State of the Bay

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The State of the Bay
A Characterization of the Galveston Bay Ecosystem
Third Edition

The State of the Bay Report is about the nature and history of the Galveston Bay system, the findings of studies on Galveston Bay and its watershed, and the management actions based on those findings. As in the first and second editions, the scientific information is placed in the context of historical resource use and modern social and economic features of the Galveston Bay watershed.

We hope you agree that protection of Galveston Bay has been enhanced and progress has been made toward restoring the vitality of the bay and its watershed through the efforts of the Galveston Bay Estuary Program and the guidance of The Galveston Bay Plan. Everyone who reads this work is in some way connected to the bay and benefits from its resources. We hope that after reading this volume you will have a better appreciation of the complexities and value of Galveston Bay and its watershed.

Image credits (from left to right): © 2005 iStockPhoto.com Paul Wolf; © 2008 iStockPhoto.com Aaron Frankel; Andrew Sipocz; © 2006 iStockPhoto.com Dave Huss. Front cover illustration (below, left): © 2009 iStockPhoto.com Brandon Laufenberg.

The State of the Bay, Third Edition

Downloaded files can be viewed with Adobe Acrobat Reader.

The preparation of this report was financed through grants from
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through the
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).

Section	PDF Size
Title Pages & Executive Summary	7.4 MB
Acknowledgements	44 KB
List of Abbreviations	48 KB
List of Linked Data & Maps	181 KB
Chapter 1 - Assessing the State of the Bay	1.3 MB
Chapter 2 - Overview of the Ecosystem	1.5 MB
Chapter 3 - The Human Role Past	2.2 MB
Chapter 4 - The Human Role Present	1.9 MB
Chapter 5 - Physical Form and Processes	1.8 MB
Chapter 6 - Water and Sediment Quality	4.8 MB
Chapter 7 - Key Habitats	2.7 MB
Chapter 8 - The Bay's Living Resources	5.7 MB
Chapter 9 - Impact on Public Health	1.8 MB
Chapter 10 - The Future of Galveston Bay	1.2 MB
Glossary	213 KB
Literature Cited	236 KB

Data Files: Many graphs in the chapters are hyperlinked to data sheets in Microsoft Excel 2007 format. Click a hyperlinked graph to open the Excel file. The Excel file contains metadata, data, and a pivot chart. Use the pivot chart tab to query and display data in chart and table form. Pivot table instructions are available via links on the About the Chart tab. Note: Excel 2007 or later version is required to view the data files.

GeoPDF Maps: Many maps in the chapters are hyperlinked to Adobe GeoPDF files. Once a map file is opened, click on the Layers icon to the left of the map screen. Expand and collapse layers using the ( ) and (−) buttons. Click on the eye icon to turn on and off map layers. Print, save, and e-mail the map as needed. If viewing in a web browser, Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox will provide the best functionality. Files can also be saved and viewed with Adobe Acrobat (Reader or full version).

Suggested citations:

Full Report: Lester, L. J. and L. A. Gonzalez, Eds. 2011. The State of the Bay: A Characterization of the Galveston Bay Ecosystem, Third Edition. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Galveston Bay Estuary Program, Houston, Texas, 356 pp.

Chapter 3: Gallaway, A. 2011. Chapter 3 The Human Role: Past. In The State of the Bay: A Characterization of the Galveston Bay Ecosystem, Third Edition. L. J. Lester and L. A. Gonzalez (Eds). Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Galveston Bay Estuary Program, Houston, Texas, 35 pp.

Chapter 5: Anderson, J. B. 2011. Chapter 5 Physical Form and Processes. In The State of the Bay: A Characterization of the Galveston Bay Ecosystem, Third Edition. L. J. Lester and L. A. Gonzalez (Eds). Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Galveston Bay Estuary Program, Houston, Texas, 21 pp.

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