Bays in Peril
A Forecast for Freshwater Flows to Texas Estuaries

A new National Wildlife Federation report, Bays in Peril, evaluates how full use of existing water permits could affect freshwater inflows to the Texas coast. The report gives five of the state's seven major bays — Sabine Lake, Galveston Bay, Matagorda Bay, San Antonio Bay and Corpus Christi Bay — a "danger" ranking.

Texas' bays, or estuaries, are places where rivers flow into the Gulf of Mexico. The mix of salt and fresh water in these areas provides essential habitat for oysters, shrimp and many species of fish. Migrating birds such as ducks, geese and the endangered whooping crane also depend on the bays for food and shelter. Not only are Texas' bays vital for wildlife, they also support a large segment of the coastal economy.

Get the Report Here

    - Bays In Peril: Summary (PDF: 4 pages, 1,514 KB)
    - Bays In Peril: Full Report (PDF: 48 pages, 2,664 KB)
    - Press Release (PDF: 30 KB)

Resolutions from the Texas Coast

After the release of Bays in Peril, the following coastal communities passed resolutions urging the state to take action on this important issue.

Resolutions Passed to Protect Freshwater Inflows

Aransas County Commissioner's Court -  February 2, 2007 & February 14, 2005
Bay City Chamber of Commerce & Agriculture -  March 8, 2005
Bay City City Council -  February 10, 2005
Beaumont City Council -  January 16, 2007 & February 8, 2005
Calhoun County Commissioners' Court -  February 8, 2007 & December 23, 2005
Chambers County Commissioners Court -  December 14, 2004
Galveston City Council -  November 11, 2004
Galveston County Commissioners' Court -  November 1, 2004
Fulton City Council -  January 16, 2007 & January 18, 2005
Jefferson County Commissioners' Court -  January 31, 2005
Kleberg County Commissioners' Court -  January 22, 2007 & January 10, 2005
Matagorda County Commissioners' Court -  March 19, 2007 & February 7, 2005
Orange City Council - January 23, 2007 & January 25, 2005
Orange County Commissioners' Court -  March 12, 2007 & January 24, 2005
Palacios City Council -  February 20, 2007 & December 6, 2004
Port Arthur City Council-  January 30, 2007 & January 27, 2005
Rockport City Council -  January 9, 2007 & January 11, 2005

For More Information Please Contact:

    Lacey McCormick
    Communications Manager
    Office: 512-476-9805, ext. 25
    Cell: 512-203-3016
    mccormick@nwf.org