX – March 25, 2019) Galveston Bay Foundation collected 14 samples over four days starting on Friday, March 22, from areas both upstream and downstream from the ITC fire. All the samples showed less than one part per billion of benzene in the water, other than one sample from Saturday, March 23, which showed a spike of 46.8 parts per billion of benzene. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality surface water quality standard for fish and shellfish is 581 parts per billion. However, the EPA recommends a National Water Quality standard of 16 parts per billion for fish and shellfish exposure. Therefore, this sample comes in below TCEQ’s standards, but above the recommended EPA level. Benzene volatizes in the water column, which means it evaporates to the air. By Monday, all sample levels were back down to less than one part per billion. Galveston Bay Foundation intends to continue its independent water sampling in the coming weeks and will coordinate with agency partners to communicate those results. Galveston Bay Foundation’s water sampling data has been published in partnership with Environmental Defense Fund: Results from Friday, March 22 nd Results from Saturday, March 23 rd Results will be formatted in an interactive map as soon as Monday evening. “We began taking these samples to ensure there was good data available to help in the overall response and cleanup effort from the ITC fire,” said Bob Stokes, Galveston Bay Foundation President. “In addition to our data, we know the State of Texas and contractors from ITC are now taking water quality samples in the area. We are hopeful these collective efforts will provide a good road map for continued response and cleanup of the discharge of product and firewater into the Houston Ship Channel.” About the Galveston Bay Foundation Established in 1987,Galveston Bay Foundation is a 501(c)(3)non-profitorganization. Its mission is to preserve and enhance Galveston Bay as a healthy and productive place for generations to come. For more information, call (281)332-3381,visit www.galvbay.org, like us onFacebook,or follow us on Twitter @GBayFoundation

One thing that unites us as a nation is land: Americans strongly support saving the open spaces they love. Since 1987, Galveston Bay Foundation has been doing just that around the Bay. Now, its land trust accreditation has been renewed by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission. This five-year term affiliates Galveston Bay Foundation with a network of more than 400 accredited land trusts across the nation and helps ensure the permanence of its land conservation efforts. “We are a stronger organization than ever as a result of the rigorous accreditation renewal process,” said Matt Singer, Galveston Bay Foundation Director of Land Conservation. “Our strength means special places such as Turtle Bayou Nature Preserve will be protected forever.” Galveston Bay Foundation underwent extensive evaluation to achieve this accreditation distinction, signifying a commitment to maintaining the public’s trust in its conservation work. Accredited Land Trusts now steward approximately 20 million acres – the size of Denali, Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Glacier, Everglades and Yosemite National Parks combined. And Galveston Bay Foundation contributes to that number through protection of 8,065 acres of land via conservation easements and fee simple properties around Galveston Bay, ensuring it remains a healthy and productive place for generations to come. About the Galveston Bay Foundation Established in 1987, Galveston Bay Foundation is a 501(c)(3)non-profitorganization. Its mission is to preserve and enhance Galveston Bay as a healthy and productive place for generations to come. For more information, call (281) 332-3381,visit www.galvbay.org, like us onFacebook,or follow uson Twitter @GBayFoundation

What : Philippe Cousteau, Jr’s EarthEcho International, a leading environmental youth leadership organization, YES Prep Public Schools, Galveston Bay Foundation and local Xylem Watermark volunteers are joining forces for clean and healthy local waterways as part of the 2019 EarthEcho Water Challenge . Open to all citizens, students, families and organizations worldwide, the Water Challenge helps anyone to test, monitor and improve the quality of water in their communities. Taking place on March 22 – United Nations World Water Day – a special kick-off event in Houston, TX, will engage approximately 150 YES Prep Public School students in water quality monitoring during a field experience in Kemah, TX, allowing students to learn about water quality and conservation on Galveston Bay. Who: Philippe Cousteau, Jr., Co-Founder and President, EarthEcho International Mark DiBella, CEO, YES Prep Public Schools Bob Stokes, President, Galveston Bay Foundation Where : 1725 State Highway 146, Kemah, TX 77565 When : Friday, March 22, 2019 9:30 – 9:45 AM : Opening remarks and introduction by Philippe Cousteau, Jr. 9:45 AM – 1:50 PM : Students and host organizations rotate through different water monitoring and conservation stations. Interview and photo opportunities are available during this time. 11:35 AM – 12:05 PM: Press conference with Philippe Cousteau, Jr. and host organizations. 1:50 PM: Program concludes Visuals: Philippe Cousteau, , YES Prep Public Schools, Galveston Bay Foundation representatives and students in the field with water monitoring kits, entering data and exploring ways to improve local water quality. Spokespersons can address: How the EarthEcho Water Challenge will engage youth around the world to test, monitor and improve the quality of water in their How anyone can participate in the Water Challenge with a water testing kit provided via the Water Challenge website . What can be done to improve the quality of community water sources through the involvement of local organizations like YES Prep Public Schools and Galveston Bay Foundation . The growing global issue of poor water quality including waste water, pollution and development and the related significant local About the EarthEcho Water Challenge The EarthEcho Water Challenge is an international education and outreach program, run by EarthEcho International and sponsored by Xylem Watermark . The Challenge builds public awareness and involvement in protecting water resources around the world by engaging citizens to conduct basic monitoring of their local waterbodies, share their findings and protect our most precious resource. The challenge runs annually from March 22 (United Nations World Water Day ) until December 31. For more information, visit www.monitorwater.org and follow us on social media: Facebook: www.facebook.com/earthecho Instagram: @EarthEcho Twitter: @EarthEcho Join the conversation using hashtag #MonitorWater About YES Prep Public Schools For twenty-one years, YES Prep has increased the number of students from underserved communities who graduate from college prepared to lead. With 18 schools serving 13,300 students, YES Prep leads Houston forward by redefining what is possible in public education when children have access to excellent schools. YES Prep received the inaugural Broad Prize for Public Charter Schools, is nationally ranked by the U.S. News and World Report, The Washington Post, and others, and has consistently been named one of Houston’s “Best Places to Work” by the Houston Business Journal. To learn more, visit: www.yesprep.org . About Galveston Bay Foundation Established in 1987, the Galveston Bay Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Its mission is to preserve and enhance Galveston Bay as a healthy and productive place for generations to come. It implements diverse programs in land preservation, habitat restoration, water quality and quantity, youth education, and advocacy. For further information, contact the Foundation at (281) 332-3381, visit www.galvbay.org, like us on Facebook, or follow us on twitter @GBayFoundation